The Jacksonville Transportation Authority unveiled a high-tech bus-driving simulator Tuesday. It can be programmed for a number of scenarios, including the top three challenges facing bus operators in Jacksonville.
The streets of Jacksonville present some specific challenges to JTA operators, according to Training Supervisor DeWayne Sparks.
Sparks says narrow streets with cars parked on both sides, pedestrians stepping out into traffic and car doors opening are all difficult to deal with when you're driving a 40-foot bus, Sparks says.
The Rosa Parks Transit Station is another unique challenge JTA bus drivers deal with, Sparks says.
"The vehicles pull out into the main flow of traffic, and passengers want to catch their bus. So, they run across the bus lanes," Sparks said. "The drivers are faced with multiple challenges coming in and out of that location."
Sparks says that Jacksonville's narrow bridges can also be intimidating to bus operators, and glare from the sun makes it worse.
"When you're coming across the Mathews Bridge - the first thing you see is the sun coming up which washes out everybody's vision," Sparks said. "We're able to add that sun glare into the simulator."
The new simulator cost about $380,000 and will be available to agencies from around the First Coast to use.
