The Kiosk Project
This multi-jurisdictional project designed and placed ten Intermodal Information Kiosks at vital transportation facilities (visitor centers, train and inter-city bus stations, ferry terminals, airports, etc.) to help travelers make informed choices about traversing the region without a personal vehicle.
The goal of the project was to assist travelers at transportation facilities with getting around the five-county region (Whatcom, Skagit, Island, San Juan, and Snohomish) without a personal vehicle, and to illustrate how the various modes connect.
As a result of the project, WCOG worked with North Sound Connecting Communities to develop the Transportation Connections Map, which illustrates intermodal connections and provides contact numbers for providers. The maps are in display cases around the five-county region, and are also available as brochures in major transportation hubs.
In addition, the Kiosk Project funded an interactive web map and computer kiosk for the new Skagit Train Station in Mt. Vernon, which allows travelers to click on the various map components and go directly to providers' websites to access detailed route maps, schedules, and fare information. The computer kiosk at the Skagit Station is now owned and oeprated by Skagit Transportation (SKAT).
Funding for the project totaled $115,000 with $75,000 from a Statewide Competitive Enhancement grant and the balance from contributions by local governments and other transportation entities.
2009 Website Development
In 2009 the Whatcom Council of Governments developed a prototype trip planning tool based on the Transportation Connections map which would allow users to enter in origin and destination locations into a database to generate route options using various transportation modes other than personal vehicle. This new web tool is now online at NorthSoundConnections.com and will be replacing the existing kiosk map at the computerized kiosk at the Skagit train station.