In the first installment of this series, we looked at Pantonium’s home town of Toronto, ON and some of the famous landmarks within. In the latest installment of our city travel series, we are looking at Tampa, Florida in anticipation of Pantonium attending the CTAA EXPO in the city from June 2, 2015 – June 5, 2015. As we celebrate the diversity of activity in the area, we also take a critical look at how to navigate through the city.
On-demand transit service is becoming increasingly common in major cities across the world. It is the ideal mode of transit for maximizing the efficiency of ridesharing; reducing operating costs while keep service at a premium. Pantonium’s software system is designed to be constantly evaluating the best routes and trips to take, making the software incredibly useful for on-demand bus service. The same type of routing is used here to make the most efficient number of trips at specified times; this keeps fuel consumption at a minimum while maximizing the effectiveness of the ride time.
In our hypothetical journey, the most logical place to start would be the Tampa International Airport. Let’s presume we caught the red-eye, slept our way through the flight, and just need to go check our bags. Our check-in time is 11:00am, so maybe let’s get some breakfast first. The urgency of hunger is reflected in the name First Watch, a small cafe chain for healthy breakfast, brunch & lunch options. Seven locations are available in the Tampa area, creating an easy route choice from the airport. See below:
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Tampa Map #1
The routing capabilities of Pantonium’s software show us three different routes: two routes estimating between 18-26 minutes, and an interchange route allowing an ETA of 14-18 minutes. While we are appreciative of alternative routes offered, we feel pretty comfortable taking the I-275 south to the George J Bean Inbound Parkway and riding it the rest of the way. An estimated 15 minutes from airport to deliciousness.
From here, we go straight to one of the finest-rated hotels in the city: Le Meridien Tampa. As luck would have it, the hotel is just a hop, skip, and jump away from the restaurant. See below:
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Tampa Map #2
Good timing! Let’s presume La Meridien will allow us to check in a bit early, as our ride times have been optimized to result in only a mere three minutes of travel. After checking in, a great afternoon activity would be to check out the Florida Aquarium, located just east of the hotel. There are a number of relatively brief options, but which one makes the best use of routing optimization? See below:
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Tampa Map #3
Another short trip! Man, Tampa is connected, isn’t it? An estimated 5-7 minutes is all it takes to get from Le Meridien to the Florida Aquarium. With a huge number of aquatic attractions featuring wildlife from around the world, it’s a perfect option for sightseeing. Equally impressive is how Pantonium’s optimization software helps you get the most from planning your day’s trips, allowing for maximum time spent in your destinations while saving on your travel time. The three routes shown above show different access points to Channelside Drive, where the aquarium is located. Two out of the three routes shown above utilize some of the same streets, but route optimization software highlights the route less likely to be congested due to traffic intersections, highway access points, and other road travel factors. Since now it is a little later in the afternoon, this would be a great time to hit the beach. See below:
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Tampa Map #4
There are a variety of route options with Tampa’s diverse highway infrastructure. Like our trip to the aquarium, three route options are present. The highlighted route is once again the strongest, with two alternative routes available to consider, dependent on traffic and other factors. By staying on route 93 south to connect with the 587 (then connecting to the 589), this savvy use of city highways and connecting roads ensures a smooth ride through the city to the beach.
From here, we can start winding down for dinner; being on the ocean, seafood would be ideal. Why not go for surf ‘n’ turf at Eddie V.’s Prime Seafood, one of the area’s highest-rated restaurants? Our routing shows a simple glide along the Causeway away from the beach to arrive back at Carver City/Lincoln Gardens. See below:
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Tampa Map #5
After such a hearty meal, perhaps a nightcap would be the ideal last stop before returning to the hotel. The Ciros Speakeasy comes highly recommended as offering a vibrant taste of south Florida. Normally, the distance shown here would be difficult to navigate as a single driver or as part of bus service with limited scheduling. However, with Pantonium’s software utilized as part of an on-demand bus service, you could be having cocktails in just fifteen minutes. See below:
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Tampa Map #6
A multitude of options, but Pantonium’s software eliminates any need to guess what the best route is. The highlighted route here keeps the traveler on W Boyscout Boulevard, connecting with N Macdill Avenue and allowing for an easy access point to Bayshore Boulevard through W Watrous Avenue. A somewhat more direct but ultimately more convoluted route is also displayed as an alternative, going directly south via N Lois Avenue. With this in mind, our navigator can now relax with a custom cocktail and still be back at the hotel in just ten minutes. See below:
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Tampa Map #7
Of course, this is all very easy to plan out with modern route-mapping technology. To see the full power of Pantonium’s software system and its capabilities, feel free to stop by booth #332 at the CTAA Expo in Tampa, FL June 2 through June 5, 2015. We at Pantonium are excited to bring you a new way to look at your city.
For more information, please feel free to email us at info@pantonium.com. [/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
