Orbital Sciences Corporation announced today that its Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Division has been selected by the Regional Transportation Commission of Clark County (RTC) in Las Vegas, Nevada for a $9.3 million contract to supply its state-of-the-art ORBTRAC-300 satellite-based automatic vehicle location (AVL) system.

RTC will use Orbital's system to track, monitor and manage its 420- vehicle fleet, consisting of 296 fixed-route vehicles and 124 paratransit vehicles. Orbital's ORBTRAC system provides up-to-date vehicle positioning information that will allow RTC to improve the efficiency of its fleet operations and service to its customers.

The ORBTRAC system provides real-time vehicle location information delivered through the U.S. Government's Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites. This state-of-the-art system, consisting of data processors and fleet management software, offers such in-vehicle passenger amenities as digital read-outs and voice annunciation of the next stop on predetermined routes. It also incorporates an automatic passenger counting system that gives local authorities the information they need to appropriately schedule vehicles to meet peak and non-peak passenger demand. The system's terrestrial- based communications component uses Motorola's newest-generation mobile radios that are field-proven for high reliability.

Dr. Fred Ohene, RTC's Project Manager, said, "Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and Orbital's system will help us in our efforts to provide the best possible service to the County's residents and visitors. We believe that this high level of service will encourage more people to use the system, thereby helping to alleviate traffic congestion and improve air quality. This is part of an intelligent transportation system for the Las Vegas area."

Orbital's TMS business has experienced rapid growth over the past several years as a result of new contract wins and the 1998 acquisition of Raytheon Company's transportation management business. Orbital TMS is now the country's leading supplier of satellite-based AVL systems, generating annualized revenues of about $50 million and employing over 200 people at facilities in Germantown and Linthicum, Maryland.

Orbital's Intelligent Transportation Systems Division

OrbTrac at SpaceDaily