Community Transit in Washington State in the US is equipping all its buses with GPS, automatic passenger counters and other technology that will improve operations, enhance the customer experience, and eventually allow customers to get real-time bus information by phone, computer or mobile device.
The Transit Technologies pilot project was launched on a small set of commuter buses to downtown Seattle. It was later expanded to include all Sound Transit Regional Express buses operated by Community Transit and is shortly to be rolled out on Swift bus rapid transit buses operating between Everett Station and Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline.
Over the next six months, the technology will be implemented on the remaining Seattle commuter buses and all local buses operating within Snohomish County. When all buses are fully equipped and operating, the real-time information will be activated.
“Technology is already changing the face of transit,” said Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor. “Three years ago we introduced the ORCA card and now 75 percent of our riders use that technology to pay their fare. We have 14,000 subscribers to our electronic alert system, receiving text and email alerts about our routes. Now, we’re ready to use technology to improve our dispatch system, simplify how drivers communicate and provide what customers really want – real-time bus information.”
During the pilot project phase the most noticeable change for riders will be the automatic stop announcements - a pleasant voice announcing where the bus is stopping. That will be accompanied by the same information displayed on an electronic sign aboard the buses.
What customers may not notice is better on-time performance as driver-dispatch communication improves and dispatchers can see where all buses are in real time.
As part of the project design, a real-time website and interactive phone system are being developed. Customers will be asked to take note of the stop ID numbers located at each bus stop. They will be able to punch that number into the phone system or website to get a more accurate estimate of when their bus will arrive at that stop, based on GPS tracking. The real-time information will only work within a 30-to-60 minute window before the scheduled stop to ensure the best information.
Real-time ‘next bus’ signs will also be posted at all Swift stations and at several major transit centres to aid trip planning. Real-time features will be activated once the technology is operational on all buses, which is expected to be in spring/summer 2013.
The Transit Technologies pilot project was launched on a small set of commuter buses to downtown Seattle. It was later expanded to include all Sound Transit Regional Express buses operated by Community Transit and is shortly to be rolled out on Swift bus rapid transit buses operating between Everett Station and Aurora Village Transit Center in Shoreline.
Over the next six months, the technology will be implemented on the remaining Seattle commuter buses and all local buses operating within Snohomish County. When all buses are fully equipped and operating, the real-time information will be activated.
“Technology is already changing the face of transit,” said Community Transit CEO Joyce Eleanor. “Three years ago we introduced the ORCA card and now 75 percent of our riders use that technology to pay their fare. We have 14,000 subscribers to our electronic alert system, receiving text and email alerts about our routes. Now, we’re ready to use technology to improve our dispatch system, simplify how drivers communicate and provide what customers really want – real-time bus information.”
During the pilot project phase the most noticeable change for riders will be the automatic stop announcements - a pleasant voice announcing where the bus is stopping. That will be accompanied by the same information displayed on an electronic sign aboard the buses.
What customers may not notice is better on-time performance as driver-dispatch communication improves and dispatchers can see where all buses are in real time.
As part of the project design, a real-time website and interactive phone system are being developed. Customers will be asked to take note of the stop ID numbers located at each bus stop. They will be able to punch that number into the phone system or website to get a more accurate estimate of when their bus will arrive at that stop, based on GPS tracking. The real-time information will only work within a 30-to-60 minute window before the scheduled stop to ensure the best information.
Real-time ‘next bus’ signs will also be posted at all Swift stations and at several major transit centres to aid trip planning. Real-time features will be activated once the technology is operational on all buses, which is expected to be in spring/summer 2013.
