Real-Time Passenger
Information Systems
How Universities Are Using Systems Like NextBus and
Transloc to Improve the Passenger Experience
Real-Time Passenger Information Systems
• Automated Vehicle
Location (AVL)
• Arrival Predictions
and/or Location on Map
• Mobile Alerts
• Back Office
Management
Benefits to Transit Riders
• Better trip planning
– Arrival Times
– System Alerts (Detours,
Changes, etc.)
• Confidence in system
• Safety
• Convenience
Benefits to Transit Providers
• Computer Automated
Dispatch (CAD)
• Route Planning
• Fleet tracking
– Know where your
resources are
• Performance Reports
– On-Time Stats
– Idling Times
• Play Back Reports
– Respond to complaints
– Review incidents
“It keeps everyone honest”
University of Virginia - Transloc
• Previous system:
Connexionz (2007-2013)
• Launched Transloc in
March 2013
– Integration with Zonar
University of Virginia - Transloc
• Real-Time View of
Routes
– 10 Second Updates
• User Location
• Bus Arrival Predictions
– Online
– Mobile Apps
– SMS/Text
• Alert Notifications
Alert Notifications
How Passengers Access System
Computer Automated Dispatch (CAD)
Reporting
Positives
•
•
•
•
•
•
Easy to use and modern
Popular apps
Web-based system
Frequent refresh rate
Alert system
Cellular data
– Low equipment profile
• Integration with Zonar
Negatives
• Bumpy beginnings
• Route designing
• No connection with
City Transit System
James Madison University - NextBus
• “It’s all about ridership”
• Reviewed several
systems:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Route Match
Avail
Martha
Transloc
Trapeze
Syncromatics
Connexionz
NextBus
• Evaluated short listed
vendors:
– Criteria on spreadsheet
– Surveyed other
universities.
– Issued RFP’s and
reviewed proposals
– Held live or webex
demos and Q&A
sessions.
James Madison University - NextBus
• Selected NextBus
• Advantages:
– Numerous customers –
small to large
– Very solid technical base
– Excellent
implementation
histories
– Seamless operations
– Add-on functionality
• Concerns:
– Price
– “Closed System”
• Implemented test
mode Fall Semester
2011
• Went live Spring
Semester of 2012
James Madison University - NextBus
• Real-Time View of
Routes
– 10-30 Second Updates
• Bus Arrival Predictions
–
–
–
–
–
Online
Mobile Apps (live map)
SMS/Text
IVR
QR scans
• Alert Notifications
James Madison University - NextBus
James Madison University - NextBus
James Madison University - NextBus
James Madison University - NextBus
James Madison University - NextBus
James Madison University - NextBus
2012 vs. 2013 (in %)
Method of Access
16
14
12
10
Phone Call (10%)
8
Text Message (21%)
6
Website (52%)
4
QR Scan (16%)
2
2012 vs. 2013 (in %)
0
2012
2013
James Madison University - NextBus
• NextBus data feeds
are used for other
applications:
– “Bus Finder” (a real
time trip planner)
– Mobile phone apps
Other Systems
James Madison University - NextBus