Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

The R-Line is RIPTA’s first Rapid Bus Route scheduled to begin service in January of 2014.

Recognized for its leadership in rider-facing transit technology, and “having an incredibly positive and widespread impact on the way people think about and use public transit...” according to an FTA official. TransLoc powers N.C.-based Triangle Transit’s live bus tracking system, GoLive.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa is trying to increase ridership and create a strict, on-time schedule for its shuttles. It paid $15,960 for the app as well as the system of wireless transmitters installed in the buses.

Ninety-five percent of buses are using a tracking system that allows control center operators to adjust routes to fill any gaps caused by unpredicted delays. Operators say the system has made operations run smoothly.

The beta version for estimated time of arrival/real-time tracking, launched for consumer testing, lets riders subscribe to get real time status updates and alerts delivered to their mobile devices for their preferred routes and transit stops.

campusmaps.uark.edu lets students find bus routes, parking lots, bicycle racks, campus landmarks, and directions around campus.

The Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority is considering upgrading its system to include technological features, such as bus tracking, QR codes, automatic passenger counters, security codes and ticket vending machines, at a cost of approximately $2.6 million to $3.6 million.

Outfitted all of its buses with a GPS system, which will provide real-time arrival and location information to students, as well as automatic passenger counters. The system will also provide tracking information on other area transit systems, such as the Bull City Connector.

University transit system operators from Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin shared information about apps they use to enhance bus tracking.

Now available for Android as well as iPhones, the app,Tiramisu allows riders to tell other riders where and how full buses are. Since its July debut, riders have provided information about more than 11,500 trips.