Ohio’s Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) found a new radio integration solution that has redefined "real-time.” 

Developed in close partnership with ETA Transit, the innovative system replaces an outdated, one-size-fits-all solution with precise, private, and scalable communications between dispatchers and drivers, delivering significant gains in safety, efficiency, and service quality. 

For this modernization and its results, the ETA/TARTA project has earned a 2025 Innovative Solutions Award for Operational Efficiency. 

“We're thrilled to receive this recognition from METRO Magazine,” said John Maglio, CEO at ETA Transit. “This award validates the power of true partnership between ETA Transit and TARTA. Working together throughout the comprehensive system implementation, including TARTA providing us with a radio to use in our lab for testing and refinement, we created an integrated solution that delivers real results.” 

From Bottlenecks to Breakthroughs

Previously, TARTA’s dispatchers and operators were limited by a legacy radio system that broadcast every message, regardless of urgency or relevance, to every vehicle in the fleet, creating cluttered airwaves, slowing emergency responses, and limiting the ability to communicate sensitive or urgent information without confusion.

TARTA’s shift to the Lucas County Motorola radio system was the agency’s first step toward modernization. However, it still needed a partner to integrate that system into a more innovative, operationally holistic platform.

Enter ETA Transit, which TARTA selected because the company could connect its radio system via an advanced interface within ETA's broader architecture for the SPOT Console. The dashboard manages everything from real-time tracking to passenger data.

The new system also empowers dispatchers to communicate instantly and securely with individual drivers or groups of drivers. 

Using ETA Transit’s Request to Talk and Priority Request to Talk features, TARTA dispatchers can now respond in under two seconds, dramatically improving from previous delays that could stretch to minutes.

“Seeing it reduce response times to under two seconds proves that when agencies and technology providers work as true partners, we can transform daily operations,” said Maglio.

Post-implementation surveys revealed that bus operators and dispatchers reported higher satisfaction with the clarity of communication and ease of use. 

The console’s selective messaging ensures only drivers hear the right messages, minimizing distractions and maintaining focus behind the wheel.

Smooth Deployment, Seamless Integration

ETA Transit took a collaborative approach to deployment. 

TARTA provided lab equipment, including radio hardware, for real-world testing, allowing engineers to simulate field conditions and refine the system before launch. 

When obstacles arose, the teams worked side by side to implement fixes and train staff quickly, with minimal disruption.

“We customized the SPOT Console interface through multiple iterations, integrating radio controls with TARTA's broader operational dashboard,” said Levi McCollum, director, operations, at ETA Transit. “This partnership approach helped staff successfully adapt to the new integrated system with minimal disruption to daily operations. The system’s architecture is adaptable and designed with the future in mind.”

Already integrated with TARTA’s CAD/AVL, real-time bus tracking, passenger counting, and route management tools, the platform also supports additional layers like incident reporting, mobile communication, and analytics dashboards, all accessible through a single, cloud-based console.

While the impact on TARTA — a mid-sized agency serving 1.5 million annual riders with a fleet of 70 fixed-route buses — is significant, the real story is its scalability. 

The project demonstrates that even smaller and medium-sized transit systems can undergo operational modernization without incurring costly overhauls or relying on multiple vendors, said McCollum.

“This project proves that comprehensive modernization is achievable regardless of agency scale,” he explained. 

Added TARTA’s IT Director Lucas Boehm: “I am super happy so far, as we have accomplished something that we were told was impossible.”

By solving a long-standing communication challenge with minimal cost, disruption, or complexity, ETA Transit and TARTA have built more than a communications tool; they’ve created a blueprint for the future of connected transit.

The result is a smarter, safer, and more resilient service that strengthens the bond between operators, dispatchers, and the public they serve.

“The radio integration was a critical component of TARTA’s larger modernization effort,” explained McCollum. “It’s now the foundation for faster responses, better service, and scalable innovation, and we’re honored to be recognized for it.”

To learn more about this partnership from Lucas Boehm, TARTA's IT Director, who was a guest on ETA Transit's podcast Stop Requested. The episode is available at stoprequested.com.