New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) approved a contract that will allow the agency’s entire bus fleet to be equipped with smart bus technology, advancing the agency’s drive toward real-time service information for bus customers.

The board authorized a $22 million contract with Clever Devices LTD of Plainview, N.Y., for hardware, software and services for the installation of smart bus equipment on approximately 1,040 transit, cruiser and articulated buses.

The Clever Devices platform offers many operational and customer benefits, including automatic bus stop announcements, vehicle condition monitoring, passenger counting, and real-time location reporting.

The technology, together with an upcoming procurement for a new radio system, will ultimately enable NJ Transit to deliver real-time bus location and arrival information to any Web-enabled device, letting customers know when their bus is expected to arrive at their stop. 

In addition to providing smart bus benefits, this project also will provide a crucial foundation for the radio procurement, leveraging the agency’s investment in technology in two vital areas: Cutting edge customer service delivery and enhanced communications to best control the statewide network of more than 2,100 buses.

NJ Transit is currently taking delivery of 1,145 new buses that are already equipped with smart bus technology provided by Clever Devices. The procurement of additional smart bus platforms for the remaining buses will enable NJ Transit’s entire bus fleet to be equipped with this technology.

The installation of smart bus platforms is expected to be completed in two phases by the end of 2012, while delivery of the remainder of NJ Transit’s new smart buses is expected to be completed in 2013.