GE Transportation, a unit of the General Electric Co., has been awarded a $15.5 million contract from the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District to provide a new advanced communications and information system (ACIS).

The new ACIS is designed to improve communications for the District’s three operating divisions: Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Ferry and Golden Gate Transit, supporting improvements for security, safety and operational reliability. Intelligent transportation system (ITS) technologies will also be provided to improve performance and enhance service for the District and its customers.

The ACIS, once implemented, will include many new and upgraded services, including a public safety radio communications component, automatic vehicle location, transit fleet mobile data, new computer-aided bus dispatch systems, and new real-time announcement and information systems for riders.

Implementation, which begins this month, is scheduled to last two years and will be integrated with the existing systems and information network infrastructure within the District.