Canada’s Regional Municipality of York (YRT) selected INIT Innovations in Transportation Inc. for the implementation of in-vehicle multimedia TFT passenger information displays (PIDvisio) with real-time passenger information. The displays will be installed on 88 buses in YRT’s existing fleet, and on more than 80 new buses to be added over the next three years.

INIT’s PIDvisio is designed to allow passengers to view next stop information, as well as transfers at their next stop (TRANSFERinfo) and ticker-texts.

TRANSFERinfo determines the potential transfer possibilities at the next stop, based on the estimated time of departure, the distance from the stop, and the stops that YRT wants to display. The system then displays these transfer possibilities for the upcoming stop, along with the estimated departure time, so passengers know all their options and how much time they have to get to the transfer location. In addition to providing greater convenience to passengers, it will also relieve YRT drivers from having to provide this information to customers while driving.

YRT will also be able to disseminate Rider Alerts and Service Changes to their passengers with the “ticker text” functionality. This is not a traditional single scrolling line of text, but a full page that’s easy to read. YRT users will be able to update information as required and have it sent to the vehicles real-time over cellular.

The roll out of the multimedia displays will begin in 2018.