INIT, Innovations in Transportation Inc., signed a contract with American Bus Products (ABP) to install a computer-aided dispatch and automated vehicle location (CAD/AVL) system at the Toronto Transit Commission - Wheeltrans (TTC-WT).

The contract includes mobile data terminals and backup cameras on the 110 new paratransit vehicles. Wheel-Trans, the paratransit division of TTC, provides door-to-door accessible transit service for persons with physical disabilities. The new vehicles will also use GPRS and GSM for data and voice communications.

The equipment will be installed over the next two years in cooperation with ABP, the prime contractor on the project. INIT's CAD/AVL system (MOBILE-ITCS) will allow dispatchers to view real-time and historical locations of vehicles and manage voice and data communication with the drivers. 

Vehicles will be equipped with INIT's new mobile data terminal (TOUCHmon), which will allow drivers to communicate via data or voice with dispatchers and to see live views from the rearview analog camera. In the next phase of the project, they will also be able to see their list of stops, along with turn-by-turn directions. 

The 8.4-inch full-color TFT touch screen is designed with Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology, which is virtually impossible to scratch. Due to the built-in audio amplifier, drivers will get clear and distinct navigation announcements helping them to easily locate any stop.

The contract is valued at about $2.42 million.