INIT, Innovations in Transportation Inc., signed a contract with San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) to equip 65 light rail vehicles with INIT's automatic passenger counting (APC) sensors, IRMA Basic, on-board computers, COPILOTpc and, on the dispatch side, MOBILEstatistics software.

The light rail system operated by MTS is commonly called The Trolley. MTS will utilize INIT's IRMA Basic sensor technology to accurately count passengers and efficiently manage its light rail fleet. IRMA Basic is extremely accurate (to 95 percent) and generates precise results using high-resolution infrared technology, according to INIT.

Meanwhile, INIT's on-board computer, COPILOTpc, will record counting results and securely transfer the counts through Wireless LAN to MOBILEstatistics.

The new technology will give MTS the ability to better manage its light rail fleet and efficiently plan service making the most use of resources. With an interface to an existing reporting tool (RIDECHECKplus), MTS will also get statistical data in a user-friendly, full-color, graphical report making the job of reporting passenger data easier.

The contract between San Diego MTS and INIT is worth $1.4 million and includes the option of equipping an additional 14 light rail vehicles in the future.