Public transit GM Q&A: What new tech, project is helping your agency increase efficiency?
Top transit officials from Sacramento, Calif., to Wilmington, Del., provide their feedback.

King

Henry Li, GM/CEO
Sacramento Regional Transit District
Sacramento, Calif.
SmaRT Ride, SacRT’s microtransit on-demand bus service, has only been in operation since February 12, and the response from riders has been amazing. Our ridership tripled within two months, and on April 23, we expanded the service boundaries to include the communities of Orangevale and Antelope. Similar to other ride-hailing services, a smartphone app is used to schedule curb-to-curb trips. Providing transit on-demand in neighborhoods that may be underserved by fixed-route service is our strategy, and based on the growing demand for SmaRT Ride, it’s successfully serving that need.

Chris Walton, Transportation Director
Broward County Transit
Plantation, Fla.
Mobile technology is making it easier and more convenient to travel using public transportation. Broward County Transit (BCT) is in the process of integrating a mobile ticketing feature, with BCT’s MyRide Broward real-time information app, to allow customers to purchase bus fare, using smartphones, and have access to other features, such as schedules, trip planning, and alerts, at their fingertips. BCT is also looking into an integrated transfer system, between South Florida’s transit providers, which would allow passengers to transfer seamlessly between the different agencies.

Ed King, Director of Transit Services
Big Blue Bus
Santa Monica, Calif.
Big Blue Bus is partnering with Lyft to provide on-demand services via a rebranded Dial-A-Ride program for older adults living in Santa Monica. The new service, called MODE, Mobility on Demand Every Day, will improve curb-to-curb and door-through-door transportation for older adults and people with disabilities. Recent innovations in the delivery of transportation services are reshaping Big Blue Bus’s fundamental approach to service design. The development of smartphone apps and online reservation software has created an opportunity to offer real-time and reliable transportation options. This partnership is reflective of the changing mobility landscape that our communities face. Continuing to understand customer needs and meeting those needs through quick and innovative service delivery is critical to our success in providing outstanding and efficient service.

John Clauson, Executive Director
Kitsap Transit
Bremerton, Wash.
Kitsap Transit has rolled out real-time bus tracking with DoubleMap. Our customers are able to look up in a web browser or a mobile app where their bus is and approximately when it will arrive at their bus stop. This tool enhances the customer experience: New riders can see how our system actually works. Commuters aren’t in the dark anymore when their bus isn’t on time. The technology also will improve supervisors’ ability to monitor in real time our performance.

John Lewis, CEO
Charlotte Area Transit System
Charlotte, N.C.
The CATS Pass mobile payment app allows customers to purchase passes on their mobile devices. Nearly 20,000 riders utilize the app, allowing for a quick and easy payment method. This app also comes with the transit industry’s first ever Cash Wallet, allowing unbanked and underbanked customers to load cash on their app to purchase passes when needed. This technology will provide equal access for all customers to all of our mobility offerings. CATS also recently implemented a pilot program allowing our riders to utilize Lyft services for first- and last-mile connections from two LYNX Blue Line stations at a fraction of the regular cost.

Gary Thomas, President/Executive Director
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
Dallas
Updates to our GoPass mobile ticketing app and the introduction of a tap farecard makes riding DART more convenient. These new technologies also help us introduce fare capping, which will make us an even better value to more customers. We’re also making it easier for customers to have a complete trip with advancements in our app and service integration with transportation network companies.

John Sisson, CEO
Delaware Transit Corp.
Wilmington, Del.
Updates to our GoPass mobile ticketing app and the introduction of a tap farecard makes riding DART more convenient. These new technologies also help us introduce fare capping, which will make us an even better value to more customers. We’re also making it easier for customers to have a complete trip with advancements in our app and service integration with transportation network companies.
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