Transit Resources

Boca Raton, FL – March 28, 2024 — Richland County Transit (RCT), operator of the Mansfield, Ohio public bus system, has awarded a contract to ETAs, a leading provider of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) solutions. The contract includes a comprehensive Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automated Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system, featuring: Dispatch and planning software for optimized route management Powerful analytics tools for streamlined National Transit Database (NTD) reporting Onboard announcement systems for improved rider communication Real-time passenger information systems for enhanced rider experience The new CAD/AVL system will provide RCT with a centralized platform for managing its 19-bus fleet. Dispatchers will gain real-time visibility into vehicle location, allowing them to optimize routes, respond to disruptions efficiently, and improve on-time performance. Powerful analytics tools will streamline NTD reporting, a federal requirement for public transit agencies that receive federal funding. Onboard announcement systems will keep riders informed about upcoming stops and service changes. Additionally, a real-time passenger information system will provide riders with up-to-date arrival and departure times. "We are proud to partner with Richland County Transit to deliver a comprehensive transit technology solution that improves operational efficiency and enhances the rider experience,” said Joshua Adler, Lead Project Manager at ETAs. “Our commitment is to providing transit agencies with the tools they need to deliver world-class public transportation.” Richland County Transit RCT provides safe, reliable, and affordable public transportation services to the residents of Mansfield and surrounding areas in Richland County, Ohio. RCT operates service on various routes, connecting residents to jobs, shopping, education, and essential services. About ETA ETAs is a leading provider of innovative transit solutions, committed to revolutionizing public transportation for agencies and passengers alike. Our state-of-the-art technology is designed to enhance efficiency, safety, and the overall transit experience. ETA specializes in CAD/AVL technology to include automatic passenger counting (APC), GTFS and GTFS-RT, traveler information systems, and digital display systems for public transit agencies, universities, and other shuttle bus operations across the United States. For more information, visit etatransit.com, email sales@etatransit.com, or call (800) 382-0917. Facebook: @ETATransit X: @ETATransit LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/etatransit #ETATransit #MeetSPOT

In this replay episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with John Maglio, Founder and CEO of ETA, about building transit technology and trust over the long term. John explains how disciplined growth, reliability, and focus shape effective CAD/AVL systems, and why trust is earned through follow-through rather than features. The conversation covers leadership and company culture, what separates vendors from true partners, how agencies can approach RFPs more clearly, and why long-term thinking leads to better outcomes for riders, agencies, and technology providers alike.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono discuss the significance of bus stop amenities in enhancing the transit experience. They explore how features like shelters, seating, and real-time displays impact rider comfort, perceived wait times, and overall satisfaction. Learn how transit planners prioritize amenities based on demand, right-of-way considerations, and cost-effectiveness. Whether you're a transit enthusiast or a transit professional, this episode provides key insights into transforming ordinary stops into appealing and functional parts of the transit network.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Christian Londono and Levi McCollum talk with Nirit Glazer, co-founder and CEO of LookingBus, about one of the most persistent and overlooked problems in public transit: bus pass-ups. Nirit shares how real rider experiences, especially those of riders with disabilities, led her team to build technology that helps ensure buses stop when riders are waiting. The conversation explores reliability, accessibility, equity, and what it takes to introduce meaningful innovation inside complex transit systems, all with a focus on rebuilding rider trust and improving the everyday transit experience.

Transportation advocate and author Carter Lavin joins Levi McCollum and Christian Londono to unpack why "being right isn't enough" in transit and how to actually win. We explore how to shift what's possible, organize riders where they are, and build coalitions that move from local fights to statewide wins. Carter shares lessons from the Bay Bridge bus-lane campaign, explains why every bench, bulb-out, and bus lane is a political choice, and lays out actionable steps for advocates and agencies to turn good ideas into real improvements. Carter's book: If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy. Available at Island Press: www.islandpress.org/fight Use code FIGHT at checkout for 20% off.

In this episode of Stop Requested, hosts Levi McCollum and Christian Londono welcome Juan Portillo, Public Works Manager Transit at the City of Manteca, to share his inspiring journey and reveal the human side of public transportation. Discover how on‑time performance, innovative route planning, and genuine community engagement transform transit from a mere service into a lifeline that connects seniors, youth, and families while paving the way for a brighter future. Tune in for a fresh perspective on building a transit system that truly serves its community.

Maximize the efficiency of your automatic passenger counters for NTD certification-worthy results. By Matt Schroeder Director of Marketing, ETAs I am going to dispel a myth for your right off the bat. The FTA (Federal Transit Association) does not provide certifications for APC hardware. Never have, never will. Anyone that tells you that their brand of APCs has been certified is straight-up lying. It's amazing to us just how many transit operators are under the misconception that there are specific brands of APC hardware blessed with a governmental seal of approval. APC suppliers may provide you with a process for certifying the counts generated by your automatic passenger counters, but that's it. Certification of counts is a whole different beast. In general, the certification process entails two things: An APC benchmarking plan for the first year An APC maintenance plan for every three years You can read all about it here: NTD Policy Reporting Manual What defines a benchmarking plan? Benchmarking requires validation for unlinked passenger trips (UPT), and passenger miles traveled (PMT) data against a manual sample to prove the APC system's accuracy. The process for reconciling this data includes: For agencies with fewer than 30 vehicles, the sample size must include at least 15 trips on APC-equipped vehicles. For agencies with 30 or more vehicles, the criteria changes to the larger of 15 trips or half the number of APC-equipped vehicles (up to 50 trips). In both instances, the trips do not need to be randomly selected and may spread over a year. We recommend that these samples include times of heavy ridership and the inclusion of at least one trip per vehicle type and APC model. A description of the agency's APC systems and sampling procedures is also required. Should a trip be excluded or rejected from a provided sample, an explanation is required. Also to be included is documentation that accounts for the percentage of trips made that do not have valid APC data due to equipment malfunction, data corruption, failed verification checks, or any other reason. For manual counts that use data collection staff or onboard cameras, the FTA strongly recommends a data collector at each door during heavily loaded trips. It is appropriate to process APC data to correct for anomalies, just as it is reasonable to adjust for reporter data during the collection process. The goal is to compare manual and automatic counts to demonstrate equivalency or that any differences are justifiable. PMT calculations should utilize the same set of distances for all analyses. Should any differences exist (i.e., interstop), an explanation must be included with the provided data. Acceptable deviations in data are less than five percent for: Difference between manual vs. APC UPT counts Difference between manual vs. APC PMT counts If a transit agency uses APCs for both directly operated and purchased transportation services, a requirement for separate samples of each type of service exists. Verifying counts Automatic counting hardware is exceptionally precise, with most manufacturers boasting 95 to 98 percent accuracy. Despite this precision, errors can creep into the system, which is why the FTA does not certify the hardware itself. Simply put, nothing is going to deliver optimal accuracy out of the box. Configuration, tweaking, and adjustments are typical to account for environmental variables unique to every transit operation. The process of verifying your counts is quite simple. Option 1: Manual counts Your agency can have an employee ride every route and take manual counts to compare to those generated by the APC. This process quite literally involves a person with a clipboard taking note of who boards and alights at every stop, the pencil and paper method. Option 2:Digital counts If a vehicle has a mobile data terminal (MDT), the driver can use a built-in digital passenger counter to log passenger boardings and alightings. The data automatically uploads to the intelligent transit system for future review. Of the two, we recommend the MDT-based approach. It's less prone to data entry errors, and the information is easily reviewable in any reporting or analytics software for side-by-side comparison against the APC-generated counts. Adjusting counts Once the necessary amount of historical count data is collected, you will work with your transit technology provider to develop a reporting algorithm that accounts for recurring variations in the information. This final step refines the configuration of your APC and subsequent analysis and allows for the consistent benchmarking required by the FTA for certification. It also serves as a diagnostic resource to evaluate the consistent performance of your hardware; a sharp increase or drop-off in counts could be an indication of a hardware error or mounting issue. Final words Adding automatic passenger counters is a great way to reduce manual processes and gather the critical data you need to understand passenger travel behavior. The process is not straightforward and requires a few essential steps to ensure that the counts you collect provide your agency with the reliable counts you need to make informed decisions and submit accurate reports to the National Transportation Database (NTD). It is essential to understand that the hardware is not certified by the FTA but rather the methodology for collecting, analyzing, and reporting the data that receive certification. This process takes time, but when working with a reliable transit technology provider, your new APCs will provide trustworthy information you can use to make informed operational decisions for years to come.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi and Christian recap the Texas Transit Association Conference, Expo, and Roadeo held in McAllen, Texas. Christian shares firsthand insights on the event’s highlights, from industry-leading sessions and vendor showcases to the competitive energy of the roadeo. They also discuss the role of APC certification in 2025, the power of networking at transit conferences, and a surprising fact about McAllen that might just put it on your travel list. Tune in for a full breakdown of one of the year’s most engaging state transit conferences!

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono talk with Christy Wegener, Executive Director of the Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, also known as LAVTA. Christy shares how she found her way into transit from social work and public policy, and how her career across multiple agencies shaped the way she thinks about planning, operations, customer service, and leadership. The conversation explores why planning and operations need to understand each other, how politics shapes service decisions, and why agencies need better market research before making major changes. Christy also discusses the tradeoffs behind service redesigns, the role of pilots, the impact of work-from-home patterns on Bay Area transit, and why field work remains one of the most important habits for transit leaders.

Boca Raton, FL – August 15, 2023 — ETA, a leading provider of advanced transit technology solutions, is thrilled to announce that it has been awarded a CAD/AVL project with the esteemed University of Southern California (USC). The decision to select ETA for this groundbreaking project was driven by the company's exceptional and unique design of onboard equipment, which offers unparalleled reliability and security in transit operations. At the heart of ETA’s innovative solution is the utilization of a rugged on-board computer that is securely installed within a locked cabinet, out of reach of both bus operators and riders combined with a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) that is a simple touch screen monitor without any processing responsibilities. The MDT is a user-friendly touch panel monitor designed to streamline the interaction between transit staff and the system. Unlike tablets or all-in-one computers, the MDT serves purely as an interface, devoid of any critical system intelligence. This ingenious design means that even if the MDT is damaged or stolen, the core functionalities of the system, including vehicle tracking, arrival predictions, and data collection for reporting, remain fully operational and reliable. "We are truly honored to have been chosen by the University of Southern California for this transformative CAD/AVL project," said John Maglio, President of ETA. "Our innovative onboard equipment design reflects our commitment to providing transit agencies with cutting-edge solutions that not only enhance operational efficiency but also prioritize security and continuity. The trust that USC has placed in ETA is a testament to our dedication to excellence." Awarded in May 2023, the 34-bus system was installed, tested, and deployed within 3 weeks. "After facing challenges with tablet-based MDTs in the past, we were in need of a more reliable hardware solution. ETA won our business based largely on the unique design of their onboard systems," says Marcus Arvizu, Senior Manager of Transit Operations at USC. "We were also on a very tight timeline and needed the system installed within 3 weeks. ETA demonstrated an ability to deploy similar projects on very aggressive schedules. I highly recommend ETA for anyone seeking a dedicated transit technology partner." This partnership represents a significant milestone for ETA as it continues to lead the industry in innovation and reliability. The company's unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of transit technology sets a new standard for transit agencies nationwide. For more information about ETA and its groundbreaking CAD/AVL project with the University of Southern California, please visit etatransit.com or contact: Jose Mostajo Sales Manager jmostajo@etatransit.com (954) 778-1783 Facebook: @ETATransit Twitter: @ETATransit LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/etatransit #ETATransit  #MeetSPOT  #USC About ETA ETA specializes in CAD/AVL transit technology to include automatic passenger counting (APC), GTFS and GTFS-RT, traveler information systems, and digital display systems, for public transit agencies and other shuttle operations across the United States. For more information, visit etatransit.com, email sales@etatransit.com, or call (800) 382-0917.

Boca Raton, Florida – March 26, 2025 – ETAs, a leading provider of innovative transit technology solutions, proudly announces the successful deployment of a CAD/AVL project in collaboration with Stony Brook University. Awarded in January 2025, the project was implemented just one month from the kickoff call, ensuring a seamless transition after the university’s previous vendor discontinued service at the end of 2024.

In the premier episode of Stop Requested, Christian and Levi reflect on their experience at the Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA) conference, held from September 22-24 in West Palm Beach. They explore the value of networking with industry professionals, discovering the latest transit innovations, and celebrating outstanding achievements through industry awards. Listen in as they share key takeaways from conversations with vendors, including discussions on cybersecurity for transit agencies, and the importance of connecting with peers to drive the future of public transportation.