GREAT serves residents and visitors across Greenville, operating 13 buses on six fixed routes. The system is fare-free and connects the broader community with major destinations, including East Carolina University and Pitt Community College.

Challenges before ETA

Before adopting ETA’s technology, GREAT relied on manual processes to track ridership and manage service. Passenger counts were recorded by hand, making it difficult to produce accurate numbers for Federal Transit Administration (FTA) reporting and funding. The agency also needed an updated voice-announcement system to meet ADA requirements and reduce reliance on radio calls for basic operational visibility.

The ETA Transit Solution

ETA Transit delivered a comprehensive technology suite tailored to GREAT’s needs:

• Automated Passenger Counters (APCs) for accurate ridership data to support FTA reporting and funding.
• Real-time CAD/AVL tracking so staff can instantly locate vehicles and reduce radio traffic.
• Modern voice announcements to improve accessibility and ADA compliance.
• User-friendly reporting and dashboards that let staff pull data, monitor performance, and communicate with drivers.
• Flexible scheduling tools to update routes and create detours quickly and independently.

Rollout & Implementation

GREAT’s team emphasized ease of adoption. Staff can log in, access the information they need, generate reports, and communicate with operators, while supervisors use on-time performance and adherence insights to coach and support drivers.

Results & Impact

• Accurate ridership data strengthens FTA reporting and funding justification.
• Real-time visibility reduces passenger inquiries and reliance on radio calls.
• Driver performance insight helps identify and address route adherence issues.
• Faster service adjustments through quick schedule edits and detours.
• Improved accessibility with clear, consistent onboard announcements.