Space Coast Area Transit achieved automated FTA-compliant ridership reporting, streamlining operations and unlocking new funding opportunities. 

CUSTOMER

Space Coast Area Transit (321Transit) 

321Transit provides public transportation services throughout Brevard County, Florida, including fixed route and paratransit operations. Since 1983, Space Coast Area Transit has been driving Brevard’s economy. Whether delivering workers to their jobs, transporting students to universities, connecting people with needed services or working to meet the communities’ transportation needs, Space Coast Area Transit continues moving Brevard into the future. 

ABOUT 321 Transit

Space Coast Area Transit operates across a large and diverse region of Florida’s east coast, offering vital mobility options to residents, commuters, and visitors. The agency runs a fleet of fixed route buses and demand-response vehicles, supporting sustainable transportation and community connectivity in Brevard County. 

Key Statistics

• Annual Unlinked Trips (UPT): 1,734,675 
• Service Area Square Miles: 251 
• Revenue Vehicles: 174 
• Vehicles Operated in Maximum Service (VOMS): 86 

As part of its efforts to modernize operations, Space Coast Area Transit prioritized enhancing its data collection capabilities and achieving APC certification to strengthen its NTD reporting and funding eligibility. 

CHALLENGE

Space Coast Area Transit previously relied on manual passenger counting methods and statistical estimations to meet NTD reporting requirements. This approach was time-intensive, error-prone, and offered limited insight into actual ridership trends. 

To better serve its community and unlock additional funding opportunities, the agency sought to automate its ridership data collection and achieve Automated Passenger Counter (APC) certification through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The challenge: find a reliable, FTA-compliant tool to simplify the process and ensure data integrity. 

SOLUTION

Space Coast Area Transit partnered with ETA Transit Systems and deployed Tally, a cloud-based platform purpose-built for digital NTD trip collection and APC certification workflows. 

Digital Trip Collection with Tally 
Tally enabled Space Coast Area Transit to conduct ride checks digitally, with real-time data collection, validation, and timestamping. Survey results were stored securely and aligned with FTA submission requirements, eliminating the burden of manual reporting. 

Certification Timeline 
The agency submitted its APC certification application to the FTA on November 15, 2024, and received official approval just one month later on December 16, 2024—a testament to the accuracy and completeness of data collected through Tally. 

TALLY IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

1. Rapid Configuration and Onboarding 
   ETA supported Space Coast Area Transit to configure Tally to local service conditions and FTA guidelines, ensuring seamless pairing between vehicle assignments and survey data. 
2. Real-Time Data Validation
   Agency staff used Tally to review data immediately after collection. Any discrepancies could be addressed proactively, reducing delays and minimizing the need for rework. 
3. FTA Certification Support
   ETA provided end-to-end assistance throughout the submission process, including data formatting, quality control, and direct communication with FTA analysts to resolve technical inquiries.

RESULTS

Successful APC Certification 
Space Coast Area Transit achieved its first FTA APC certification, allowing for automated data to be used in official NTD reports and service planning efforts. 

Data-Driven Decision Making
Certified APC data equips the agency with high-quality insights into ridership patterns, supporting more responsive route planning, scheduling, and service adjustments. 

Enhanced Funding Opportunities 
By demonstrating compliance with federal data standards, Space Coast Area Transit strengthened its eligibility for competitive federal and state funding programs. 

Operational Efficiency 
Tally eliminated the need for manual survey processing, freeing up agency resources and accelerating the overall reporting workflow. 

Long-Term Strategic Benefits
The availability of consistent, validated ridership data supports long-range planning, performance measurement, and stakeholder accountability. =

About ETA’s Tally Solution for NTD Surveys and Certification

ETA’s Tally platform is designed to help transit agencies streamline their NTD data collection and APC certification processes. By automating trip surveys and delivering real-time, audit-ready data, Tally improves accuracy, simplifies compliance, and accelerates reporting. 

Key Benefits

• Automated Trip Collection – Replaces manual processes with real-time digital surveys for greater efficiency
  
• Accelerated Certification – Speeds up the path to FTA approval with pre-configured, standards-compliant workflows 

• Compliance-Ready Data – Captures secure, timestamped records to simplify audits and FTA reviews 

• Reliable Funding – Provides credible, data-backed insights to support grant and funding requests 

• Improved Data Accuracy – Minimizes human error through built-in validation and intelligent data checks 

For more information about Tally or APC certification support, visit ETA Transit’s website at https://etatransit.com/solutions/tally/