Category: Technology

  • Next-generation route management expands options for efficiency.

    By Matt Schroeder Director of Marketing, ETA Transit Systems As a marketer, I’m constantly exposed to new and interesting facts. Did you know that a transit agency on average spends between two and six months researching new routes? Or how about this one: 44 percent of dispatchers spend at least 30 minutes inputting route changes…

  • Staff Engagement: Turn staff doubters into doers

    Staff engagement is a critical, yet often overlooked component to new system adoption. As advanced and capable as the current generation of intelligent transit technology is, its performance will always be hampered by incorrect or inconsistent use. For all the time and resources spent in securing these solutions, it’s important to also invest in those…

  • Turn your bus into a cashmobile.

    Digital advertising on vehicles is coming. It’s already been adopted heavily in Europe, and the United States is gradually warming to the idea. there is a strong case to be made that the technology can add a new, profitable revenue stream to any advertising agency, and that there is a public demand for such a…

  • Bridge the revenue gap with on-board infotainment systems

    Public transit is ready for some screen time. Advancements in mobile data delivery has opened a substantial opportunity for transit agencies to improve the overall transit experience, attract riders, and create a new revenue stream to help supplement operations, improve service to core constituents, and support area business. It’s no secret that revenue and funding…

  • 3 tips to build a right-sized transit tech spec.

    See if this sounds like you… You work at a transit agency, and you wear a lot of hats. And not only are you overworked, but your staff is too. Most days, success is defined by just keeping your buses moving smoothly. You desperately need an upgrade to your Intelligent Transit System (or perhaps you…

  • Forget text-to-speech for your on-board announcements, pre-recorded audio is better.

    Turn up the volume on pre-recorded audio. By John Maglio, President ETA Transit Systems Full disclosure: I’ve always disliked text-to-speech (TTS). It’s a wholly impersonal means of conveying critical information to passengers. From the sanitary, robotic pronunciation to the complete lack of support for local multi-lingual dialects. TTS is a poor way to connect with…

  • Has your transit agency embraced digital communications?

    You know that shiny new Intelligent Transit System (ITS) your agency just invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to deploy? Well, odds are, you’ve only scratched the surface of one the most powerful and impactful features—its digital communication capabilities. We’re talking automatic voice announcements, automatic stop announcements, and passenger information display system—the whole shebang. Digital…