Transit Resources

Binghamton University has partnered with ETA for over a decade to support its uniquely student-run transit system with CAD/AVL, automated passenger counters, and campus ID card integration.

In the realm of mass transit technology, it is a rare occurrence to encounter a potential customer who enthusiastically praises their current CAD/AVL (Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location) vendor. To put it simply, transit operators are often dissatisfied with their CAD/AVL vendor. According to our annual surveys of transit agencies, more than two-thirds express their discontent.

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 special roundtable episode of Stop Requested, ETA CEO John Maglio joins hosts Levi McCollum and Christian Londono, along with Stephen Kuban, CEO of KTS, to compare what they are seeing and hearing about AI across the public transportation industry.

Boca Raton, FL. August 25, 2023. ETA, a leading provider of CAD/AVL transit technology solutions, is proud to announce that J. Levi McCollum, the company’s Lead Product Owner, has been recognized in Mass Transit magazine’s esteemed 40 Under 40 list. This prestigious accolade celebrates young individuals making significant contributions in the public transit industry.

Boca Raton, FL. August 21, 2025. The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) has been named a recipient of Metro Magazine’s Innovative Solutions Award for its collaboration with ETA on a project that dramatically improved communications and operational efficiency.

Don’t overlook the “employee factor” when adopting new technology. See if this sounds familiar. You and a select group of co-workers have spent time researching, interviewing, and demoing a new technology or process to be implemented at your company. You’re certain that you have been thorough in your efforts. The solution checks every box and satisfies every need. It’s expensive, but the ROI is worth it. You sign the paperwork, establish a schedule, and when the day comes to flip the switch, your staff greets the new system with a collective shrug. Undeterred, you’re confident that once your employees will see the benefits and welcome this change into their work lives. Only that doesn’t happen. Months into deployment, the new technology isn’t being used as intended. The system isn’t generating the expected benefits. The staff are actively developing workarounds, or worse yet, trying to get the new system to perform like the old system. Tempers are flaring. Upper management is demanding answers. Did you buy a lemon? Or did you forget to include your staff in the procurement process? Did you forget to build anticipation and educate how this new system would improve their job satisfaction, make their lives easier, or address lingering performance issues? According to our annual survey to transit agencies, 80 percent of transit operations experience resistance from their staff or customers when adopting new technology or practices. When polled further, about this resistance, transit agencies believed that the quality of the vendor-provided training materials (56%) played a factor in poor adoption, and the inclusion of cheat sheets and user guides (42%) and options for supplemental training (38%) would be helpful in changing employee perceptions. While a well-trained staff can be important in wringing the best performance out of new technology investments, it’s not the only variable. In truth, there are three critical areas of technology adoption that must be addressed: The requirements of the technology (which problems will it solve) Generating excitement among riders (get transit customers excited about the change) Generating excitement among employees Transit agencies excel in the first two areas. In fact, our customers routinely ask us for marketing materials and strategies to engage with their riders and let them know what’s coming. When we include internal marketing materials for their staff, it’s a common response to hear “hmmm, I didn’t think about marketing to our employees. What a great idea.” The assumption, as we see it, is that whatever change is decided upon by leadership is that it will be readily embraced by employees. After all, change is coming, and they have little-to-no say in the matter. If they want a job, they’ll use the tools provided. The assumption is that employees understand what doesn’t work well, so any initiative that solves those concerns will be embraced. Except that’s not reality, and truth be told, your staff has their own ideas on how to solve challenges—which by default creates obstacles and roadblocks that need to be overcome. In our view, pre-marketing the change to staff is every bit as important as the quality of training and resources. Why? Because pre-marketing helps build anticipation by extolling more intimate benefits to the staff. It includes them in the conversation. It extolls more intimate benefits, provides ways of seeking more information, and begins that emotional transition from what is to what will be. Change is intimidating. We can’t just plop a new system or service in the laps of our employees and expect that they will be excited about it and embrace it without question. Take steps to bring your staff along in the process. Provide updates, answer questions, listen to concerns and feedback. If they feel involved, they will be more likely to embrace this new solution willingly rather than begrudgingly. And when the staff is onboard, that’s when meaningful change can really take off.

In the world of public transit, understanding industry language is critical. Whether you’re evaluating new technology, reading procurement documents, or coordinating with vendors, transit acronyms and technical terms are everywhere. That’s why we built the ETA Glossary—a helpful resource to support transit professionals like you to quickly decode industry jargon.

In this episode of Stop Requested, Levi McCollum and Christian Londono speak with Shelley Strimaitis, Planning and Special Projects Manager at Bloomington Transit, about her journey from experiencing Singapore’s transit system to leading innovative projects in a vibrant university town. Shelley shares insights on the transformative power of live vehicle tracking and how Bloomington Transit is using microtransit to fill service gaps while prioritizing fixed-route services. Discover how thoughtful transit planning is reshaping public transportation for university communities.

In this episode of Stop Requested, hosts Levi McCollum and Christian Londono sit down with Joel Rey, Director of Transit Services and Principal Associate at Benesch, to explore his 36-year journey in transit planning and consulting. Joel shares how a single university course sparked his passion for transit, leading to a career that has shaped mobility across Florida and beyond. From launching new transit systems from the ground up to navigating mergers and fostering a culture of mentorship, Joel offers candid insights into the challenges and triumphs of the industry. The conversation unfolds as Joel reflects on the evolution of transit planning, describing how his early hands-on research experiences grew into leading large-scale projects. He recounts key lessons from implementing transformative transit services such as LakeXpress and the SunRunner BRT, highlighting the importance of balancing community aspirations with financial realities and the critical role of stakeholder education. The discussion then turns to the impact of emerging technologies like microtransit, autonomous vehicles, and AI, and how these innovations are poised to disrupt and enhance the future of public transportation. Joel also shares practical advice for young professionals entering the field, emphasizing the value of soft skills, mentorship, and perseverance, and underscores that meaningful impact in transit often takes time and a willingness to engage with a broad range of projects and people.

Boca Raton, FL. April 22, 2025. ETAs, a leading provider of innovative transit technology solutions, is proud to celebrate the one-year anniversary of its successful CAD/AVL system deployment with High Valley Transit in partnership with their operator Via. Since the system’s launch in April 2024, the collaboration has transformed the efficiency and reliability of High Valley Transit’s fixed-route operations, addressing key challenges with previous technology and significantly improving the rider’s experience.

ETA’s radio integration improves dispatch communication at TARTA.