Tag: intelligent transit systems

  • How Long Does It Take to Deploy a New CAD/AVL System?

    In the past, deploying a new Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system could take many months or even years. Today, however, modern technologies and advanced implementation techniques have dramatically shortened deployment times, allowing for faster and more efficient system installations. Why Fleet Size and System Features Affect the Timeline While fleet size, existing GTFS data…

  • Navigating the Transit Revolution: Part V—The Future

    As technology continues its rapid advancement, the future of GTFS development is marked by a commitment to addressing real-world challenges and embracing emerging innovations. Recent contributions and pull requests to the GTFS repository demonstrate an ongoing effort to refine and enhance the specification.

  • Navigating the Transit Revolution: Part IV—A Gateway to Historical Transit Operation Data

    Transit ITS Data Exchange Specification (TIDES) is a remarkable GTFS extension that delves into the realm of historical transit operation data. This repository provides data schemas and tools to support the access, management, and improvement of historical transit operations data, including vehicle operations, passenger activity, fare collection, and other similar data. TIDES bridges the gap…

  • Navigating the Transit Revolution: Part II—The History of GTFS

    GTFS has a rich history that reflects the evolution of public transportation data sharing. It emerged as a response to the challenges posed by fragmented and proprietary data formats, aiming to create a standardized way for transit agencies to share their information with developers and users. To provide necessary context for current and future GTFS…

  • Navigating the Transit Revolution: Part I—Unveiling the Power of GTFS

    The world of public transportation is undergoing a transformation, and at the heart of this evolution lie s the General Transit Feed Specification, or GTFS. As we kick off this multi-part blog series, we’ll embark on a journey to explore the depths of GTFS, uncover its significance, and reveal how it’s reshaping the landscape of…

  • Pre-plan your RFP evaluation

    Tools to help your RFP to set realistic expectations and deliver a focused review. Over our history, ETA Transit has submitted hundreds of proposals for mass transit technology RFPs. We’ve won some, we’ve lost some, and we’ve seen RFPs pulled without warning. Win, lose, or draw our practice is to reach out to transit agencies…

  • What factors influence customer satisfaction?

    Communication, not technology, determines the satisfaction with transit systems It is a rarity in the mass transit technology market when we strike up a conversation with a potential customer, and they sing the praises of their current ITS vendor. Let me say it another way—transit operators aren’t happy with their tech partners. According to our…

  • Are your APCs ‘down’ for the count?

    Maximize the efficiency of your automatic passenger counters for NTD certification-worthy results. By Matt Schroeder Director of Marketing, ETA Transit Systems 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…

  • Passenger engagement goes digital

    The next generation of digital display systems provide more ways to educate, inform, and entertain riders By Matt Schroeder Director of Marketing, ETA Transit Systems In the marketing world, there is a thing known as ‘the gag.’ The gag, is a hook; the way you’ll grab the attention of your audience and invest them to…