Tag: Public transit

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • E-paper displays are ready for prime-time transit

    New sign technology is poised to remake transit stop communication By Matt Schroeder Director of Marketing, ETA Transit Systems Join me for a brief trip down memory lane. From 2006-2009, I served as the Creative Director for a group of 13 regional newspapers spanning the Front Range of Colorado. My tenure at the paper marked…

  • The screen generation will transform transit tech.

    What’s also not a secret is that Millennials (and their younger Gen Z counterparts) are among the fastest-growing adopters of transit and the first generation not to view vehicle ownership as a status symbol. However, like car ownership is driven by the latest bells and whistles, public transit will be pushed by these younger generations…

  • A cash-free future begs you to take my money.

    Versatile payment collection capabilities simplify payment and meets the preference of the rider. While regular transit riders will likely stick to a single form of payment for their transit fares, periodic or impromptu riders will require flexibility in their fare transactions.