Tag: transit communication

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • It’s time to bury your printed schedules six feet deep.

    Display and mobile technologies have rendered the printed schedule obsolete. By Matt SchroederDirector of Marketing, ETA Transit Systems The printed schedule must die. There, I said it and if feels amazing. And if you’re sitting there with your mouth agape wondering how I could blaspheme such a longtime staple of public transit; I don’t blame…

  • 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…

  • Part II: Marketing transit on the cheap.

    We’re continuing our look at what local public transit agencies can do to market the technological investments they’ve made in their operations. If you haven’t done so yet, take a few minutes to Read part 1: Changing the perception about public transit to get some background information about the challenges public transit operations face when…

  • 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…