BC Transit is moving forward with implementation of Real Time technology, also known as automatic vehicle location enabled technology, in Kamloops, Comox Valley, Squamish, Whistler, Kelowna, Victoria, and the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Strategic Mapping Inc. has been selected as the partner to install and maintain the technology.
The new technology includes a web-based passenger application, which will enable commuters to use web browsers and smart mobile devices to see the location of their bus along its route and its predicted arrival time at an identified stop.
Buses will also be equipped with automatic voice announcements and passenger information displays to inform customers of upcoming stops.
From an operational perspective, the Real Time information will allow BC Transit and its partners to better direct buses for schedule reliability, manage on-road incidents more effectively and more easily push alerts out to customers in the case of detours, accidents, or other events that may delay regular routing.
Strategic Mapping Inc., a Canadian company, has been selected as the partner to install and maintain the equipment following a procurement process. Strategic Mapping Inc. has been providing location tracking for transit and other industries across North America for over a decade.
The next steps in the process are to design the system that will be used for BC Transit communities and develop an implementation plan. The Real Time technology is expected to be installed in the seven communities by the end of 2018.
The addition of Real Time technology takes place alongside two additional enhancements that will pave the way for a better customer experience:
· Closed Circuit TV to increase the safety of passengers and drivers
· Automatic passenger counters, which enable BC Transit to optimize service delivery based on precise and timely ridership data
The installation of these technologies is part of the almost $160 million in federal and provincial funding for BC Transit projects that was first announced in June 2016.