• Home
• How NextBus Works
• News
• Contact us
• About Us
• Free Newsletter

Sign Up for NextBus News

Email Address ^*

 

Categories

• AVL Systems
• Best Practices
• Feature Stories
• Financing University Systems
• Government Funding
• Grey Island Systems
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Marketing Transit
• Municipal Transit
• NextBus, Inc.
• Paratransit
• Real-time Passenger Information Systems
• Research
• Success Stories
• Sustainability
• Transit Funding
• Transit Management Challenges
• Transit Trends
• Transportation Trends
• Uncategorized
• University Transit
• WebTech Wireless

Admin

• Log in
• Entries RSS
• Comments RSS
• WordPress.org

With a history dating to the beginning of the last century, WKU achieved full university status in 1966 and has since graduated more than 110,000 students. Its beautiful main campus crowns a hill overlooking the city of Bowling Green.

Among the many services that Western Kentucky University provides its students, faculty, and staff is Topper Transit, a free transit service provides transportation to faculty, staff and students on campus, between main and south campus, and off campus in the evenings.

To improve operational efficiency and make shuttle riding more convenient for university community passenger, the University has awarded a contract worth more than $100,000.

Read more

Bad News for Auto Makers but Good News for Sustainable Transportation

Although Ad Age is a surprising source for public transit information, their recent article about a transformative transportation trend highlighted research that has powerful implications for the future of buses, trains, and automobiles One quick snippet: In 1978, 75% of American 17-year-olds had drivers licenses. 30 years later fewer than half were licensed to drive.

As Ad Age indicates, there is a sea change in behavior among young people that suggests fewer cars on the road and more bus and train riders in the years to come:

The automobile, once a rite of passage for American youth, is becoming less relevant to a growing number of people under 30. And that could have broad implications for marketers in industries far beyond insurance, gasoline and retail.

In fact, the trend extends to overall driving behavior among those 30 or younger who accounted for just 13.7% of miles driven in 2009 versus 20.8% in 1995–that’s an astonishing drop of 34%.

The phenomenon apparently springs from the new digital culture in which young people are so attached to smart phones and other electronic devices that they will readily swap the freedom of car driving for the luxury of interacting with their smart phones, games or more recently, their iPads.

In addition, young people value their time and find that they can work during a public transit commute but not in their cars on the freeway. And, there is also a fair degree of sensitivity to issues of transportation sustainability.

Fewer Drivers Mean More Trains May Be on the Way

Today, only 30 of the 100 metropolitan areas that account for 75% of American population have trains, but, pressure is intensifying to build more.  For example, Denver, Charlotte, N.C., and Portland, Ore., are developing systems while Cincinnati is debating the development of a streetcar system that would link its downtown with uptown neighborhoods increasingly popular with young professionals.

The bottom line: The shift away from young folks’ passion for automobiles represents a long-term trend and not a blip on the radar screen. It suggests that there will be a greater aggregation of population in urban centers and a concomitant need for more reliable public transportation.

Variety of Transit Systems Join the NextBus Real-time Passenger Information Family

From the Midwest to New England, the benefits of real-time passenger information will be rolling out for 97 buses on 48 different routes.

Municipal, university, and private bus systems are included—and join four new installations purchased in May of 2010.

Here are the highlights:

University of Iowa (Iowa)

• 37 buses and 3 support vehicles tracked
• 5 APC units
• 37 buses with Wi-Fi for passenger use
• 25 buses with OBD/engine diagnostic interface
• 37 buses with driver silent alarm
• 14 routes
• 1 telephone information system

Iowa City Transit (Iowa)

• 27 buses tracked
• 5 APC units
• 27 buses with Wi-Fi for passenger use
• 12 buses with OBD/engine diagnostic interface
• 20 routes
• 1 telephone information system

Coralville Transit (Iowa)

• 10 buses tracked
• 2 APC units
• 10 buses with Wi-Fi for passenger use
• 6 routes
• 1 telephone information system

Charles River TMA (provides additional service to MIT) (Massachusetts)

• 7 buses tracked and 1 portable spare tracker
• 7 APC units
• 1 route
• 1 telephone information system

Yale New Haven Hospital (Connecticut)

• 13 buses tracked
• 3 24” 2-line LED signs
• 1 52” 5-line LED sign
• 7 routes
• 1 telephone information system

These transit systems join George Mason University, CMRT, University of North Carolina,  and the Washington, DC Circulator as new customers since Jan. 1, 2010.

 

Our new parent company, WebTech Wireless Inc. (TSX: WEW today reported revenue of $10.5 million for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2010. This compares to $6.7 million for the same quarter in the prior fiscal year for growth of 57%, driven by the addition of the Company’s InterFleet™ and NextBus™ businesses, acquired in late 2009 and compares to $8.3 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2009, for growth of 27%.

“This is our first full quarterly period reporting consolidated results from all three of our brands, Quadrant®, InterFleet and NextBus and the first period under new management. We are obviously pleased to report
revenues rising, margins improving and expenses falling. We are also pleased to be approaching our goal of positive EBITDAS”, said Scott Edmonds, WebTech Wireless, President and CEO.

Highlights from WebTech Wireless 1st Quarter 2010 Report

• First quarter with revenue in excess of $10 million.
• Recurring Subscriptions, Software and Services revenue totaled $6.2 million representing 59% of overall revenue, a trend which is expected to continue, and which marks the first time hardware sales have represented less than 50% of revenue.
• Profit margins of 54% are slightly below the prior comparable period but are significantly above those reported for the prior preceding quarter and are two percentage points above those reported for the year ended December 31, 2009.
• Expenses in the quarter are 21% below expenses for the immediately prior quarter – reflecting ongoing cost cutting implemented by new management, and include more than $500,000 in nonrecurring severance charges, and are approximately double the expenses reported in the prior
comparable quarter, reflecting the addition of the InterFleet and NextBus business, but also the addition of approximately $1.2 million in non-cash Amortization and Stock Based Compensation expenses.
• A loss of $1.9 million ($0.02 per share) for the quarter which translates to an Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, Amortization and Stock Based Compensation, (“EBITDAS”) loss of $0.9 million ($0.01 per share), or $0.4 million ($nil per share) when severance charges from a reorganization of its sales department are backed out of the results.

For more information on WebTech Wireless go to: www.WebTechTechWireless.com

Bay Area Riders Make Their Commutes Predictable and Efficient

Every municipal transit system is suffering from budget woes relating to high costs that are ironically often exacerbated by increased ridership. San Francisco’s Muni system shares these challenges but benefits from the NextBus real-time passenger information system that tells riders just when they can expect the next bus.  It also provides management tools that empower transit executives to optimize operational efficiency.

Read more

Students and Faculty Can Now Plan Their Bus Travel Easily and Intelligently

The University of Houston serves 37,000 students at its 667 acre facility and ranks highly for its academic programs and the diversity of its student population. 

Since 1993, it has provided a shuttle bus service for the university community. Now, that system is even more useful thanks to their new NextBus solution. Instead of posting static time schedules, which are inevitably altered by varying traffic congestion, numbers of students entering or exiting buses and other external factors, NextBus offers real-time predictions of the buses’ arrivals.

As Bob Browand, University of Houston’s Director of Parking and Transportation, indicates:

“UH has had a shuttle system for the past 17 years and now we have an adequate system that should be convenient for everyone. Before, it was hard to manage; we didn’t know what times buses would arrive, and now we do.  Each bus is equipped with a GPS system that updates every 45 seconds for accuracy.”

Students echoes Browand’s enthusiasm. Sociology junior Megan Pavageau, a resident at Bayou Oaks, said she will use the new system to get to class on time, “Before Next Bus, I would never know when the shuttle would pick me up, and it often ran late, but I think the new system will be more helpful, because now I will know the shuttle will be at my apartment and my daily schedule will not be interrupted due to late shuttles.”

To find out the next three arrival times of buses at a particular stop, commuters need only select the desired route and stop from the drop down menu on the UH NextBus page. Three live-time predictions will automatically display, with a message such as, “Next vehicles for route Robertson Line – Red Route in: 1 minute… 2 minutes…9 minutes”.

Engineering sophomore Gabriella Koenig is excited about UH’s new investment, “I have been wondering where my student fees go. This is something I don’t mind paying for,” she said. “Being able to find out when exactly the shuttle is coming will ensure that I actually get to class on time from now on.”

As Browand concludes, “Having real-time arrival times at their finger tips will empower our passengers and improve their ridership experience.”

A Resort Professional Counts on Our Predictions—and So Do Her Guests

Fort Myers Beach offers year round fun for residents and visitors who use the friendly Beach Trolley to travel the full length of the sun-splashed island.

In turn, the Trolley leverages NextBus to make for an easy riding experience. As we learned recently it’s also a favorite for a professional who works for Sunstream Hotels & Resorts, a hospitality company whose beautiful properties dot the colorful SW Florida landscape.

Clang, Clang Goes the Trolley Up and Down Fort Myers Beach

LeeTran of Fort Myers operates an extensive system of regular buses throughout the city and in surrounding Lee County–an area covering hundreds of square miles. Most of their buses operate along traditional routes with frequent schedules that empower commuters and shoppers who choose public transit over autos.

For beautiful Fort Myers Beach, they do something much different. They operate a classic trolley that covers the length of the barrier island from Fort Myers on the north to Bonita Springs.

In peak season, the trolley is the most sensible way to travel because the single N-S road is jammed with vacationers and snowbirds. This applies as much for local business professionals as it does for visitors and residents.

We were delighted to learn that Stacy Stahl, a Reservations Consultant with Sunstream Hotels & Resorts finds NextBus invaluable:

I wanted to let you know how much I value your NextBus service! I live and work on Fort Myers Beach, and I depend on this service to provide up-to-the-minute information for myself as an Island resident, as I use the trolley for transportation to and from work. It helps me get to and from work on time.

The service is also a very helpful tool for our guests. If they come into our office, I can jump onto your website and let them know when the next trolley will be coming by to take them where they want to go. It’s a great service, and I am going to be sure to let my friends and family know about it so they can be informed about it as well. Keep up the excellent work!

Even in sunny SW Florida, it’s important to know when the next bus—or trolley—is going to arrive. Thanks, Stacy, for sharing your positive thoughts about the value of our predictions for you and for your clients and friends.

More than $12,000/year in San Francisco and $9,000 in Washington, DC

Public transportation riders can save on average $9,242 annually based on the January 11, 2010 national average gas price and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.  Of course, they also miss traffic jams—and when NextBus is available as in San Francisco and Washington, DC, they can travel quickly and reliably, too.

Compared to last year at this time, the average cost per gallon of gas was $1.79 which is nearly $1 less than the current price of gas at $2.75 per gallon.  This increase in cost equates to an additional $600 in savings per year for transit commuters as compared to last year’s savings amount at this same time.

“The Transit Savings Report” released monthly by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) calculates the average annual and monthly savings for public transit users.  The report examines how an individual in a two-person household can save money by taking public transportation and living with one less car.

Transit riders can save on average $770 per month.  The savings amount is based on the cost of the national averages for parking and driving, as well as the January 11 national average gas price of $2.75 per gallon for self-serve regular gasoline as reported by AAA.

Taking public transportation provides a safe and affordable way for individuals and families to cut costs, according to APTA.  In addition, local public transit offers a travel option that has an immediate positive impact in reducing an individual’s overall carbon footprint while helping reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil.

The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $154.23, according to the 2009 Colliers International Parking Rate Study.  Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,850.

The top 20 cities with the highest transit ridership are ranked in order of their transit savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transit pass and factoring in local gas prices for January 11, 2010 and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*

 

Top Twenty Cities – Transit Savings Report

	City	Monthly Savings	Annual Savings
1	New York	$ 1,147	$ 13,765
2	Boston	$ 1,030	$ 12,362
3	San Francisco	$ 1,013	$ 12,156
4	Chicago	$  946	$ 11,357
5	Seattle	$ 932	$ 11,185
6	Philadelphia	$ 927	$ 11,121
7	Honolulu	$ 887	$ 10,639
8	Los Angeles	$ 838	$ 10,052
9	San Diego	$ 824	$ 9,894
10	Minneapolis	$ 824	$ 9,884
11	Cleveland	$ 803	$ 9,639
12	Portland	$ 798	$  9,581
13	Denver	$ 795	$ 9,539
14	Baltimore	$ 782	$ 9,383
15	Miami	$ 752	$ 9,022
16	Washington, DC	$ 751	$ 9,015
17	Dallas	$730	$ 8,756
18	Atlanta	$722	$ 8,658
19	Las Vegas	$716	$ 8,591
20	Pittsburgh	$ 680	$ 8,162

 *Based on gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 1/11/10.

Easy explanations of how to use NextBus for Efficient Public Transit Travel

The San Francisco Bay area boasts excellent public transit systems in the city itself and in surrounding counties. AC Transit is notable not only for a well-run system, but for its effectiveness in marketing the benefits of public transit to its passengers.

AC Transit is the third-largest bus-only transit system in California, serving over 400 square miles of the East Bay. For over forty years, AC Transit has been dedicated to providing quality mass transit. Every weekday, over 230,000 people ride their fleet of nearly 800 buses.  They run buses on 105 routes with more than 6500 stops.

They have committed to NextBus to improve bus travel for their millions of annual passengers.  To make the most of their NextBus implementation, they have recently added advertising to their bus shelters.  Now, even passersby get the message about how easy it is to use public transit and to stay on time.

Learn about More Examples of Effective Marketing from AC Transit

AC Transit has created ACT for Me as “Your Guide to the Future of Public Transit.”  They illustrate why AC Transit should be an integral part of your life by sharing a creative range of content—from user-generated videos, to a savings calculator, to a discussion of community and environment benefits, and the exciting future of transit. Click here to read more about ACTforMe.org

35% Growth Includes 7 New Municipal and 15 University Systems

Real-time passenger information systems pioneer strengthens its leadership role in the United States and Canada.  Millions of passengers,  thousands of buses, and hundreds of new routes now benefit from NextBus technology.  Total installations approach 65 with more on the way.

Here is the list of 22 new NextBus installations

California-Northern	Unitrans ASUCD/City of Davis
California-Southern	UCLA
District of Columbia	WMATA Washington
Florida	Nova Southeastern University
Maryland	Charm City Circulator
Maryland	Towson University
Maryland	University of Maryland
Maryland	University of Baltimore
Massachusetts	MBTA
New Jersey	New Jersey Transit
New Jersey	Rutgers Univ. Newark College Town Shuttle
North Carolina	East Carolina University
North Carolina	University of North Carolina
Ontario	Niagara Falls Transit
Ontario	Toronto Transit Commission
Pennsylvania	Allegheny College
Pennsylvania	Slippery Rock University
Quebec	Societe de transport de Laval
Texas	University of Houston
Texas	Texas State University

Next Page →