• 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

Use a Real-Time Reporting System That’s Available on the Web 24/7

So many vehicles. So many routes. So many riders. So many variables. Running a modern transit system presents daunting challenges for the very best transportation executives.

Having the right reporting tools in place make a dramatic difference in your team’s ability to operate your system at peak efficiency in spite of the many variables your system faces day in and day out.

The Right Reports Simplify Transit Operations in Even the Largest and most Complicated Systems.

NextBus management reports provide transit executives and supervisors a set of powerful tools to manage their fleet. With these tools, managers get reports on the activities and performance of a single vehicle or route or multiple vehicles and routes selected by the manager. All are easily accessible over the Internet.

The reports are simple to use and provide essential management information, including details on vehicle headways and timepoint schedule adherence.

Management reports are essential for understanding where, why, and how problems are occurring in the system. This knowledge gives dispatchers and supervisors insight into ways to better distribute their resources and results in smoother system operations.

NextBus management reports are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing up-to-the-minute information. Data is stored indefinitely so that valuable reports comparing current and archived data can be created and analyzed.

NextBus standard reports cover most of the information required for managing headway and schedule adherence, from a list of vehicles running and job scheduling, to more complex reports covering details of individual vehicle runs timepoint adherence, and others.

Standard NextBus management reports will enable you to improve:

• Schedule adherence
• Headway management
• Missed blocks
• Vehicle reporting
• Bus operator performance

Performance measurement becomes an easier task with the right set of tools. NextBus management reports provide information you need to optimize your transit operations.

These days, with severely strained resources, those management tools are more important than ever.

Investment in Real-time Passenger Information Systems Can Maintain Service Quality

2009 has seen dramatic cuts in funding for public transit systems across the United States. This comes at a time when Americans are opting increasingly for public transit as a sustainable and affordable alternative to private automobiles.  Fortunately, NextBus can provide affordable solutions that deliver tangible operational benefits in these challenging times.

As Transportation for America recently described the dramatic increase in demand:

Americans took nearly 10.7 billion trips on public transportation in 2008, a four percent increase over 2007 and the highest level since 1956, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Public transportation use has increased 38 percent since 1995 — nearly triple the growth rate of the population of the United States. Contrast this with a 3.6 percent drop in vehicle-miles traveled in 2008 according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Public transportation advocates like Transportation for America work to persuade Congress of the need for adequate, predictable funding. Director, James Corless emphasized: “As employers and commuters everywhere know only too well, public transportation is an essential service that is critical to our economy.”

And, yet, cost cuts are making it difficult to meet this increased demand with existing processes and technology.

Affordable Options from NextBus to Maximize Operational Efficiencies in Spite of Cost Cuts

Because the realities of strained resources that face public transit executives will like persist for the medium term, they can mitigate the negative effects by implementing advanced passenger information technologies.

1. Run an efficient, on-time system. A myriad of problems confront transit executives as they work to achieve on-time results both consistently and cost effectively. Intelligent transportation technologies from NextBus empower executives by showing them what is working well and what is working poorly for every vehicle and every route. In addition,
   easy to generate reports point the way to facilitating changes that improve on-time performance on all routes.
2. Provide a highly predictable route system. An efficient transit system requires a high degree of predictability. It is extremely difficult to provide that predictability without AVL
   & APC systems that provide continuous updates—and takes into consideration random factors such as vehicle breakdowns, traffic jams, and unexpected emergencies. NextBus was designed from the ground up to provide accurate arrival times across a variety of routes.
3. Gather highly accurate ridership and other operations performance data. Optimal transit efficiency depends not only on getting buses and trains to each stop in time, but also on the balancing of passenger loads to prevent both overcrowding and empty vehicles. Our passenger counting capabilities smooth passenger demand spikes throughout the day and reduce demand for additional vehicles during peak periods.
4. Cope with high cost of fuel. Realtime passenger information enables you to minimize the
   use of expensive fuel without compromising service levels. You can make a broad range of operational changes from major to minor, all of which improve efficiencies. Thus, you can serve more passengers and more routes without needing to add more buses.

Effective Use of  NextBus Technology Can Overcome Cost and Passenger Pressure in Major Transit Systems.

The financial challenges that face our municipalities are unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Nor is the increased use of public transportation.

NextBus real-time passenger information systems are enabling more than 65 municipal, university, and corporate transit systems to operate at peak efficiency in spite of tough financial and rider pressure.

Goal to Make One of Most Efficient Systems in the U.S. Even More Efficient.

Real-time Data Available in Multiple Formats for Passengers

The real-time data is available to passengers in several formats.  Stop predictions and real-time location maps are available on the web – linked from www.unitrans.com or directly at www.nextbus.com.  The real-time information is also available in an automated phone system, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. 

This system can be accessed through the standard Unitrans telephone information number 752-BUSS or dialed directly at 530-204-5529.  To use the phone system, riders only need to know the 3-digit stop number for the stop they are using.  This stop number is now included next to the Unitrans logo on all bus stop signs and is also available through the NextBus web site. 

NextBus also offers rider alerts, to provide riders an automated message when their bus is a selected number of minutes away.  The web site provides instructions on how to use this feature for SMS text messaging, PDAs, iPhones, or standard email.  Additional features will be added in the future, such as displays at major terminals and stops.

Unitrans Operations Improved with Real-time Passenger Data

More detailed real time information is provided to Unitrans dispatchers to assist in handling disruptions in the schedule and to assess where problems are with buses being overcrowded or running late.  The system also provides archived data that Unitrans can use to evaluate existing services and proposed changes. 

The ultimate goal of the real-time system is to make Unitrans easier to use for both regular and occasional riders and to make the one of the nation’s most efficient transit systems even more productive. 

History of the Unitrans System

Unitrans was founded in 1968 as the University Transport System, when the Associated Students of UC Davis purchased two vintage London double-decker buses to operate on two routes.

In 1972, Unitrans was opened to the general public, with partial funding from the City of Davis. Since that time the ASUCD/City of Davis partnership has continued, and now Unitrans provides public transportation service to the entire city with 50 buses on 14 routes, carrying over 3 million passengers a year.

All Unitrans drivers and supervisors, as well as most support staff, are UC Davis students working part-time. Their drivers undergo extensive training and testing prior to going into service. Unitrans safety record is among the best among public transit systems in the U.S. All of their employees pride themselves on providing safe and friendly service.

Summing Up:

Both riders and transit executives will benefit from NextBus real-time passenger information.  Riders can plan their travel efficiently because they can count on accurate arrival times. Unitrans executives can optimize their operations to be both cost efficient and environmentally friendly by getting maximum use from minimum resources.

The System Run in Partnership with the U. of North Carolina Has Leveraged NextBus Technology Since 2006.

Chapel Hill won top honors in the category for cities with populations of under 100,000 for creating the fare-free transit program.

Sponsored by Waste Management, Inc., and the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the City Livability Award Program recognizes mayors for exemplary leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in their cities.

Since Chapel Hill Transit became fare free in 2002, it has become the second-largest transit system in North Carolina. Since that time, ridership has risen from 3 million riders a year to over 7 million riders annually projected for 2009.

This program is unique in that while some university transit systems provide fare free service for university students, faculty and staff, very few communities provide free transit service to all riders. The commitment in this community went beyond the University to all citizens in the community in an effort to encourage greater usage of public transportation and reduction of reliance on the single occupancy automobile.

“The Chapel Hill Public Transit system is the foundation of our sustainable future,” said Mayor Foy. “This bus system makes Chapel Hill continue to be the kind of place people love; for us it is an investment and it has paid off big time.”

The University is a full financial partner in the transit system which operates a total of 31 routes with 83 buses and 11 lift equipped vans.

The Chapel Hill community has long encouraged the use of transit over automobile use in central areas of Chapel Hill, including the University. 

Since 2006, the system has employed NextBus technology to simplify operations and improve service for all riders throughout the community.

Two major University of California Campuses to Implement Leading Edge Transportation Management Solutions

Both UC Davis and UCLA operate extensive shuttle service that total more than 30 buses and 19 routes between them. Transportation executives at each location needed to improve the operation of their shuttles to deliver high quality service while simplifying transit operations.

Separately, but for similar reasons, they chose NextBus because of its competitive pricing, reputation, and solid company foundation.  They wanted a stable, financially secure company that understood the transit industry and how to create solutions that are vital to transit management.  They were convinced that NextBus satisfied those needs.

UC Davis: Unitrans Run by Students to Serve the Entire Davis Community Adds RTPIS

Unitrans was founded in 1968 as the University Transport System, when the Associated Students of UC Davis purchased two vintage London double-decker buses to operate on two routes.

In 1972, Unitrans was opened to the general public, with partial funding from the City of Davis. Since that time the ASUCD/City of Davis partnership has continued, and now Unitrans provides public transportation service to the entire city with 50 buses on 14 routes, carrying over 3 million passengers a year.

To make their system operate even efficiently, Unitrans  has contracted with NextBus to provide 50 tracker suites with MDT, automatic passenger counting on 43 vehicles, and the telephone information system. 

UCLA Also Chooses NextBus to Improve Service and Optimize Operations

The magnificent UCLA campus sits on 419 acres at the base of the Santa Monica mountains, five miles from the Pacific Ocean.  Almost 40, 000 undergraduate and graduate student attend the university. 

To provide sustainable transportation solutions for all those students and the rest of the university community, UCLA operates a campus shuttle system. The shuttle incorporates the use of buses and vans that are clean, wheelchair accessible and well-equipped with air-conditioning and comfortable seating.  The shuttle service runs 14 buses on 5 different routes.

To help keep the shuttle running at peak efficiency, NextBus is providing 14 tracker suites with Mobile Data Terminals, 2 portable tracker suites with MDT, automatic passenger counting on 14 vehicles, and a telephone information system.  These tools will deliver real-time bus information wherever riders need it from dorm rooms to iPhones.

Summing Up:

Both riders and transit executives will benefit from NextBus real-time passenger information.  Riders can plan their travel efficiently because they can count on accurate arrival times. Transit executives can optimize their operations to be both cost efficient and environmentally friendly by getting maximum use from minimum resources.

Mike Shares Secrets of NextBus Round-the-Clock Automated Predictions and The Productive Partnership with SF Muni

Muni Diaries is an example of blogging at its best. This is how the blog team describes themselves: We are a ragtag group of San Franciscans who love the ups and the downs, the good and the bad stories in and around the buses and light-rail cars in our city. But we can’t emphasize enough that we want Muni Diaries to be a user-generated exercise in storytelling.

Not only do they tell great stories but their obvious love of and concern for San Francisco’s public transportation system shines through their wide range of articles.  Their extensive Q&A with Mike Smith will help you understand how tough transportation challenges can be managed effectively when the vendor and the transit system work together to deliver continually improved operations.

To give you a flavor of the interview and of Muni Diaries, here are brief excerpts on the topics of real-time info and partnering with SF Muni from the March 6, 2009 interview:

MD: Does somebody just sit there and manage this information, as it comes in? How does that part work?
Smith: The system is pretty much all automated, and that’s how it can run 24 hours a day. Basically all of the generated information is based on the GPS information, and that comes in real time. And also, we use historic information. We know from gathering data how long it typically takes a bus to go from one stop to another, and that’s based on time of day, and all sorts of different conditions. So the system really runs on its own. The main thing that we do is monitor to make sure it’s working and deal with configuration changes. Muni and other transit agencies, they typically make changes once every three months; sometimes there are changes in between that. Those configuration changes are always a good amount of work.

MD: You mentioned that it’s a partnership between NextBus and Muni to ensure this works properly. How often do you chat and what are some of the latest things you’ve discussed to make sure it does indeed run smoothly?
Smith: We definitely talk to them every day. It takes quite a bit of effort to make sure the trackers are working and that the configuration is correct. We also get feedback from passengers, and sometimes it’s issues we can deal with, sometimes it’s issues we need to pass on to Muni, and so we’re always doing that. And, of course, Muni passes us information, too. It’s not like you can buy a NextBus system, plug it in and expect it to work. There’s just an amazing number of complexities that happen every day. And so we always have to be monitoring to make sure the system is working.

To read all of this in-depth interview, including information on a new texting capability now being tested by NextBus, click here: Muni Diaries

 

The venerable Daily Targum reported on the expected disruptions that campus road construction will cause to student and community riders of the university bus system. 

Director of Transportation Services Jack Molenaar and Manager of Transportation Planning Jennifer Stuart Lane hosted a transportation forum March 25, 2009 to present the department’s proposed changes to bus routes and parking permit rates for the upcoming year.

The Rutgers community has already benefitted significantly from the NextBus system. Since its 2005 launch at Rutgers, NextBus has helped reduce student complaints by 35%. This, of course, is a relief in itself; however, fielding fewer complaint calls also leads to increased efficiency, productivity, and job satisfaction among transit employees at both the administrative and operational levels. And with 65,000 riders each day, increasing student satisfaction with transit services was no easy task without NextBus technology.  

The NextBus real-time passenger system will mitigate the disruptive effect of these changes by keeping riders current on arrivals for every changed stop or altered route.

NextBus Can Isolate Instances of Bad Driver Behavior

The forum also gave an opportunity for students to express particular concerns about driver behavior. Molenaar indicated that NextBus reporting tools could identify instances of bad driver behavior from recorded videos.  This enables transportation officials to take corrective action promptly.

The Daily Targum reported just how transit managers can benefit from NextBus technology:

Students raised concerns about bus drivers not stopping at stops or not stopping when they flag down the BrunsQuick Shuttle. Molenaar and Lane said students should contact the department when this happens.
“We can actually go into NextBus and track that. If you give us the time and just get the bus number we can then see yes, they did not stop for you and bring it up and show them the video and show the bus going by,” Lane said.
Molenaar said with the NextBus technology, they can go back and rewind every route and see exactly what a driver did or didn’t do and can view video at their stops, which have cameras.
“We do have drivers that aren’t good sometimes, and when they get a number of complaints we then ask that driver to be removed from service,” Molenaar said.

 

An $80,000 Real-time Passenger Information System Delivers More Value than a New Mini-Bus

Because you can quantify the return on smart transit technology investments, you can be confident in the value of adding real-time passenger information technology. You can make a simple, but accurate comparison to the purchase of new buses just as in our case study.  And, you can keep your passengers happy without breaking the bank.

A representative case in point

Business at the Ajax Hotel and Resort is booming! The resort typically attracts several thousand daily customers, and a new addition to the resort complex allows Ajax to accommodate 3,000 overnight guests. Most of these guests travel by private automobile to the resort so that the resort has had to increase parking capacity by constructing satellite parking lots.

Read more

Our Director of Engineering Points the Way to the Future of Public Transportation

 

If your community is trying to lessen its dependence on automobiles to improve the collective quality of life, you may be able to adapt this insightful presentation that Mike Smith delivered at the “2008 Towards Carfree Cities” conference in Portland Oregon.

He emphasized that technology needs to be part of the public transit solution–with real-time information at the heart of 21st century bus and rail systems.

Enjoy and share Mike’s presentation below:

The transit industry is experiencing an unprecedented combination of factors that seriously affect transit service provision.  Rising fuel costs have driven many commuters to use public transit as their primary method of transportation to and from work.   To make matters worse, motor fuel tax revenues are down as Americans traveled 3.3% fewer miles during the second quarter of 2008.  The bottom line is that transit agencies are attempting to do much more with much less. That’s where ITS solutions from NextBus come in.

Read more

Next Page →