The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (TX) announced plans to release a smart-phone application by the end of the year. Houston TRIP, which stands for transit route information and planner, will allow METRO customers to find bus stops, schedules, and eventually next-bus arrivals. “There are a lot of other transit properties that have similarRead… Read more »
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (DC) is exploring high-tech options to better manage its parking supply. After testing sensors at the Fort Totten Metrorail station that capture real-time data on space availability and usage, the agency plans to expand the system to Rockville. Metro also plans to install signs at a Vienna station parkingRead… Read more »
Wireless applications in four areas — agriculture, transportation, energy, and government — can reduce emissions, according to a report commissioned by the wireless trade association CTIA and prepared by BSR. For example, transit signal priority systems that use wireless technology to keep buses moving can reduce fuel consumption by 19% and remove 1.2 million metricRead… Read more »
Responding to one of its most vocal critics, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (OH) agreed to prepare a report on monorail systems in other localities. Kevin Haddad, a Sylvania Township trustee, proposed a 25-mile monorail to be built largely in highway medians. “You’d have no waiting for a bus in the rain. It wouldRead… Read more »
According to a survey conducted by the wireless trade association CTIA, the United States now has more cell phones than people. The number of wireless subscriber connections (327.6 million) has surpassed the population (315.5 million) in the United States and its territories, putting the wireless penetration rate at 103.9%. The survey also showed a 111%Read… Read more »
When OneBusAway developer Brian Ferris left Seattle to join the Google Transit team in Zurich, he assured Seattle commuters that he would help “make sure the lights stay on” for the popular next-bus application. So when King County Metro Transit (WA) restructured its routes a few weeks ago, which introduced some glitches into the app,Read… Read more »
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority expects to award a contract this month for an electronic fare payment system, according to The Inquirer. The $100 million system will allow customers to pay their fares by tapping SEPTA smart cards or bank-issued contactless credit or debit cards on an electronic reader. The system will be designed toRead… Read more »
To enforce the newly adopted state ban on cell phone use on the job, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (CA) will install surveillance cameras to keep an eye on its rail operators. The California Public Utilities Commission approved a regulation last week that prohibits rail transit operators from using personal cell phones and otherRead… Read more »
With the announcement that Sydney would be naming its new farecard Opal (breaking with marine tradition), The City Fix offered seven suggestions for better integrating CityRail (NSW) with Sydney Buses, Sydney Ferries, and Light Rail. Suggestions include offering discounts for round-trip fares, a flat fare structure, and a 24-hour window for ticket validity. Somewhat surprisingRead… Read more »
TriMet (OR) quietly unveiled the public beta for its new open-source multimodal trip planner this week, with the official launch scheduled for October 15. Developed in partnership with OpenPlans, the application will let users plan trips that combine transit, walking, and biking. For trips with a bicycle component, travelers can ask for the fastest itineraryRead… Read more »