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Transit keeps track of buses
By THE CHRONICLE-JOURNAL
Thursday, September 13, 2007

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Thunder Bay Transit operations supervisor Dave Moore observes the location of seven city transit buses that have been equipped with the GPS Next Bus Real-Time Passenger Information System.

Global positioning satellite equipment has been installed on just over a dozen of Thunder Bay‘s transit buses.
The work to install the system that will cost the city $646,000 began Sept. 5, Thunder Bay Transit manager Alex Grant said Thursday.
The tracking information will help transit officials plan the timing of routes.
The information will be relayed to digital screens at major bus stops to let those waiting know how long it will take the next bus to arrive.
Those major stops will include the north- and south-end depots, Confederation College, Lakehead University, Intercity Shopping Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to start, Grant said.
As well, electronic counters above bus doors will let planners know how many bus riders get on and off at various stops, allowing them to build more time into the schedule for busier stops.
Hard data on ridership is information that goes to the provincial government, which includes rider numbers as part of its formula to calculate how much money returns to cities from the gas tax.
Once all the equipment – GPS system and rider counters – is installed on at least 15 buses, the transit department will do some preliminary pilot testing, said Grant.
Full installation will be done by the end of year or January at the latest, he said.
The system will use TBayTel‘s advanced CDMA wireless network.
The $646,000 contract, held by Grey Island Systems, does not include monthly service fees or equipment for future route additions.
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