January 22, 2007

AATA launches RideTrak desktop and mobile bus tracking system

ANN ARBOR, MI– The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) has taken a major step forward in providing up-to-the-minute bus schedule information to its riders along any of its 27 routes with its new bus tracking system – RideTrak - developed by Internet Applications & Solutions, Inc. (IAS) of Ann Arbor

The RideTrak Web application brings together two of AATA’s earlier initiatives, Siemens Transit Master and Trapeze dispatch and route scheduling system.

Passengers may access RideTrak information at AATA’s web site www.TheRide.org through the “Routes & Schedules” menu item. Mobile RideTrak may be accessed through a web-enabled mobile phone or PDA at mobile.TheRide.org.

Once a rider selects a route of interest, RideTrak then presents information on all buses currently operating on the route including: bus number, direction (inbound/outbound), the most recent timepoint location a bus has passed, bus schedule adherence (on-time or minutes ahead/behind), upcoming timepoint location and scheduled departure time.

“An AATA customer is now able to go beyond our printed schedules to get up-to-the-minute information on the status of their bus,” Mary Stasiak, AATA Manager of Community Relations, said. “Tracking a bus will help a rider better time their arrival and spend less time waiting at a bus stop. They can also choose which bus is best to take where there is more than one option.”

“Severe weather or traffic conditions impact our schedule adherence and our customers’ experience with our service. RideTrak gives customers the information they need to greatly improve their experience under adverse conditions. Our hope is also that the availability of RideTrak will encourage new riders to make use of our service,” Stasiak added.

Arthur Talbot, CEO of IAS, the development and host firm of AATA’s Web applications, says “The RideTrak Web application interface, based on AATA’s Siemens and Trapeze data systems, provides the most versatile, expandable and convenient way to present meaningful bus schedule adherence information to the AATA customer”.

“What RideTrak offers our customers is schedule adherence on a route, rather than a prediction about the arrival of a bus at a particular stop,” AATA Manager of Information Technology Bobbie MacDonald said. “It is very difficult to predict future arrival times the farther the bus is from a stop. A bus could be five minutes late at one timepoint and make up that time along the route by the time it gets to the next timepoint. We wanted to make sure that what we were offering to our customers was accurate and useful information.”

To gauge reaction and input to the RideTrak feature prior to its official launch, the system was posted on AATA’s web site for customers to test and provide feedback on the service.

The comments were overwhelmingly positive, including one from a rider who wrote, “I love this new feature! I can now wait inside my house and watch the real-time bus clock to know when it will be arriving. This new feature is especially great for cold and bitter Michigan winters!!”

One passenger said, “This system is a huge help. Now I can predict much more accurately when I should leave my office to catch the bus. It increases my productivity, as well.”

Some riders who tested the system requested access from their cell phones. AATA launched Mobile RideTrak for Web-enabled phones and is looking into also providing text messaging capabilities.

Another stated, “This feature is fantastic! … We didn’t know exactly when the bus would come, but now we do!”

“Others who commented said that they would like to be able to receive e-mail alerts about the status of a bus, a service that is now in the planning stages,” Stasiak said.

For riders without access to the Internet via desktop or mobile Web browser, up-to-the-minute bus schedule information is available by calling AATA’s Routes & Schedules information line at 734.996.0400.

Mobile RideTrak service is available at http://mobile.aata.org.

Example Mobile RideTrak screenshot images:

The chart of RideTrak information for a route includes the bus number, direction, the most recent timepoint of the bus, the current adherence to the published schedule (whether on time, or the number of minutes behind or ahead), the next timepoint located along the route and the scheduled departure time for that stop. A refresh button allows riders to update the on-screen information for a route as needed.

Using the information available a passenger can estimate when their bus should arrive at their stop and plan accordingly.

RideTrak integrated Web application is available at http://TheRide.org (Routes & Schedules)

Example desktop Web browser screenshot image:

Questions about RideTrak may be directed to AATA Manager of Community Relations Mary Stasiak at 734.973.6500.

Information on RideTrak available to transportation providers is available on the Web at www.RideTrak.com, through IAS’ Web site at www.ias.net or by phone at 734-668-8752.

Internet Applications & Solutions, Inc. – IAS of Ann Arbor Michigan provides comprehensive Web design, application development and managed host solutions for most major client markets. For more than 12 years, IAS has been bringing high value Internet technology solutions to commercial, not-for-profit and municipality clients.