Real-time bus location technology will be installed in
new communities all across the province
BC Transit has completed a successful Negotiated Request for Proposals process and has signed a contract with Consat for the next phase of the NextRide program that will enhance customer experience and increase ridership throughout the province. The Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology will be installed in communities and regional transit systems across the province on approximately 315 buses operating on all conventional, fixed routes in British Columbia.
NextRide technology will be installed across transit systems throughout British Columbia starting this month in the Cowichan Transit System. Two installation teams will work closely together in neighbouring or nearby communities as they move through the province to install the new technology on buses.
NextRide will continue to use AVL technology to allow even more customers to see real-time bus locations along routes and identify what predicted arrival times are at any selected stop. Onboard, automated stop announcements call out stops to customers riding the bus, which increases comfort and convenience, while also improves the overall accessibility for many using transit. Through BC Transit, it will provide bus location data to mobility providers like Google Maps and our partner Transit App, so our customers across the province can track and monitor bus routes using their application of choice.
The NextRide project is funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. This project is being cost shared with the Government of Canada contributing 50 per cent, the Province of British Columbia contributing 40 per cent and local government partners contributing the remaining 10 per cent. The project cost for NextRide being installed in these additional transit systems is nearly $6 million.
NextRide falls under BC Transit’s Smart Bus program, which introduces new technologies on buses that improve the customer experience, while also helping grow ridership by making transit more accessible, safer and enjoyable. This initiative aims to leverage recent technology advances to provide improved information for our customers and bus operators, while also providing greater flexibility, scalability, and value to BC Transit and its local government partners.
NextRide is a BC Transit initiative to install AVL technology on buses across the province. This technology already enables customers across seven transit systems on Vancouver Island, Squamish/Whistler and in the Interior to use web browsers and smart mobile devices to see the location of their bus along its route and its predicted arrival time at an identified stop. By downloading the Transit App, customers know exactly when their bus will arrive and allow them to see how full a bus is at any given time.
QUOTES:
Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities
“Timely transit information helps residents effectively plan their commute to work, school, and other activities. By providing real-time data on bus locations and arrival times for residents, the expansion of the NextRide initiative will help ensure smoother and more timely commutes for British Columbians. Our Government is committed to working with our provincial partners on public transit projects like NextRide, which will improve the quality of life for residents and build more sustainable and accessible communities.”
Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
“It’s great to see the successful NextRide program being rolled out across the province. State-of-the-art technology like this will enhance the user experience, encourage more people to leave their cars at home and help rebuild transit ridership as we emerge from COVID-19.”
Tim Croyle, Vice President, Operations and Chief Operating Officer, BC Transit
“Expanding the NextRide program will improve the customer experience, increase safety for riders and drivers, improve accessibility for users and provide important data for better route planning that will benefit customers across the province. We’re excited to introduce NextRide into new transit systems with our new partner Consat to make it more convenient to use transit, no matter where you live.”
Roger Sauve, CAO Consat Canada
“We are very pleased to be working with BC Transit on the NextRide program. We are confident that our solutions will meet the goals of BC Transit to improve the overall customer experience across the province. Our team is looking forward to deploying our technology to the 19 transit systems and meeting all the operating companies.”
For a more detailed installation schedule, please see the accompanying backgrounder and find out more on the NextRide project page.
Media contacts
BC Transit communications
250-880-1303 | Media@bctransit.com
