UCHRA Beginning To Modernize Bus Technology Through App And Other Tools

UCHRA has begun the process of rolling out its new integrated transportation computer systems.

Director of Transportation Holly Montooth said that the project has been in the works for well over a year.

“The origin of it was really our desire to make sure that we are as accessible as possible,” Montooth said.  “We have a large population of those folks who have both hearing and visual impairments, and we want to make our services as accessible as possible.”

Montooth said that the systems will include rolling signs and voice annunciators in all of its city route buses. She said they will both identify and announce stop locations.

Montooth said that there will also be an app that will provide live updates for bus locations. She said that it also provides automatic passenger counters.

“Just to tell you where we are right now, we’re still in the Dark Ages as far (counting) one, two, three, this is going to bring us up.” “Now it’s going to be automatic. You hop on the bus, there are going to be infrared lights that will actually count each person that enters our vehicles. This is going to be very, very, substantial as far as identifying positive stops, the hours in which the stops are being utilized, it’s going to help our efficiency dramatically.”

Montooth said that this was made possible through a group called Passio GO!