Regional District of Nanaimo Transit showed off new technology Wednesday that will allow riders to track buses in real time, among other benefits.
RDN and B.C. transit announced in April that it was implementing NextRide automatic vehicle location technology which provides bus tracking on cellphones; it would also add automated voice notifications and electronic signs on buses informing transit users of the next stop.
Officials from the RDN and B.C. Transit, as well as B.C. Transportation Minister Claire Trevena, were on hand for a demonstration bus ride on Wednesday.
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Trevena joked that while the notifications weren含羞草研究社檛 done with actor Morgan Freeman含羞草研究社檚 voice, they would be appreciated.
含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 pleased that there are people here who will benefit from this NextRide technology,含羞草研究社� said Trevena. 含羞草研究社淧eople of all ages, all abilities use B.C. Transit to get around and with today含羞草研究社檚 launch of NextRide technology, we are making transit really modern, a more contemporary and convenient and accessible option for those who are of two minds about whether they should use transit, this makes it much easier.含羞草研究社�
What does think of and new tech?
含羞草研究社� Karl Yu (@KarlYuBulletin)
The enhancements are welcomed by Albert Ruel, who is blind and has been advocating for the technology for a long time.
含羞草研究社淚t just allows me to know with confidence when my bus stop is coming up,含羞草研究社� said Ruel. 含羞草研究社淚t also, with the outdoor announcement, it means that when the bus pulls up and the driver opens the door, I will know that that is the bus I含羞草研究社檓 looking for because it will announce the number of the bus and the direction 含羞草研究社� as a blind person I can hear the engine in the back. To find the door is a heck of a problem, so that announcement above the door helps me to find the door.含羞草研究社�
The Regional District of Nanaimo area is the first area where NextRide has been implemented and it will be rolled out in the Comox Valley in June, Squamish and Whistler sometime in the summer, Kamloops and Kelowna in the fall and Victoria in late 2018 or early 2019.
Strategic Mapping Inc. has been contracted to install and monitor the technology, according to a press release, with money coming from Public Transit Infrastructure Fund announced by both the federal and provincial governments in June 2016 and the total cost of the project is $6.74 million, according to Jonathon Dyck, B.C. Transit spokesman.
It will be cost shared with the federal government assuming 50 per cent, provincial government 33 per cent and local government assuming the remaining 17 per cent.
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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