Avail Technologies, State College, PA, is an enterprise-level solutions provider for public transit, specializing in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solutions. In an interview with BUSRide, Rick Spangler, chief technology officer at Avail Technologies, answers a few critical questions about integrating ITS, ERP, and EAM systems. What […]
Battery-electric buses are gaining fast ground in traditional transit fleets. A key success factor in deploying electric propulsion lies within the deployment of the charging infrastructure. Charging infrastructure can vary significantly in type. This includes the power type (AC – alternating current, or DC – direct current) and the power transfer type (conductive, using […]
Most of the challenges facing fare collection revolve around the ease of use for your riders. Using multiple systems or complicated fare structures makes it difficult for new riders to feel comfortable, because they fear not having the correct ticket or amount of cash on hand. If your riders make a mistake because of an […]
Following the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas this past January, public transit suddenly became the darling of North American fascination. Why? Smart Cities. Defined by the global Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the world’s largest technical professional organization for the advancement of technology, a Smart (Sustainable) City is an […]
Using Avail Technologies as an integrator and ITS provider, Centre Area Transportation Authority provides urban-scale transit to Penn State students and State College, PA, residents Centre Area Transportation Authority (CATA) operates community and campus transit routes in State College, PA, home to Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Though its approximately 72 full-size buses, eight paratransit […]
By Steve D. Johnson So far in this series we have discussed several areas where the HVAC can have a direct effect on the operation of the zero-emission battery bus (ZEB), including HVAC efficiency, passenger comfort, maintenance, and battery range. While bus cabin noise level has long been a concern for operators, specifications continue to […]
BUSRide spoke with Nick Ross, industry solutions manager for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) at Trapeze Group, about “smart cities,” and the part technology plays in advancing this important concept. How does the technology your company provides assist transit agencies and / or municipalities in operating a “smart city?” Connectivity is the name of the […]
In this eye-opening look at third-party transit management, we speak with the following panelists: In what significant ways does your company enhance mobility for cities and municipalities? I In what significant ways does your company enhance mobility for cities and municipalities? Rick Dunning: The primary way that First Transit can help municipalities, […]
New Flyer Industries’ (NFI Group) acquisition of Motor Coach Industries (MCI) in 2015 represented a sea change in the bus industry for multiple reasons, not the least of which centered on an expansion of the MCI’s parts and service offerings. In October, all of the parts sales and support for MCI and New Flyer OEM […]
If you attended the APTA EXPO this past year, you noticed that everyone who had an electric vehicle showed it. You also noticed that there are some new players in the market building electric vehicles. Finally, you noticed that nearly every supplier selling mechanical accessories now has an electrically-driven alternative. The future of transit was […]