BC Transit has announced it will be launching NextRide, its Automatic Vehicle Location technology, in the Cowichan Valley Transit System this spring.
Following several weeks of testing and training, the new technology is now available to BC Transit customers throughout the reason.
BC Transit says that NextRide allows 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, in an effort to increase comfort and accessibility, the transit company says.
Through BC Transit, bus location data is provided to mobility providers like Google Maps and Transit App, so customers in the Cowichan Valley can track and monitor bus routes using their application of choice.
The NextRide technology has already been deployed in seven transit systems across the province to date.
“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,” said Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver—Sunshine Coast—Sea to Sky Country. “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.”
BC Transit says two installation teams will install the technology in communities across the province, and estimate it will be complete by summer 2022.
This phase of the project is estimated to cost nearly $6 million.
This technology is being funded by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, where the federal government pays 50 per cent, B.C. government pays 40 per cent, then the remaining 10 per cent is paid by the local municipal government.
Consat Canada, an engineering company that started in Sweden and has a Canadian subsidiary company based in Quebec, has been chosen as the company to install the technology on the buses.
The communities that will have the technology installed, as well as the proposed timeline are as followed:
- January 2022 – Cowichan Valley
- February 2022 – Port Alberni
- February 2022 – Campbell River
- Spring 2022 – Fraser Valley Transit Systems
- Spring 2022 – Vernon Regional
- Spring 2022 – Shuswap Regional
- Spring 2022 – South Okanagan-Similkameen
- Spring 2022 – Dawson Creek
- Spring 2022 – Fort St. John
- Spring 2022 – Powell River Regional Transit System
- Summer 2022 – Sunshine Coast
- Summer 2022 – Prince George
- Summer 2022 – Kitimat, Skeena Regional and Terrace Regional
- Summer 2022 – Prince Rupert/Port Edward
- Summer 2022 – Cranbrook
- Summer 2022 – Kimberley
- Summer 2022 – Elk Valley
- Summer 2022 – Columbia Valley
- Summer 2022 – Creston Valley
- Summer 2022 – West Kootenay
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