BC Transit will be rolling out the NextRide service across the province, starting with the Cowichan Transit System.
NextRide is an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology that provides real-time information on where busses are. Transit riders can use BC Transit’s website, Google Maps, or the Transit app to see where their bus is located, and to get an estimate on when the bus will arrive at the nearest stop.
The technology also has a function where an announcement is made as a bus approaches each stop with the name of the stop, so users can be informed of what the next stop is, as well as to hear when their stop is coming up.
“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,” said Tim Croyle, vice president of operations and Chief Operating Officer for BC Transit. “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.”
This technology has been installed on seven transit systems across the province since 2018 and 2019.
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
Laura Brougham
