Big Data has big payoffs for this APTA-award winning transit agency
Company Size
200-1,000
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- TripSpark Streets
- TripSpark Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs)
Tech Stack
- GTFS Tools
- Passenger Information App
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Customer Satisfaction
- Digital Expertise
- Productivity Improvements
Technology Category
- Analytics & Modeling - Big Data Analytics
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
- Networks & Connectivity - Cellular
Applicable Industries
- Cities & Municipalities
- Transportation
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Fleet Management
- Predictive Maintenance
- Real-Time Location System (RTLS)
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- Software Design & Engineering Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
Blacksburg Transit (BT) is a public transportation provider serving the town of Blacksburg, including Virginia Tech. BT offers a variety of services, including fixed routes, paratransit, commuter services, deviated fixed routes, demand response, and a service for seniors. With a fleet of 69 vehicles and 200 employees, BT caters primarily to university-affiliated individuals aged 18 to 24. The agency collects 11,000 data points per day to analyze and improve its services. BT has been a long-time partner of TripSpark, utilizing their fixed route software and mobile data terminals to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
The Challenge
Blacksburg Transit (BT) faced the challenge of improving customer experience, planning, and service efficiency. With a dynamic ridership primarily composed of university-affiliated individuals aged 18 to 24, BT needed to adapt to frequently changing locations and schedules. Traditional transit databases were insufficient for providing the granular data required to make informed decisions. Additionally, BT aimed to enhance customer service by addressing complaints effectively and providing accurate predicted bus arrival times, which varied daily due to changing class schedules and mini rush hours.
The Solution
BT adopted TripSpark’s fixed route software, Streets, and mobile data terminals (MDTs) to gain complete access to their data and develop custom reports. This allowed BT to collect and analyze 11,000 data points daily, providing insights into fare types, schedule adherence, passenger loads, and trends. The data enabled BT to make short-term adjustments, such as changing headways and consolidating stops, and informed long-term strategic decisions about new routes and service levels. Additionally, BT invested in a passenger information system, including a texting service and real-time bus map, to provide accurate predicted bus arrival times and improve customer service. The system allowed BT to make schedule changes without reprinting and offered riders the convenience of receiving route and time information via text.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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