Today, Patrick Weiler, Member of Parliament for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country, the Honourable Rob Fleming, B.C. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Erinn Pinkerton, President and Chief Executive Officer of BC Transit, announced a joint investment of more than $16.8 million to expand the adoption of NextRide technology in British Columbia's public transit system.
NextRide uses state-of-the art technology like Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) hardware and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) software to improve data collection for public transit systems. This investment will enable the procurement of AVL hardware and CAD software for up to 638 buses within 21 regional transit systems across British Columbia. It will also enable improvements to public transit accessibility, with automatic voice annunciators and visual displays in buses for upcoming stops.
Expanding NextRide technology will ensure BC Transit's conventional fleet is using one operational data solution while providing important information about current vehicle locations, schedule adherence, breakdowns, and other emergencies. It will also pass real-time location information to transit users through vehicle head signs, and mobile and third-party web-based applications.
Updating the technology used by regional transit systems across the province will allow riders to plan their trips accordingly. Improving the reliability and efficiency of public transit encourages more people to choose cleaner modes of transportation.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, building resilient communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.
