The Regional Municipality of Durham on behalf of Durham Region Transit (DRT) has recently partnered with INIT for the installation of an intermodal fleet management system. DRT has a fixed route fleet of 205 vehicles which includes 26 PULSE bus rapid transit (BRT) vehicles.
The PULSE BRT operates high frequency service across DRT’s main Hwy 2 corridor linking downtown Oshawa with Toronto. When complete, the service will feature an intelligent transportation system (ITS), transit signal priority (TPS) improvements to six major intersections, two new or expanded maintenance storage and operations facilities, and a control center.
The complete INIT system will include onboard computers, touchscreen driver terminals, planning software, statistics and reporting software and onboard passenger information displays and announcements. INIT will also replace the DRT’s existing scheduling software.
In addition, INIT’s automated passenger counting technology will be installed on the new PULSE BRT vehicles to track DRT ridership and capture accurate data for reporting. INIT will integrate IRIS passenger counting sensors giving DRT a 98 percent passenger counting accuracy rate.
DRT serves over 10 million passengers annually in a service area of 406 square kilometers. The INIT automated passenger counting system will accurately assess passenger loads and assist to make service adjustments that will allow DRT to allocate valuable resources.
INIT’s onboard driver touch terminal will simplify and improve driver processes, while serving as the communication gateway to DRT’s control center. In terms of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), INIT’s on-board passenger information displays and audio announcements will be installed, giving DRT customers convenient visual and audio next stop announcements. The new system will also interface with DRT’s existing signs and fare collection boxes making for an easy integration with existing equipment.
The contract between The Regional Municipality of Durham and INIT marks the fifth customer in the Toronto region to trust INIT for their ITS technology deployment.
