Real-time Bus Schedules at Your Fingertips

Starting today, the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) is making bus stop times available in real time through a partnership with the Transit app.

After implementing Engie Ineo's operational support and rider information system last year, the STO can now move on to the next phase by making the real-time data for the bus stop times available for its clientele. Thanks to a partnership agreement with the Transit app developers, the STO was able to validate its new data so that riders can now use their cell phones to check stop times that have been adjusted based on a bus's GPS location.

“The availability of real stop times in the Transit app is excellent news for the STO's clientele. It will now be easier to plan trips, because riders will know when the bus is arriving at their stop, even in bad weather or if there are delays in the system,” stated STO Chairwoman Myriam Nadeau.

“By working with a globally recognized app that prioritizes public transit, the STO is clearly directing riders to where they can easily find information,” added Sam Vermette, Chief Executive Officer of Transit.

“We are proud to work with Transit, a Quebec-based company, and are eager to see more riders include real time in their routine in order to improve their rider experience on the buses,” stated STO General Manager Marc Rousseau.

In collaborating with the Transit app developers, the STO is taking the first step towards real-time open data sharing. The data will soon be made available to other app developers.

The many benefits of real-time information

With real-time data, the information is much more precise because it takes the actual situation in the bus system into account, thereby offering many benefits:

• In the event of bad weather causing delays in the system, riders will not wait as long at their stops because they can plan their trips in real time;
• Riders feel reassured because they know whether or not the bus has passed by already;
• Riders have more travel options because they can choose their bus based on the real time that the buses on different routes will be passing a stop.

Transit is available for iPhone and Android, and can be downloaded at www.transitapp.com or www.sto.ca.

- 30 -

Source:

Karine Sauvé
Public Affairs Officer
Société de transport de l'Outaouais
819 770-7900, ext. 6937

Stephen Miller
Communications Lead
Transit
media@transitapp.com


About Transit: Transit is North America's most popular transit app and has millions of users in more than 175 cities around the world. It already has tens of thousands of daily users in the Outaouais and National Capital Region. The app simplifies public transit use by providing real-time predictions, a trip planner, and step-by-step instructions to allow riders to plan their trips quickly. The app also integrates complementary modes — including bike sharing, car sharing and Uber — so that its users can get from A to B in their city without needing their own car. Transit is a Montreal company founded in 2012. For more information, visit www.transitapp.com