Where’s my ride delivers real-time information

Texas-based Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is to launch Where’s my Ride, an integrated intelligent transportation system (ITS), which will provide passengers with real-time travel information. Where’s My Ride will allow passengers to obtain predictive arrival information for the next bus or train at a passenger’s particular stop location via mobile application, SMS text alert, telephone interactive voice response or through the DCTA website. DCTA anticipates deployment of this product late th
Networking & Communication Systems / March 11, 2013
Texas-based 7216 Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) is to launch Where’s my Ride, an integrated intelligent transportation system (ITS), which will provide passengers with real-time travel information.

Where’s My Ride will allow passengers to obtain predictive arrival information for the next bus or train at a passenger’s particular stop location via mobile application, SMS text alert, telephone interactive voice response or through the DCTA website. DCTA anticipates deployment of this product late this year.

The system will also use accurate location data provided by a global positioning device mounted inside each DCTA Connect bus and A-train railcar. That information will be integrated with the operator login information, including the route, run and destination sign code and will then be transmitted wirelessly to a server using onboard cellular equipment. The server will integrate location and login information with schedules and map files to output predictive arrival information to the customers. Passengers can subscribe to specific routes through the system so that alerts can be auto-generated based on passenger preferences.

In addition to the Where’s My Ride system, DCTA has also partnered with 1275 Dallas Area Rapid Transit and the 5552 Fort Worth Transportation Authority in developing Go Pass, a regional mobile ticketing application. The Go Pass application will provide passengers with an additional option to purchase their transit pass via smartphone for any of the three transit agencies in the North Texas region and is expected to go live in the fall of 2013.

Where’s My Ride predictive arrival and trip planning information will be integrated with the Go Pass application to provide passengers with the ability to plan and pay for transit trips from a single mobile application.