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Staff Update: Real-Time Passenger Information System Contract.
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Staff:
Department:
Brian Litchfield, Director
Transit
Nick Pittman, Transit Planning Manager
Overview: Chapel Hill Transit currently utilizes a Real-Time Passenger Information System ("Real-Time System") from Cubic Corporation previously known as "NextBus." This system provides real time information that over 70% of our customers utilize, as well as telematics that inform operational and maintenance functions. Starting in February 2022, the system became obsolete when it stopped sending data updating customers about bus locations.
We intend to use $1.4M of Transit American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to replace and upgrade the Real Time System.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council receive this update.
Key Issues:
* In 2021, Chapel Hill Transit was named in a multi-agency consortium solicitation administered by the Piedmont Authority for Regional Transportation (PART) for the purchase of a new Real-Time System.
* On March 9, 2022, the PART Board of Trustees approved the recommendation to award a contract to GMV Syncromatic.
* The Real-Time System was originally installed in 2006 and has met its useful service life for hardware and software.
* Over the past five (5) years Chapel Hill Transit has experienced issues with the proprietary nature of the hardware and software which has impacted our ability to meet our customer and operational needs, and the customer support from NextBus has not met our organizational interests.
* With the shutdown of AT&T's 3G network, our NextBus system has been rendered obsolete and no longer provides real-time information to our customers. Supply chain issues have caused lengthy delays in the update of this system.
* This effort is endorsed by the Transit Partners Committee and is identified as a priority by our staff.
Background
In August 2021, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised through the PART website and direct notices to p...
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