Jefferson City residents can start using the new JeffTran bus locator software today.
DoubleMap is working on the automatic vehicle locator (AVL), which will allow riders to track one or multiple routes simultaneously, with a three-second lag. Riders can favorite specific stops and receive notifications when a bus is getting close to those stops.
Jefferson City Transit Division Director Mark Mehmert said a couple of things need to be fixed with the locator software, so the official launch of the tracking software won't happen until Jan. 16. However, the software is live and JeffTran riders can start using it now.
Riders can access this vehicle locator feature on their cellphones, desktops and tablets. The DoubleMap mobile app is available for free from the Google Play or iTunes stores and accessible at jefftran.doublemap.com/map.
For those without smartphones, desktops or tablets, there will be a texting feature to help riders know where a particular bus is. The Transit Division will place signs or stickers at bus stops that list the bus stop number and phone number to text for a bus' estimated time of arrival.
"We thought that was something really important because while a lot of our riders have cellphones - which is encouraging because they'll get the most out of the service - we wanted to make sure people without smartphones were still able to use the system," Mehmert said.
This feature will not debut until February or March, Mehmert said.
He said the Transit Division began discussing a new vehicle locator software about three years ago.
Riders previously relied on the FleetMatics mobile app or software to track the JeffTran buses. The city used FleetMatics since 2008, and the locator updated every 90 seconds.
"It's not geared towards transit but more toward delivery and those types of activities," Mehmert said. "It's acceptable to know within 90 seconds where maybe a delivery bus will be, but for transit, no. It really needs to be close to real time."
Merhmert said he hopes the AVL will cut down on dozens of calls the Transit Division receives each hour regarding the location of buses.
He also hopes the AVL will encourage more people to use JeffTran.
"It'll enable folks to do a lot better in terms of their trip planning," he said. "We think this will be a big travel convenience boom to our riders."
The city is considering changing some JeffTran routes, as recommended by consultant Lochmueller Group in October. Mehmert said the new app will help riders adjust to the route changes when they occur.
"People can see spatially where the routes are and how they've changed and where the buses are on those routes with any smartphone or tablet or desktop," he said. "There will be changes to routes, no doubt about it and any changes are difficult to implement because they take some time for folks to adjust. This AVL will help make that adjustment much more smooth and provide a better way for people to transition."
As part of the $318,246, five-year contract - approved by the Jefferson City Council in July - DoubleMap also wants to implement an automatic voice annunciator (AVA) and automatic passenger counter (APC) equipment.
The AVA helps riders with visibility impairments hear announcements about upcoming stops, and signs help riders with hearing impairments read announcements. With APC, JeffTran administrators can monitor how may riders are boarding and leaving the buses at each location.
Mehmert said DoubleMap and the Transit Division will begin working on the AVA and APC soon.