The following presentation will propose an ITS project to improve the manner in which the University of Massachusetts Transit Service (UMass Transit) collects field data and disseminates it to its users. The proposed project is aimed at accomplishing two primary objectives: one to improve the quality and increase the quantity of the transit operation data being collected by UMass Transit and two to improve transit operation information being supplied to the users of UMass Transit.

Upon establishing the user service requirements that will be fulfilled by this project, the team developed a system that will allow the UMass Transit management center to obtain bus location and occupancy data, in real-time, with the aid of a GPS-based Automatic Vehicle Location system and an Automatic Passenger Counter System. This information will then be sent to two a network of variable message signs that will be situated at various locations within the field of operation and a data processing center through which users will be able to access important transit information via the internet, telephone technology and kiosks. The types of information that can be accessed include trip planning aid, travel times, schedules, bus occupancy and real-time wait-time at bus stop locations.