CARTEEH logo with green car and plant

Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH)

A USDOT University Transportation Center

Real-Time Passenger Information System

Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI) systems is a service that allows bus passengers to share transit schedule information such as arrival and departure times, delays along one route or across a whole system, destinations, fares and other specific issues, all in real time. The platform can forecast arrival timings using Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data, historical averages, and schedule deviations. Passengers can get the information via a variety of interfaces, including websites, SMS, electronic signs at bus stops, and smartphone apps. The information improves the passenger’s experience and provides up-to-date information, which includes time of departure and arrival, the location of the buses or train, and service, including detours and delays.1 This information meets the critical need to inform the targeted population about the bus’s arrival time. This gives the user peace of mind in knowing if and when their bus will show up. This information is available via a website and mobile app (iOS and Android), as well as digital screens in public and commercial locations, with the goal of increasing bus usage and reducing private automobile trips.2

Considering this strategy will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Transportation lifecycle phases

This strategy is associated with the following transportation lifecycle phases:

  • Construction
  • End of Life
  • Maintenance
  • Material Selection
  • Operations
  • Policy and Planning
  • Project Development

Who's involved

  • Software developers
  • Transit agencies
  • Vulnerable road users

Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI) systems is a service that allows bus passengers to share transit schedule information such as arrival and departure times, delays along one route or across a whole system, destinations, fares and other specific issues, all in real time. The platform can forecast arrival timings using Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) data, historical averages, and schedule deviations. Passengers can get the information via a variety of interfaces, including websites, SMS, electronic signs at bus stops, and smartphone apps. The information improves the passenger’s experience and provides up-to-date information, which includes time of departure and arrival, the location of the buses or train, and service, including detours and delays.1

This information meets the critical need to inform the targeted population about the bus’s arrival time. This gives the user peace of mind in knowing if and when their bus will show up. This information is available via a website and mobile app (iOS and Android), as well as digital screens in public and commercial locations, with the goal of increasing bus usage and reducing private automobile trips.

How it Helps

The availability of RTPI offers various advantages for both the intended audience (passengers) and the operators. To passengers, RTPI decreases psychological discomfort, unpredictability, and annoyance associated with waiting for public transportation. Additionally, they will have easy access whenever they require transportation to connect them with community resources, which will enhance physical activity, mobility, and their overall health. RTPI technology has aided operators in logistics operations, boosted bus performance and timetable adherence, and contributed to enhancing public transportation’s image.2

Implementing

Components of RTPI:

The availability of the Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system is among the most important aspects of encouraging public transportation. Various components, such as passenger demands and expectations, stakeholder engagement, technology solutions for tracking, data transmission, and so on, should be addressed to deploy RTPI systems effectively.3

Education:

Passengers should be educated about RTPI systems to encourage them to use the program and its resources. Hence, the system will become accurate and supported through open data and crowdsourcing. Maximizing the application’s utilization and enjoyable experience for passengers is critical. Given that RTPI is an online platform, significant attention should be paid to its development and how it performs for transportation users. For a dependable transportation service, on-time performance is critical. The program will thus raise the return on investment on RTPI investments, resulting in improved user service.1

Potential Barriers:

Many passengers do not own smartphones, making it difficult for them to have a real-time information display, which is needed for panels delivering information about their departure and arrival time and any other information they need to know.1 The expense of implementing RTPI may be lessened if it is introduced as part of an integrated urban control system which can harmonize traffic flow and prioritize bus traffic if necessary to keep buses on schedule.4

Examples

1) Radiola Aerospace

Radiola Aerospace is a firm that employs the RTPI system through a cloud-based GPS tracking system that gives passengers all the information they need about their bus service. They provide information to the target audience using a variety of channels, including websites, cell phones, phone applications, and bus stop display stations.
The system includes management reporting software that allows transportation authorities and bus firms to gather bus movement data to monitor how well their networks are doing and report any possible performance issues.

http://www.radaero.com/bus-rtpi-real-time-passenger-information/

2) Bridge System Limited

The Bridge System Limited also uses the RTPI system, and they work with several RTPI manufacturers and suppliers. Currently, the firm operates numerous major RTPI networks based on the MPT 1327 Trunked Radio protocol. They are mainly responsible for the radio infrastructure that supports the RTPI system, including development, procurement, construction, and licensing.

https://bridgesystemsltd.com/what-is-rtppi/

 

1. Khil, S. (2017). Real-time passenger information (RTPI) for an efficient public transportation system in Los Angeles. Technology and the City. [cited 2022 Jun 14]. Available from: https://medium.com/technology-and-the-city/real-time-passenger-information-rtpi-for-transit-users-fc7618220f53
2. KonSULT. (2016). Real Time Passenger Information. University of Leeds. [cited 2022 Jun 14]. Available from: http://www.konsult.leeds.ac.uk/pg/47/
3. Čelan, M., et al. (2017). Bus-stop Based Real Time Passenger Information System–Case Study Maribor. InIOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 2454. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/245/4/042008 
4. Hickox, W.B. (2001). Real time passenger information: Is it possible? Is it reliable? Is it valuable? In: Bus and Paratransit ConferenceAmerican Public Transportation Association.