Cal Poly Pomona develops small transit system for mass use
Students at Cal Poly Pomona won't need to check their watches when waiting for the bus to come.
Solar powered signs, a Web site and a new GPS system will alert them to when shuttles are arriving and how full they are starting Thursday.
Born from the initiative of Cal Poly Pomona Professor Xudong Jia, the research produced by the project will be used by Caltrans.
"Local cities could do this and afford it," said Jia. "It's like a camera. There are professional cameras and also ones you use to play with. It's a small case and you don't need to have a lot of expertise."
Solar powered signs, a Web site and a new GPS system will alert them to when shuttles are arriving and how full they are starting Thursday.
Born from the initiative of Cal Poly Pomona Professor Xudong Jia, the research produced by the project will be used by Caltrans.
"Local cities could do this and afford it," said Jia. "It's like a camera. There are professional cameras and also ones you use to play with. It's a small case and you don't need to have a lot of expertise."
The system uses a GPS system on all buses to determine the time it will
take each to arrive at the next stop. Digital signs powered by solar
panels at each stop alert riders to when the next shuttle will arrive.
In addition, an infrared system on the buses can determine capacity, so riders can avoid full buses and make their way to buses with available space. The information can also benefit dispatchers and bus managers in determining routes and schedules.
"This will help students with comfort, knowing the bus will be here in three minutes," said director of public transportation for Cal Poly Pomona Glenn Shenker. "They don't have to worry and it can relieve some stress."
The project was paid for through the Federal Transportation Association and Caltrans, along with $40,000 from Cal Poly Pomona. The total cost was about $300,000.
"Caltrans can use it as a cookbook to promote to other state agencies and nationwide," Jia said.
The program, with the acronym EDAPTS -- Efficient Deployment of Advanced Public Transportation Systems -- was first explored when Caltrans did a project at Can Poly San Luis Obispo.
Jia got the idea to develop one at Pomona. But this time, Caltrans hired a contractor and allowed Jia, some designers and a team of five students -- three from San Luis Obispo and two from Pomona -- to do all the development work.
Large transit systems, like Foothill Transit, have the technologies already implemented with large budgets to spend, Jia said.
The goal for Cal Poly's research was to develop an inexpensive system to allow small systems to have better and useful technology.
"We wanted to see, if we didn't have all the bells and whistles, could we reduce the cost," said Bruce Chapman, who works in the division of research for Caltrans. "We wanted to apply existing technology and give the tools to identify needs."
Their efforts could pay off for small transit systems.
For areas where bus stops are distant, the system fits perfectly. With solar power, those stops can still power the system and riders can know when to expect the bus.
And the system can be produced for around $100,000, Jia said.
For those taking the shuttle at Cal Poly Pomona, a Web site also shows routes and times at www.broncoshuttle.com.
staff report
In addition, an infrared system on the buses can determine capacity, so riders can avoid full buses and make their way to buses with available space. The information can also benefit dispatchers and bus managers in determining routes and schedules.
"This will help students with comfort, knowing the bus will be here in three minutes," said director of public transportation for Cal Poly Pomona Glenn Shenker. "They don't have to worry and it can relieve some stress."
The project was paid for through the Federal Transportation Association and Caltrans, along with $40,000 from Cal Poly Pomona. The total cost was about $300,000.
"Caltrans can use it as a cookbook to promote to other state agencies and nationwide," Jia said.
The program, with the acronym EDAPTS -- Efficient Deployment of Advanced Public Transportation Systems -- was first explored when Caltrans did a project at Can Poly San Luis Obispo.
Jia got the idea to develop one at Pomona. But this time, Caltrans hired a contractor and allowed Jia, some designers and a team of five students -- three from San Luis Obispo and two from Pomona -- to do all the development work.
Large transit systems, like Foothill Transit, have the technologies already implemented with large budgets to spend, Jia said.
The goal for Cal Poly's research was to develop an inexpensive system to allow small systems to have better and useful technology.
"We wanted to see, if we didn't have all the bells and whistles, could we reduce the cost," said Bruce Chapman, who works in the division of research for Caltrans. "We wanted to apply existing technology and give the tools to identify needs."
Their efforts could pay off for small transit systems.
For areas where bus stops are distant, the system fits perfectly. With solar power, those stops can still power the system and riders can know when to expect the bus.
And the system can be produced for around $100,000, Jia said.
For those taking the shuttle at Cal Poly Pomona, a Web site also shows routes and times at www.broncoshuttle.com.
staff report
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