News release - February 18, 2003
Triangle Transit Authority Contracts with Novo Group for Integrated Web-Based Regional Trip Planning Software
Research Triangle Park, N.C. - Triangle Transit Authority (TTA), in a collaborative agreement with Capital Area Transit (CAT), Durham Area Transit Authority (DATA) and Chapel Hill Transit, has signed a contract to purchase an integrated, web-based trip planning system using Novo's mTraveltm technology. This new generation trip planner will enable transit riders to plan their trips from beginning to end at one easy-to-use web site or by a single telephone call.
The implementation of the trip-planning software is part of a larger trend in transit agencies across the country to provide rider information in more easily understood formats. According to Interim Director of Commuter Resources John Tallmadge, "We anticipate Triangle residents will use this trip planner as their first resource for transit information."
"TTA is taking the lead on the implementation," Tallmadge adds, "but this technology will put all of the Triangle region's transit agencies at the forefront of the industry's efforts to provide individualized customer service."
Currently, each agency provides its own trip planning services. When a trip involves more than one carrier, callers are referred to the other agencies to get information about connecting services. With this new software, customer service representatives can access transit information for each agency and provide complete ride information to commuters who require transfers between transit agencies.
Transit riders also will see improvements to service information accessible by the Internet. Each agency makes routes available on its web site and provides links to other agencies. However, an individual interested in a trip requiring a transfer between systems has to visit multiple sites to obtain all the necessary information. The new system will make trip-planning functions available to riders for all four public transit agencies on one convenient web site.
Tallmadge adds, "With more interest in regional travel, the timing for implementation seems appropriate." The system should be available online by August 2003.
CAT, DATA, Chapel Hill Transit and TTA serve nearly 12.5 million passenger trips per year in a region of nearly one million people in the Triangle area.
Novo is one of the largest IT service providers in the Nordic countries. Novo provides its customers with IT consulting, software and operating services, and infra solutions. The Group has a nationwide service network in Finland and subsidiaries in the Netherlands, the UK, China, Germany, the USA and Estonia. Novo has been in operation for 30 years. (www.novogroup.com)
Vancouver-based Ontira Communications, a developer of multimedia information systems for transit in North America since 1984, is a member of the team of software providers that will install the system. For this project, Ontira will customize, install and test the system to meet the service needs of the Triangle region. (www.ontira.com)
TTA is a regional public transportation provider, offering a wide variety of transit services to North Carolina's greater Triangle Region and outlying counties. In addition to its regional bus services and commuter resources, TTA plans to implement a 35-mile regional rail system with 16 stations connecting Durham, RTP, Cary and Raleigh, with shuttles linking RDU International Airport and RTP. The first trains are expected to running in late 2007 or early 2008. Visit www.rideTTA.org or call (919) 549-9999.
- For more information contact:
- Heather Liau
- Marketing & Communications
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