TARTA to Provide Riders With Mobile Access to Bus Schedules

TOLEDO, Ohio and KINSALE, Ireland, May 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to give riders more control over their commuting options, the Toledo Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) recently selected Avego® to provide its popular TARTA Tracker services, which deliver schedule information to riders via SMS and web departure boards.

Since 1971, TARTA has provided reliable and timely bus services to the Toledo metropolitan area. Today, TARTA operates 250 buses across 34 bus routes, serving nine communities while carrying almost 4 million passengers each year.

The TARTA Tracker By Text service sends riders estimated bus stop times for a selected stop directly to their mobile device. Riders simply text TARTA [stop ID] to 41411. For example, to find out what TARTA routes are scheduled to depart from the bus stop at Westfield Franklin Park, riders simply text "tarta 11" to 41411. Stop IDs are conveniently posted at bus stops, and a full list of stops is available to riders on the TARTA website.

The TARTA Tracker Viewer is an online departure board that shows riders the next buses departing from any stop they select.

Avego originally provided the SMS and web departure board services as part of a three-month Futurefleet™ pilot in 2010. TARTA quickly saw a high adoption rate of the new services, with several hundred riders regularly using the SMS service within the first month. Today, over 750 riders use the service.

Steve Atkinson, TARTA Marketing Director, said, "Futurefleet's SMS and web departure boards services are a convenient, easy way for our riders to get schedule information. We're committed to provide these valuable services to our customers on an ongoing basis."

Avego Futurefleet allows riders to confidently plan their journeys, and operators to manage and streamline fleet operations. Futurefleet can be quickly deployed across large and small fleets, at a fraction of the cost of traditional, legacy solutions.

"As fuel prices continue to rise, more and more commuters consider public transportation," said Sean O'Sullivan, Managing Director of Avego. "By providing up-to-date schedule information via smartphone apps, SMS, and the web, transit agencies can give riders the information they need to make their commute more convenient and enjoyable."

About TARTA

The Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) carries nearly 4 million passengers annually and provides interconnected, regional service to seven communities in Lucas County and two Wood County communities. Visit www.tarta.com to learn more.

About Avego

Founded in 2007, Avego (http://www.avego.com) is a multinational company with offices in the United States, Ireland and China. Avego improves passenger transport efficiency by connecting consumers to information about available transport options.

SOURCE Avego