Skip to main content

Denver RTD opts for wireless AVL and payments

Canadian company Sierra Wireless has deployed its InMotion Solutions oMG Mobile Gateway for Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) to support mobile broadband access for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and smart card fare payments aboard more than 1,100 buses in its fixed route fleet. One of the top 20 public transit agencies in the US, the RTD provides services to residents across an eight county metro area, from the bus and light rail services to the free MallRide and specialty services.
October 15, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Canadian company 7884 Sierra Wireless has deployed its InMotion Solutions oMG Mobile Gateway for Denver’s Regional Transportation District (RTD) to support mobile broadband access for automatic vehicle location (AVL) and smart card fare payments aboard more than 1,100 buses in its fixed route fleet.

One of the top 20 public transit agencies in the US, the RTD provides services to residents across an eight county metro area, from the bus and light rail services to the free MallRide and specialty services.

The InMotion Solutions oMG Mobile Gateway connects mobile equipment for RTD’s smart card fare system and new bus AVL system over both a Sprint cellular broadband network and new 802.11n garage-area wi-fi networks. It supports real time communications while buses are on the road and bulk data transfer automatically upon return to the garage. The management system enables managers to see how much data is being transmitted, which network is being used, and allows IT teams to update configurations remotely.

“We wanted a carrier-agnostic communications platform that would allow us to grow and upgrade as wireless technology changed,” said Tom Hughes, RTD’s manager, Intelligent Transportation Systems.

“RTD coordinated planned investments in its new fare system and bus AVL solution to deploy a very flexible, high-performance wireless communications solution that can ultimately serve all systems aboard its fleet,” said Scott Davis, vice president of Worldwide Sales, Enterprise Solutions for Sierra Wireless. “RTD now has the mobile communications technology, management systems and the organisational expertise to efficiently deliver reliable communications to new onboard systems using the latest broadband wireless technologies.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • ITS America, automakers respond to Rubio-Booker 5.9 GHz spectrum legislation
    June 23, 2014
    The Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITS America) and US automakers have responded to the announcement on legislation introduced by US Senators Marco Rubio and Cory Booker that would set deadlines on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for developing and publishing a test plan for the use of unlicensed devices in the 5.9 GHz band. The senators introduced S. 2505, the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, legislation to expand unlicensed spectrum use by requiring the Federal Communications Commissio
  • Rooftop wireless antenna
    September 25, 2014
    With the Sencity Road MIMO, Huber+Suhner is extending its portfolio of rooftop antennas for buses, commercial vehicles, trams and underground railways. The new Sensity Road MIMO is able to achieve a far higher data rate than a standard antenna, supporting applications with very high data rates, such as passenger information systems, passenger monitoring or internet on board. Depending on the version, this compact omni-directional antenna includes two broadband radiating elements for 2G/3G/4G mobile c
  • Over-the-air software updates to benefit for automotive market, IHS says
    September 8, 2015
    While quite common in smartphones and personal computers, remote over-the-air (OTA) software updates are still only in their infancy in the automotive space, according to a new report from IHS Automotive. The report finds that OTA software updates will eventually be a big benefit for the automotive industry due to their capacity to reduce warranty costs, potentially increase overall completion rates for software-related recalls, improve customer satisfaction by eliminating trips to the dealership for so
  • Toronto to get electronic payment cards
    November 30, 2012
    Toronto public transport passengers will soon be able to use a single-fare Presto card to get around on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) or seven other municipal transit systems in Ontario. Transit and government officials say the Presto fare system will be in place throughout the entire TTC system, subway stations, buses and new streetcars, by 2016. Bob Chiarelli, Ontario’s minister of transportation and infrastructure, said Toronto transit passengers have been requesting the electronic fare system fo