News and Events » Press Releases

Trapeze-Powered Trip Planner Serves Four Million Itineraries

Chicago RTA Online Service Hits Milestone

March 17, 2003 (Toronto, ON) – The online Travel Information Center (TIC) of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in Chicago, IL recently provided its four-millionth trip itinerary. Since going live in January 2000, the web site has provided transit information to more than 2.2-million visitors.

The RTA is the oversight agency for the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra Commuter Rail, and Pace Suburban Bus. The RTA operates the TIC as a regional service to transit customers for the three operating agencies.

The online trip planning service enables passengers to create travel itineraries that involve transfers between the three agencies. By simply entering an origin, a destination, a date and a time, passengers receive detailed itineraries that include stop locations, routes, transfers, walking directions and fare information. Trips can be optimized for shortest time, fewest transfers and shortest walking distance.

The Trapeze ATIS trip planner interfaces with the agency’s computerized scheduling systems and delivers consistent, up-to-date itineraries to riders through the RTA web site.

According to Dave Ladner, Project Manager at RTA, “Since implementing the online trip planning service, the RTA has saved approximately $1.8 million while improving its customer service. The automated system enables the RTA to respond to more requests for information, and customer service representatives are more available to assist passengers who require their assistance.”

“RTA was an early adopter of the ATIS trip planning system, and this recent milestone demonstrates how much the demand for online trip planning services has grown,” comments Rick Bacchus, President of Trapeze Software. “In the future Trapeze will be implementing a wireless version of its trip planner, enabling passengers to plan trips and look up schedule information on cellular phones or PDAs.”

Visit the RTA online Travel Information Center by clicking here.

Numerous other transit authorities use the Trapeze ATIS technology, including Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), King County Metro (Seattle, WA), MBTA Boston, NJ Transit, Tri-Met (Portland OR), San Diego Transit, Metro Transit (Minneapolis, MN).


About Trapeze:

Trapeze delivers innovative software and services to public transit, demand response and school transportation organizations throughout North America, the United Kingdom and Europe. Our products improve services, increase efficiency and help build better passenger transportation systems.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Kim Emmerson
(905) 629-8727
media@trapezesoftware.com