Smarter transit, better service: How data is shaping daily operations

Transit agencies are constantly adapting to shifting rider needs, economic trends and infrastructure demands. By harnessing data and technology, agencies can make informed decisions that enhance mobility, improve efficiency and better serve their communities. 

Leveraging data—such as real-time analytics to ridership statistics—delivers significant benefits, giving agencies the power to: 

Optimize routes, expand services and enhance scheduling. 

• Historically, transportation demand modeling (TDM) relied on fixed assumptions about traffic patterns and bus or rail passenger behavior. However, with the integration of tools such as AI, or predictive algorithms to generate real-time analytics, agencies can move beyond past behavior and adapt more dynamically to current trends. Modern scheduling software and public information, including crowdsourced data from social media and other non-transportation platforms, allow agencies to gather insights in real time. For example, data on where digital financial transactions are made (or not made) can reveal gaps in access to jobs, health care and education. 

Inform strategic planning, future growth and long-range visioning. 

• Regardless of a community’s growth rate, economic development data can help agencies anticipate transit needs and allocate resources accordingly. Daily, real-time customer feedback, gathered through multiple, multilingual channels, can validate an existing strategic plan or reveal where long-range updates are needed, as well as generate support for transit among all stakeholders, from riders to the business community to elected officials. 

When transit agencies develop data-informed cultures of innovation using new technology, they can uncover patterns in ridership, economic activity and land use/development, helping to anticipate demand and optimize service delivery. For instance, AI could recognize trends in real time occurring in or near an agency’s service area and help leaders decide to develop new partnerships, adjust routes, explore new services such as microtransit options, or adjust schedules to expand access to development-driven jobs, schools and community amenities. 

Achieve operational excellence. 

• On the business side, the ability to collect, access and pull data across legacy internal systems is increasingly imperative to prepare for organizational audits, comply with regulatory guidelines, demonstrate financial stewardship and gain efficiencies. Modeling revenue based on trends, like a drop in sales tax, or an increase in ridership, allows scenario planning that prepares an agency to launch appropriate service in the moment if the economy and ridership change. 

From an operations standpoint, a significant benefit of leveraging asset management data is the ability to move to a predictive maintenance model that prevents failures, reduces service interruptions, increases customer experience and creates a more enjoyable, prideful work culture for essential employees in maintenance and operations. 

Building the next generation of daily operations 

Transit agencies are embracing the next generation of data-informed decision-making by strengthening regional collaboration through technology innovation. Partnering with local government departments, educational institutions, private data providers or community organizations allows agencies to uncover valuable insights, access untapped data and optimize existing resources for smarter decision-making. This cross-sector collaboration improves operations, enhances customer service and fosters more effective planning. It also can lead to publicly available dashboards and innovative outreach, building stakeholder trust by transparently measuring performance against goals. 

Throughout this process, it is vital that an agency’s workforce is empowered to have a voice in the development and implementation of new systems and processes. Building dashboards and other communication tools around employee needs enhances efficiency, productivity and overall job satisfaction. 

Enabled by strong internal security protocols, agencies also can consider integrating transit data across agencies and technology platforms to create seamless, connected networks that foster economic development and accessibility. An example is using vehicle telematics to deliver real-time schedule information to rideshare services and customer devices, allowing commuters to better plan their trips and to connect to other mobility services in their community, such as bike paths, rideshare or taxi options. The industry has even seen bold steps to provide information for riders to inform employers when the transit system has been delayed.  

Committing to innovation and exploring how technology can enhance an agency’s core mission has many benefits, which can lead to operational efficiencies, enhanced safety, cost savings, customer and employee satisfaction and, most importantly, stronger relationships with the communities they serve.