STL launches new tool to track bus occupancy throughout commute

The Société de transport de Laval (STL) has launched a new innovative tool on its website that tells users how crowded their bus should be.

The tool provides an estimate of the number of passengers riders should expect not only when they board but also during their entire bus trip, a first in Canada, according to STL.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made social distancing in public transit situations a core concern for users. This tool will help enable them to make informed decisions depending on bus crowdedness based on their comfort level.

STL vehicles have been equipped with GPS technology and passenger counters for years. Each day, they record occupancy levels at each bus stop, for each bus route, at each scheduled bus time. The data is then used to calculate an estimate of how many passengers are on the bus at a specified stop, at a specific time, based on the average trending during the five previous days. The calculations are updated daily. For now, estimates will be available for weekday bus service only.

The current release is a beta version, which will be improved continually based on user experiences and comments. Available on stlaval.ca/passengers, on computers and smartphones.

To find out the expected bus crowdedness, simply select:

• Bus route and direction;
• The starting bus stop;
• The destination bus stop; and
• Departure time.

Based on the commute selected in steps 1-2-3, the tool posts the maximum number of passengers that should expect on the bus for all the day's trips.

Four different ways to view the figures

Shown on a color gradient ranging from light (low occupancy) to dark (more crowded), riders see:

• A map of bus stops with an estimate of how many passengers will be on the bus along each stop of the selected commute.
• A timeline of the estimated number of passengers on the bus along each stop.
• The number of minutes and percent of trip spent with X passengers (pie chart).
• A detailed list of bus stops, scheduled bus times and expected bus crowdedness.

"Since the project was already in the pipeline, we decided to push up the launch to make it available to users as soon as possible. Which is why this is a beta release for now, and the STL is asking everyone for their feedback, comments and suggested improvements that we will integrate as we move forward,” said STL Board President Éric Morasse. “We believe in the role public transit plays in supporting the reopening of the economy, but we also know it is no longer always possible to social distance on buses. Together with continuing to insist on the importance of wearing a mask, this new tool will enable Laval residents to make fully informed decisions about their bus commutes."