King County Metro in Seattle, Wash., TriMet in Portland, Ore., Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) in Pittsbugh, Pa., Pierce Transit in Washington state and SMART in Detroit, Mich., are just a few transit agencies who have deployed and continue to install Connectpoint’s multiple award-winning and industry-leading solar- or AC-powered digital bus stops.
Until 2018, transit agencies relied on static signage for bus schedules at bus stops at the bus stop level, as the high cost of installing electrical infrastructure for electronic information was prohibitive. Wood’s company, CHK America, had successfully been providing static signage to agencies across the U.S. for more than 15 years, but had been seeking an alternative and transformative solution for his agency clients. In 2018, the company installed the first solar-powered Connectpoint Digital Bus Stops® for PRT. Passengers applauded this new signage, providing them with real-time information, 24/7 at bus stops. As of this year, Connectpoint has installed thousands of these innovative signs for more than 30 U.S. transit agencies.
Transit agencies worldwide are now increasingly transitioning to ePaper signage, which provides agencies with a solar-powered, eco-friendly solution to provide transit information to their passengers. The ePaper screens, manufactured by E Ink, have emerged as one of the most effective means to display passenger information across various locations, including bus stops, airports, rail platforms and more. ePaper’s exceptional durability in diverse climates positions it as a leading choice for transit agencies globally.
The real-time information this signage provides encompasses various updates, including precise arrival and departure times, service changes, delays, and public announcements. These updates are typically refreshed every minute, allowing commuters to make informed decisions and adapt to any situational changes. This continuous flow of information helps in building trust between the riders and the transit service providers, ensuring that commuters feel confident about reaching their destinations on time.
The Connectpoint Digital Bus Stop offers remarkably low energy consumption and seamless connectivity through wireless (cellular and Wi-Fi) or Ethernet options. It ensures continuous customer arrival information, alerts and maps across the network. Available in 13-inch, 23-inch, 28-inch, 32-inch and 42-inch sizes, these displays are designed for optimal readability in bright sunlight, while advanced LED lighting guarantees clear visibility at night. Connectpoint® digital signage presents an eco-friendly, energy-efficient solution for modern smart cities, featuring an IP66 environmental rating, minimized light pollution and ADA compliance.
Timely and accurate real-time information is delivered seamlessly to passengers across an agency’s digital signage with Connectpoint’s easy-to-use and powerful Connectpoint Asset Management system, designed specifically for the transportation industry. This cloud-based software is intuitive and customizable, allowing agencies to deliver alerts via the agency’s real-time feed, as well as schedule custom messages for their riders. This tool gives agencies the freedom to remotely control as many signs as they please through one integrated backend system.
Connectpont has been awarded 10 prestigious awards and in June this year, secured two wins: the 2024 Gold Globee Award for Technology for IT Solutions for Transportation, and the Gold Globee Golden Bridge Award for IT Project or Initiative of the Year for the project with King County Metro. Earlier this year, the company and TriMet were jointly honored with a Smart 20 Awardee. Other awards include the 2023 Smart Cities Smart 50 Award for the project “Seattle’s King County Metro Improves Passenger Transit Experience with Connectpoint’s Smart City Signage;” the IoT Breakthrough Award for Overall Smart City Solution Provider of the Year; the Globee Gold Award in the Information Technology Project or Initiative of the Year for the company’s work with TriMet; the Golden Bridge Gold Globee Award in the Information Technology Hardware category and a Digital Signage Award in the Technical Advances and Innovation category for displays and other devices.
