CHK America's ConnectPoint Digital Launches Solar Powered "SmartStop"

CHK America has officially launched its latest product under its new ConnectPoint Digital Division, the ConnectPoint SmartStop, a solar-powered, standalone pylon that provides interactivity to the customer. This smart stop was part of Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) innovation program to enhance the transit customer travel experience, by providing real time arrival, trip planning and other capabilities in an elegant solar powered tower. VTA will be the first transit agency to utilize the new ConnectPoint SmartStop, where they will be installed on two VTA bus stops serving 6 major routes in East San Jose California. 

The Digital Bus Stops housed within the SmartStop—which feature E Ink technology that provides high contrast, sunlight readable displays—can be used to display next departure information for rail and bus services, bikeshare, a local map and feature real-time alerts. 

The 10-inch ConnectPoint tablet will provide a fully interactive user Interface which will provide bus and rail route and stop details; trip planning; and other interactive applications.

The screens can also display any additional information an agency may need, such as Uber and Lyft details;  or advertisements with map locations plotted. A solar powered solution was critical to VTA’s needs providing flexibility to locate the stops where power was not easily obtainable.

“Once again VTA has the vision to install a revolutionary product into the field first,” commented Rick Wood, CHK America’s president and CEO. “VTA described what a bus stop of the future would look like for their needs, and following months of development, CHK has created the first solar powered interactive bus stop pylon in the world. ”

“Silicon Valley is built on Innovation, Imagination, and partnerships,” stated Gary Miskell, chief technology officer at VTA. “The collaboration with CHK America embraces these ideals allowing us to bring something new and exciting to our VTA customers.”

The new ConnectPoint SmartStop complements CHK America’s previously announced ConnectPoint Digital suite of products that appeal to today’s tech savvy riders, providing a higher level of customized information to meet their “on the go” planning needs. Products include:

• The web-enabled ConnectPoint Interactive Touchscreen Kiosks, recently installed by Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), Pittsburgh’s Port Authority of Allegheny County (Port Authority) and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC).
• The solar or battery powered ConnectPoint Digital Bus Stops, featuring E Ink technology, have been deployed by Port Authority of Allegheny County and are pending installation at agencies throughout the country as well as in private industry. The Digital Bus Stop is the first solar powered E-Ink based digital signage deployed in the United States.
• The ConnectPoint Dashboard that displays current transportation options using existing infrastructure and can be deployed on any screen with a variety transportation feeds available to your agency including Uber, Lyft, Bikeshare, etc.  The ConnectPoint Dashboard has been recently installed by VTA.