BUSRide AUGUST / SEPT 2020 | Page 17

O F F I C I A L BUSRide Field Test: SolTrans optimizes services with Avail enterprise transit management solutions With the aid of Avail Technologies, Solano County Transit manages its operations efficiently and effectively By Richard Tackett Solano County Transit (SolTrans) serves California’s southern Solano County, providing nearly 1.5 million annual trips via fixed-route, paratransit, and subsidized ride-sharing services. For the SolTrans staff handling that trip volume – while spread across two administrative buildings and a garage – accurate vehicle information, data warehousing, and real-time passenger information are essential tools. In 2015, SolTrans enlisted Avail Technologies to help ensure the success of its dispatch, operations and maintenance teams. Initially contracting Avail to provide a computer-aided dispatch and automatic vehicle location (CAD/AVL) solution, the agency uses the myAvail enterprise transit management system to help manage its services more efficiently and effectively. myAvail is optimized to reduce road calls, support dispatchers and inform riders – designed with role-based user interfaces for operations, finance, and administration staff; automatic mining and analysis of operational data; and configurable performance dashboards. SolTrans further integrated the system with myStop ® , its corresponding app and web platform for rider information, to provide real-time passenger information and digital signage to its riders in the Vallejo and Benicia communities. “Every level of our agency ‘bought in’ to the myAvail and myStop systems, and I believe we are beginning to take full advantage of their benefits,” said Beth Kranda, executive director of SolTrans. “We have added a level of transparency to our services which our ridership appreciates.” BUSRIDE.COM | 17