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TriMet has a new display up at the 7th and Holladay MAX station that looks a lot like a Transit Board™. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :-) [Actually, I have no idea if this design was inspired by Transit Board or not, it’s not like the design is especially original.]
Does anyone know if these are slated to be rolled out at more locations?
But speaking of Transit Board, our re-release of the documentation a few weeks ago inspired several e-mails with suggestions for enhancements, and I wanted to put them out there to see if they resonated with other users:
- Integrate schedule information with the real-time arrival info to show listings further out than one hour for people who need a long lead-time to arrange their departure (or have a long walk to the stop).
- Allow an option to sort by boarding location rather than next arrival.
- Have a different (less intrusive) effect (we currently use a ‘window-shade’ effect) for the data update transitions.
Please comment and let us know if any of those ring your bell (or if you have other suggestions).
6 responses to “Transit Board Enhancements?”
Looks like the same type of display that was at the old City Hall bus stop (4th and Madison) before the Transit Mall construction. I haven’t seen that type of display anywhere else (would sure be helpful at a place like Beaverton TC or Rose Quarter TC with a lot of different routes going to some of the same places, or even Gateway TC with routes that don’t run as often).
At the old City Hall stop, during rush hour, with more routes (IIRC, 4D, 6, 10H, 14, 31, 32, 33, 41, and 99) and arrival times than screen space, the screen would scroll slowly, pause for a second, then scroll to and show the next route/arrival. That would be a lot nicer than that drop-in effect that makes me wonder (If I were at a stop trying to rely on a TB) where the time I was waiting for went to.
Jason is correct; this was a pilot project that started at the bus stop on Madison & 4th, a stop that no longer exists. The actual screens (one is in repair and will be installed next week) were installed at the Mall/SW 4th Avenue MAX station downtown, but the way it was tucked up into the shelter roof, it’s no surprise people didn’t see it.
Without taking any credit from Chris, the original installation was made in March 2004, so they do precede Transit Board.
The design has always been a pilot project, and the overall conclusion has been that the signs are too small, but that the concept is certainly worth pursuing. There are two additional signs in both lobbies of Kaiser Interstate Hospital. Since they’re indoors and at a human level, the size of the screen is not a problem. There is another screen at OHSU, under the roof overhang at the main stop.
Great minds think alike :-)
I suspect there are applications for this kind of display in a wide range of sizes. I’ve been playing with Transit Board on an N800 Internet Tablet (about 3″x2″). It could work as something you look at hung on a door frame as you walk out the door (say at a coffee shop). I just haven’t been able to figure out how to keep the screen saver from dimming the screen :-)
the bosrd looks neat but expensive, a vandal target for sure… is it really needed????????
I’ve seen these at the Northgate Transit Center for years. There are alot of busses that stop there as well as a lot of kids who work at the mall who wouldn’t be above vandalizing (imagine Beaverton TC, but located at the Lloyd center). But as far as I can tell, it hasn’t seen serious vandalism, and it’s been there at least 10 years.
Jeff referred to the pair of screens on Kaiser Permanente’s Interstate Campus (sorry, but it is not a hospital). They are slick when they are working as they allow customers and staff to stay out of the elements while they wait for a train. Nothing worse than hurrying for a train and then waiting 10 minutes. OK, there are worse things, but you know what I mean. IMO, the beauty of these screens is that TriMet can be seen as people head to the parking garage which is a great time to make them think about their options.
I would like to see Kaiser (my workplace example as I helped TriMet to get these installed) have the bottom part of the screens to run a ticker of their activities. Anything from “Flu Shot Clinic” information to “KP is a sponsor of the Portland Marathon” to “Use kp.org” website plugs to the Interstate Farmers Market reminders. There is a plenty of room for something, but I have struggled to gain traction on this one. Hopefully there is momentum again!
Now, can we get these installed at the busy Galleria stops on both eastbound and westbound MAX? The old trackers have been “temporarily” out of service for at least a year now.
Brad