Real-time rerouting, communicating with riders and increasing on-time performance are some of public transit’s most perennial tasks — all now being eyed by artificial intelligence tools.
“I imagine a tool that will serve more as a personal assistant to the passenger,” Michael Hutchins, data analyst at GoDurham, the North Carolina city’s transit provider, said of a potential future for AI in transit where riders are not only kept abreast of delays, but offered information related to other routes or travel options. He examined the technology during a panel Tuesday on its use and possibilities in public transit, organized and hosted by Optibus, a transit tech provider.
GoDurham is now experimenting with AI-powered tools on a project known as “traffic service priority,” where onboard technology captures information like on-time performance, GPS positioning and scheduling to aid in outcomes that improve transit speeds in heavy traffic…