NextBus: Trapeze Development

NextBus provides accurate real-time arrival information regarding the public transit system.  They use satellite technology and advanced computer modeling to track vehicles on their routes, taking into account traffic patterns.  To make their service as efficient as possible, they looked to implement the Trapeze Scheduling system used by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).  The system includes an automated routing and scheduling software system, as well as bid configuration, automated bidding, daily dispatch, timekeeping, workforce management, and vehicle and yard management.  It integrates all of the different components utilized by a service such as NextBus and WMATA, saving time and eliminating a number of operational challenges.

Teratech had previously worked with WMATA and has a substantial experience with the Trapeze system.  NextBus was aware of this experience, and decided to hire our knowledgeable developers to work on the project.  “With TeraTech’s experience working with both Trapeze and WMATA, it was exactly what we were looking for and filled one of our concerns on the project,” according to Joe Monaco, regional sales manager of NextBus.  Their company had experience working with the Trapeze’s Scheduling system, but not on as big of a scale as they needed.  They are responsible for tracking 1,500 buses, 337 routes, and 12,400 bus stops.  To effectively keep track of this, they needed help, and looked to TeraTech to provide it.

In order to implement this system for NextBus, remote access had to first be granted by NextBus to WMATA’s Trapeze system so we could extract the data.  We then conducted an analysis of the system, identifying any data fields, formats, values, or any other components to be exported into the NextBus system.  After analyzing the NextBus system to determine how to integrate the data, TeraTech programmers wrote the code to convert it into XML (the format required by the NextBus system).  After rigorous testing to ensure functionality, the software was installed on the NextBus server.  Joe Monaco stated that, “with TeraTech on board, we hit the ground running on the project, which was extremely productive.”

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