Longueuil, May 14, 2018 – The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) will be offering its users the opportunity to test a new digital display technology in bus shelters, powered by solar panels and operating on a wireless network. In the first phase of the project, the signs will display the next scheduled arrival times. Then, as the Chrono app is rolled out, they will show information in real time, allowing users to better plan their trips.
Exploring new approaches
The goal of this promising initiative is to evaluate new signage technologies and test an innovative solution that meets the need for more information at bus stops. The RTL is a trailblazer in this sense, being one of the first transit corporations in Canada to use the LoRa technology for a lightweight display pilot project.
“This is excellent news for the RTL and its users. We’ve made a concrete commitment to improving our users’ experience, and the launch of this innovative and ecological technology will allow us to meet the need for more information at bus stops. This initiative is also in line with the importance we place on sustainable development,” stated Pierre Brodeur, Chairman of the RTL Board of Directors.
Developed in collaboration with X-TELIA and the Technopôle IVÉO, the variable message signs will remain in place for six months to test the technology and collect data and user comments.
“X-TELIA is pleased to give the RTL access to its wireless network, specifically designed for smart city and smart mobility apps, and to participate in the development of the first project of its kind in Québec,” declared Eric Bourbeau, CEO of Longueuil’s Groupe X-TELIA.
“This project perfectly showcases IVÉO’s key role in bringing companies and contractors together. This network-building leads to faster deployment of solutions, making transportation smarter and more sustainable,” pointed out Benoit Balmana, Director of the Technopôle IVÉO.
The digital signs can be found in the following six bus shelters:
• Boucherville – intersection of boulevard de Montarville and boulevard de Mortagne
• Brossard – intersection of boulevard Rome and boulevard Pelletier
• Longueuil – intersection of chemin de Chambly and boulevard des Ormeaux
• Longueuil – boulevard Marie-Victorin near the RTL administrative centre
• Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville – Promenades Saint-Bruno parking lot
• Saint-Lambert – intersection of rue Desaulniers and rue Victoria
This project is made possible through an investment by the federal and provincial governments as part of the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund. The project is being funded 50% by Transport Canada, 40% by the Ministère des Transports, de la Mobilité durable et de l’Électrification des transports du Québec, and 10% by the Réseau de transport de Longueuil.
From left to right: Benoit Balmana, Director of the Technopôle IVÉO; Michel Veilleux, Executive Director of the RTL; Laurent Chevrot, Director, Strategies and Customer Experience, RTL; Eric Bourbeau, CEO of Longueuil’s Groupe X-TELIA; and Pierre Brodeur, Chairman of the RTL Board of Directors.
About the RTL
The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL) is the main transit provider for individuals within the five cities that comprise the Agglomération de Longueuil.
The third-largest public transit organization in Québec, the RTL operates a network of 793 kilometres. With some 1,100 employees, the RTL is a major employer that contributes to the economic vitality of the region.
Ever receptive to its users, the RTL plays a key role in the lives of the people and the communities it serves by providing solutions that are efficient, innovative, and adapted to the evolving needs of its clientele. Improving quality of life for the citizens of the Agglomération de Longueuil is a top priority for the RTL.
About Groupe X-TELIA
Groupe X-TELIA Inc. is a Québec-based company that operates a next-generation wireless network dedicated to the Internet of Things and that supports businesses and cities requiring highly secure, long-range, low-power and low-cost connectivity. X-TELIA provides the Québec market with applications proven elsewhere in the world and leading-edge expertise to facilitate the shift toward the Internet of Things. The X-TELIA network is specifically designed to support new applications that make cities smarter, industry more efficient and citizens safer. For more information: www.x-telia.com.
About IVÉO
The mission of the Technopôle IVÉO is to create, mobilize and support an ecosystem of innovation to accelerate the development and implementation of products, applications and technologies designed to make the transportation of goods and people greener, more efficient and more secure. Its vision is to become a world-class ecosystem of innovation in the transportation sector. For more information: www.iveo.ca.
