2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Public transportation connects individuals to places for jobs, education, health, and various social and economic opportunities they need. In recent years, smartphones have emerged as integral tools in people’s daily lives, and their applications have significantly transformed how individuals interact with public transportation services. The demand for mobility services on smartphone applications has also been increasing in urban areas, to enhance the quality of transportation services. However, many transit systems still rely on outdated technologies or third-party software, limiting their flexibility and customizability. The demographics of VIA’s bus system in San Antonio (SA), TX, indicate the importance of public transportation for communities with limited incomes and no access to personal vehicles, particularly Hispanic or Latino residents living below the poverty line. SmartSAT is piloting a customizable mobile web application to address these challenges by providing real-time bus arrivals, seat capacity information, service change or update alerts, and a mechanism for riders to provide feedback on their experiences. It is designed to enhance public transportation services and improve the commuting experience for a diverse group of riders in the city of San Antonio.

Two research studies were conducted to assess the impact of SmartSAT: a study on the analysis and evaluation of actual bus arrival times and a study on the commute experience of riders. From the data collected in field tests on piloting routes, the first study focused on the analysis of the difference between VIA’s scheduled and actual bus arrival times. The findings indicated that certain routes exhibited very low average differences between their actual and scheduled arrival times, while a couple displayed a big average difference that showed significant delays and deviations from the scheduled timetable. Furthermore, some routes experienced small average delays in the afternoon, but the delays significantly increased in the evening. The rider experience study was focused on understanding the experiences of bus riders in public transportation, from collecting data on experiences with bus use, such as transfers, wait times, and perceptions of bus arrival times. The study found that there is a differential in the feelings of access to the city’s public transit system held by poor, working-class, and Latinx communities in SA.

The intended outcome of the developed SmartSAT on the arrival time accuracy research is a more accurate prediction of bus arrival time on the routes. Findings can guide us on traffic management as predictable and reliable transit service can improve rider satisfaction and overall ridership. More accurate time scheduling on the routes will help riders handle the unreliability of transit services and reduce the time spent waiting for buses (especially delayed ones). The impact on the commune experience in social sciences is important as it allows for an understanding of how underserved and underrepresented communities in SA experience a crucial component of urban space, public transit. This will be especially beneficial for low-income individuals who heavily rely on public buses to commute to their jobs and educations in SA.