Municipal Transit Vehicles - Transit Vehicle Subsystem Functionality

Subsystem Description

This subsystem resides in a transit vehicle and provides the sensory, processing, storage, and communications functions necessary to support safe and efficient movement of passengers. The types of transit vehicles containing this subsystem include buses, paratransit vehicles, light rail vehicles, other vehicles designed to carry passengers, and supervisory vehicles. The subsystem collects accurate ridership levels and supports electronic fare collection. The subsystem supports a traffic signal prioritization function that communicates with the roadside subsystem to improve on-schedule performance. Automated vehicle location functions enhance the information available to the Transit Management Subsystem enabling more efficient operations. On-board sensors support transit vehicle maintenance. The subsystem supports on-board security and safety monitoring. This monitoring includes transit user or vehicle operator activated alarms (silent or audible), as well as surveillance and sensor equipment. The surveillance equipment includes video (e.g. CCTV cameras), audio systems and/or event recorder systems. The sensor equipment includes threat sensors (e.g. chemical agent, toxic industrial chemical, biological, explosives, and radiological sensors) and object detection sensors (e.g. metal detectors). In addition, the subsystem supports vehicle operator authentication prior to operation of the vehicle and remote vehicle disabling. The subsystem also furnishes travellers with real-time travel and weather information, continuously updated schedules, transfer options, routes, and fares.