Applied Information Launches New Glance® Transit Signal Priority Technology For Near-Side Bus Stops

Applied Information recently announced the launch of the next generation of its Glance® Transit Signal Priority system that supports near-side bus stops — locations where buses stop before they cross an intersection. The announcement was made during the “Technology for Transit Reliability” panel at the ITS Canada GTHA Summit, hosted at York University.

According to a press release, “Transit Signal Priority (TSP) helps buses get through traffic signals more efficiently by holding green lights or shortening red ones when a bus is approaching. Until now, most systems worked best for far-side stops, where buses stop after passing through an intersection. However, many transit agencies prefer near-side stops because they give drivers better visibility and reduce the need for passengers to cross in front of traffic. However, these safer configurations make it harder for signal systems to give the bus priority effectively.1

“Applied Information’s new system addresses this challenge. It uses live data about the bus’s location and timing to help traffic signals make smarter decisions, both advancing and delaying light changes as required until the bus finishes boarding and is ready to move through the intersection.”

“Near-side stops have long posed a challenge for traditional signal priority systems,” Bryan Mulligan, President of Applied Information, said. “This update gives transit agencies a practical way to improve service and safety at the stops they already use, without having to move infrastructure or change routes.”

The release added: “The updated Glance system can be added to existing traffic signals and is already being piloted in several cities. Early results show improvements in on-time performance and shorter delays at intersections. The launch supports broader efforts to make public transit more reliable and consistent; helping more riders get where they’re going on time, while reducing congestion and vehicle emissions.”

For more information, visit www.appinfoinc.com.

1 https://www.metrotransit.org/Data/Sites/1/media/about/improvements/shelters/regular-route-bus-stop-design-guidelines_final_01_11_24.pdf#:~:text=At%20controlled%20intersections%20(both%20signal%20and%20stop,the%20signal%20queue%20and%20at%20the%20bus