The impact of electronics on the productivity of public transit systems

This paper reviews GM Transportation System Center´s experience in using electronic technology to acquire operational information for the transit industry. The testing and final development of this Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) technology has taken place within GM TSC´s Urban Transportation Laboratory (UTL) located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The paper covers the electronics which constitute the AVM system and the use of technology to improve transit productivity. Examples of UTL projects are discussed to illustrate both the potential and the pitfalls associated with introducing new technology into the complex world of public transit.