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Transit staff seek grant to modernize rider information, automatic announcements and vehicle tracking
Summary
Oshkosh transit staff described a planned modernization of vehicle location, passenger counting and stop enunciation systems; initial startup cost estimates were roughly $300,000 with annual maintenance near $30,000 and an 80% grant possibility.
Transit staff told council they are seeking grant funding to modernize the system that powers vehicle location, stop enunciation and rider information.
Jim, a transit staff member, explained the city’s current transit database and app were developed by a single contractor over many years and now pose sustainability and compatibility risks. He said the current system requires manual driver stop announcements and that the city lacks modern automatic passenger counters and destination signage. Jim said comparable systems in other Wisconsin cities had upfront costs in the $300,000–$400,000 range with annual fees around $30,000.
City staff said an upgraded system would provide automatic stop enunciation for accessibility, real‑time vehicle location, destination signage, and better integration of automatic passenger counters; those features would improve rider experience and data for operations. Staff indicated they plan to request grant funding (an 80% federal match was discussed in the workshop) and to seek proposals via a request for proposals (RFP) if funding is available.
Staff noted existing one‑off arrangements with the current developer had kept costs low historically but were considered a risky long‑term strategy. Jim said the city has applied for grants and would include the upgrade in transit facility planning where feasible.
Ending
No procurement or grant award occurred at the workshop. Staff will pursue grants and, if funded, issue an RFP and plan for phased implementation.
