Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the E Paper Bus Displays topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
CTA to pilot e‑paper arrival displays with text‑to‑speech at selected bus stops
Summary
The CTA Innovation Studio will install up to 18 e‑paper displays from two vendors to show real‑time arrivals and voice announcements; installations were delayed by supply‑chain issues with a target of late August 2025 for first units and broader rollout afterward.
Eric Jensen, project manager in CTA’s Operations Innovation group, briefed the committee on two e‑paper pilot programs that will place solar‑assisted, low‑power real‑time passenger information displays at select high‑ridership bus stops.
Jensen said CTA plans to deploy up to 18 e‑paper devices supplied by two vendors (Global Display Solutions and Papercast). Devices range from 13‑inch low‑power panels that need about one hour of sun to larger 23‑inch panels that need more solar exposure; all will include text‑to‑speech buttons and Braille on the enclosure.
Displays will show estimated real‑time arrivals (live buses logged on to CTA’s AVL feed), service alerts for affected routes, stop ID and a timestamp so users can confirm when the display last refreshed. Jensen said displays update roughly once per minute and will not display scheduled trips that are not present on the real‑time feed.
Supply‑chain delays affected vendor delivery; Jensen said first installations were expected in late August 2025 rather than immediately. CTA staff said they will test contrast, font sizes and audio functionality with disability stakeholders and will publish the exact stop list once final site permissions are cleared.
Committee members asked about font size, placement height, tactile button and braille height; Jensen said the braille baseline will be at 48 inches above ground and the screen midpoint will be about 60 inches, and CTA will collect feedback via QR‑code surveys and partner outreach. Staff emphasized the pilot’s evaluation goals: sunlight availability, battery life, durability across Chicago seasons and user preference for audio controls.
Why it matters: E‑paper displays can provide on‑site real‑time information for riders with low vision and hearing options via text‑to‑speech, but effectiveness depends on siting, solar exposure, contrast and community testing.
