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Transit staff report ridership declines and unveil new real‑time technology package
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Summary
Transit staff reported a year‑over‑year 8.3% decline in fixed‑route ridership for Q1 2026 and announced a transit technology package — including a rider app with real‑time GPS, automated ADA audio announcements and cloud video storage — with installations planned for up to 16 buses.
Steve, a transit staff member for Oshkosh City, reported that “the fixed route bus ridership is actually down 8.3% from this time last year” while presenting first‑quarter 2026 ridership figures. He described mixed trends across services: student ridership and several paratransit lines were lower, while ADA wheelchair trips rose about 16.3%.
The staff presentation emphasized both service patterns and planned technology upgrades. “We’re running an older system — 2015 vintage at minimum — and moving to a cloud‑based data package,” Steve said, outlining a contract with Transit Technologies that would replace on‑site PCs with cloud data collection, storage and reporting. He said the package includes Passio Go, a rider app that will offer real‑time GPS, detailed route maps, ETAs and route‑change alerts.
Steve described accessibility and safety features tied to the upgrade. “We will be installing new announcements for those with impaired vision — ADA announcements triggered by geofences and GPS locations — and LED signs on buses for stop information,” he said. He also said a new on‑bus camera system and cloud storage will bring the fleet into compliance with state and local requirements for video retention: “we’re supposed to have 121 days of video storage … we are not capable of doing that right now,” he said, adding that the cloud system will allow staff to pull footage from the office instead of physically tracking tapes.
Committee members asked operational questions. One member noted the “ride to work” subsidy appears to have broader eligibility after changes in the poverty threshold; Steve confirmed the program’s single‑household figure was about $21.21 per hour for eligibility thresholds discussed and that the program had been expanded in partnership with United Way to a higher percentage of the federal poverty level.
On deployment, Steve said the city is finalizing a contract and scheduling installations, with components to be put on about 16 buses and hoped to be completed “by the end of the year.” He said the upgrades should also reduce staff time spent manually tracking and pulling video; the transit supervisor had previously spent many hours each week searching tapes for incidents.
The committee received the update; no formal vote was required. The transit staff will proceed with contracting and scheduling next steps and return to the committee if further approvals are needed.
