May 09, 2013

SAN DIEGO, Calif., May 9, 2013 – Cubic Transportation Systems, a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions, today announced that Ian Newberg has been named president of its NextBus subsidiary, North America’s leading provider of real-time passenger information systems.

Newberg brings more than 20 years of transportation experience to NextBus, including ten years with Cubic from 1996-2006 when he was vice president of the company’s Washington, DC office.  Most recently, he was vice president and general manager of public transport and advanced systems for Xerox Corporation.

“NextBus has a proven track record in North America, with more than 100 transit agency deployments in the U.S. and Canada, and Ian has the track record to take the company to the international arena,” said Richard Wunderle, senior vice president and general manager, North America operations, Cubic Transportation Systems.

“NextBus is a key component of our NextCity initiative to deliver a fully integrated, whole-of-transport journey, information and payments management system that will empower transportation stakeholders to predict, influence and manage transportation demand while delivering actionable information to travelers.”

“NextBus already does this today, through its Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that connects to bus riders’ mobile phones and takes the guesswork out of using public transportation by providing riders with the technological capability to determine when buses will arrive at any given stop.”

Newberg is a transportation expert, having worked in the industry for most of his career, starting with the U.S. Department of Transportation.  He structured, negotiated and implemented the $210 million National Automated Highway System consortium effort with General Motors – the largest project at that time to research and demonstrate the feasibility of cars being guided by the road rather than the driver.

Newberg also was president of Parkeon North America specializing in transit and system applications for municipal clients.

About Cubic Transportation Systems

Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is part of Cubic Corporation. Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission Support Services and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems and defense electronics. Mission Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance, technical and other support services for U.S. and allied nations.

Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions.  Cubic delivers integrated solutions that help transport operators manage their operations and services and give passengers choices in the smartest and easiest ways to pay their fares.  Cubic specializes in design, development, manufacture, supply, installation, integration, services and information.  Services provided by Cubic include on-site management, central systems, operations support, patron support, business support and field services.

Every year, nearly 7 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic payment and information systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents. Active projects include London; Brisbane (Southeast Queensland) region, Australia; New York/New Jersey region; Washington, D.C. /Baltimore/Virginia region; Los Angeles region; San Diego region; San Francisco region; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Chicago; Atlanta region; Miami (South Florida) region; Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada; Sydney (New South Wales), Australia; Germany; and Scandinavia.

For more information about Cubic, see the company’s website at www.cubic.com.

Media contacts: 

Debra Montner Montner & Associates PH: 203-226-9290 ext. 12 Cell: 203-984-7861

Timothy A. Hill Director of Corporate Communications Cubic Corporation PH:  858-505-2430 Cell: 858-232-2927 timothy.hill@cubic.com

Sigworth,  famous for his  Greater Greater Washington  blog frequently  examines public transit related issues in the metropolitan DC area. As a frequent user of public transit, he has a genuine interest in  uncovering  the best tools to make his daily travels  as effortless as possible–Both in Washington DC and in the nearby Baltimore area.

Technically, as Sigworth  notes, the NextBus by Cubic application is not an app written for the iPhone. Rather, it is the mobile version of the standard NextBus website. But, it functions very much like a dedicated app and can be brought to use easily bite simply adding it to your home screen.

The DC blogger  preferred the NextBus by Cubic  application over iCommuteDC Lite (which had created a now defunct NextBus app), indicating:

NextBus by Cubic has a simpler, more readable format, using the whole screen to display the bus routes nearest you. Once you select a route and desired direction, the app opens up a map with the real-time location of each bus along that route, something none of the other apps do.

Another important benefit to the NextBus by Cubic  application is its ability to provide alerts to current problems or delays with each transit provider. In addition it works  in communities nearby the DC Metro area,  providing bus information on the Charm City Circulator, College town Shuttle, JHMI shuttle, and the University of Maryland shuttle  buses.

Although Sigworth  found value in each of the apps he tested, he concluded that:

Especially for experienced riders, NextBus by Cubic is hard to beat for usability. Its text-based interface is easy to read, quick to filter information for all operators, and offers more bus systems than the other apps. It also sometimes returned predictions when the others did not.

It is certainly gratifying to learn that an outspoken blogger and veteran public transit rider found so much value in the NextBus by Cubic application.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – January 24, 2013 – Cubic Transportation Systems, a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions, today announced it has acquired NextBus, Inc., from Webtech Wireless Inc.  NextBus is North America’s leading provider of real-time passenger information systems (RTPIS) with more than 100 transit agency deployments in the United States and Canada for a total consideration of CAD$20.75 million subject to the terms of the purchase agreement.

Consistent with Cubic’s Nextcity vision, the acquisition extends the company’s portfolio of information-based solutions for its transit industry customers and positions NextBus to accelerate its growth by leveraging Cubic’s global presence and customer base.

“Transit agencies and their communities worldwide are racing to utilize information more effectively – optimizing their resources and providing intelligent travel information to their riders,” said Steve Shewmaker, president, Cubic Transportation Systems. “Since 1996, NextBus has been a pioneer and a market and technology leader at the forefront of this trend. As part of the Cubic family, NextBus will have the additional resources and capabilities to expand more rapidly while adding further depth to our own Nextcity vision, which emphasizes better utilization of information, wireless communications and mobile devices as key technologies for the future of public transit.”

The acquisition broadens Cubic’s portfolio of transportation solutions. NextBus’ customers include the major metro systems in  Los Angeles, Toronto, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Boston, as well as many well-known small and mid-sized transit agencies, universities and colleges including Chapel Hill Transit, RTC-Washoe (Reno), Saint John Transit, MIT, Georgia Tech, UCLA, University of Maryland, and Rutgers University.

“The NextBus team of highly skilled and experienced operational and technical experts will become part of Cubic Transportation Systems, adding to Cubic’s current knowledge base and service offerings in real-time intelligent travel information systems and operations,” said Matt Cole, senior vice president, strategy and business development, Cubic Transportation Systems. “We believe there are very exciting possibilities that will attach to the coming together of market-leading fare collection and real-time passenger information technology. This is a significant step towards Nextcity and we look forward to the benefits this acquisition will provide to our business, customers and the traveling public.”

NextBus is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution that improves transit passengers’ lives and makes their travel experience better with accurate, real-time arrival information about buses, subways and trains. NextBus also offers travelers a host of other options including a GPS-enabled mobile website for smartphones that instantly recognizes the nearest stops in proximity order and provides real-time arrival information with multiple language capability (English, Spanish and French), and an easy-to-use website compatible with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The company also provides a robust set of real-time management and dispatch tools that enable transit operators to effectively manage their systems, and is a real-time transit technology leader, providing the industry’s most accurate algorithm for predicting arrival times.

“I want to personally say to our many customers that as we take this exciting step in our growth, we will continue to maintain our strong focus on our customers, our support and their satisfaction with NextBus solutions and services. NextBus and Cubic will work together to ensure that our relationship with you, our customer, will not change,” said Michael Smith, general manager of NextBus. “I also want to highlight the positive benefits for both our customers and employees that convinced us to make this move. Cubic’s global presence will enable NextBus to expand geographically and provide our clients with the next generation in advanced traveler information technologies.”

About Cubic Transportation Systems

Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is part of Cubic Corporation. Cubic Corporation is the parent company of three major business segments: Defense Systems, Mission Support Services and Transportation Systems. Cubic Defense Systems is a leading provider of realistic combat training systems and defense electronics. Mission Support Services is a leading provider of training, operations, maintenance, technical and other support services for U.S. and allied nations.

Cubic® Transportation Systems, Inc., is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services for intelligent travel solutions.  Cubic delivers integrated solutions that help transport operators manage their operations and services and give passengers choices in the smartest and easiest ways to pay their fares.  Cubic specializes in design, development, manufacture, supply, installation, integration, services and information.  Services provided by Cubic include on-site management, central systems, operations support, patron support, business support and field services.

Every year, nearly 10 billion rides are taken worldwide using Cubic payment and information systems. Cubic has delivered over 400 projects in 40 major markets on five continents. Active projects include London; Brisbane (Southeast Queensland) region, Australia; New York/New Jersey region; Washington, D.C. /Baltimore/Virginia region; Los Angeles region; San Diego region; San Francisco region; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Chicago; Atlanta region; Miami (South Florida) region; Vancouver and Edmonton, Canada; Sydney (New South Wales), Australia; Germany; and Scandinavia.

For more information about Cubic, see the company’s website at www.cubic.com.

A Los Angeles Rapid bus line

The City of Angels may be well known for its Hollywood celebrities and sunny weather, but it’s also infamous for its pollution, traffic, and auto-centric culture.  In an article titled “How Los Angeles – Yes, Los Angeles – Is Becoming America’s Next Great Mass-Transit City,” Matthew Yglesias writes how the city aims to transform itself into a commuter-friendly metropolis.

Some key points in the article:

• Voters have passed ballot proposition that creates a dedicated funding stream for new transit
• Areas are being rezoned to create more bike and pedestrian-friendly byways
• Metro area shows a 10.7% increase in mass transit, as opposed with a 3.6% increase in driving

Just how critical is Los Angeles’ move towards alternative modes of transportation?  According to Yglesias:

“The average population density throughout the urban area is actually the highest in America even though the core is much less dense than an eastern city like New York or Boston.  The result [is] legendary traffic jams, combined with a practical inability to widen the arterial freeways that form the backbone of the city’s transportation infrastructure.”

Public transport has never played such an important role in Los Angeles as it does today.  NextBus has partnered with LA Metro to provide real-time passenger information to help its commuters get to where they need to go.

This service, called Nextrip, enables commuters to quickly receive real-time bus arrival information via desktop computer, mobile web browser, SMS, or calling 511.  Nextrip can also determine your closest bus stop if you have a GPS-enabled mobile device.

For a step-by-step video on how to use Nexttrip, click here.   First-time bus riders as well as everyday commuters can quickly and easily plan their trip.  Taking the bus in LA doesn’t have to be a daunting experience anymore!

Radford University, home to 9000 students is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina.

Radford is listed as one of the nation’s “Top Up-and-Coming Schools” in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2010 Guide to America’s Best Colleges and is on The Princeton Review’s list of best colleges and universities in the Southeast.

Radford is also innovative both in providing easy to use transit for its community–and in using a brief, engaging video to demonstrate how NextBus technology makes riding the bus a terrific idea. In less than 2 minutes, the video illustrates exactly how to use NextBus and how it will benefit riders.

Enjoy the video that follows.

Read the rest of this entry »

With two bus routes and different operating times, getting in and around City College of New York (CCNY) used to be a bit of a waiting game.  This is no longer the case, because students, faculty, staff, and visitors of CCNY can now use NextBus to plan their commute.

Nineteen CCNY buses have been equipped with NextBus GPS trackers and integrated with NextBus technology to provide real-time passenger information.  Upcoming bus arrival times can be received via text message or obtained through the NextBus website.  Riders benefit because they can safely wait indoors until they know a bus is approaching.

The City College of New York currently has over 12,000 enrolled undergraduate students and 3,000 graduate students.  While a large number of its student population reside in campus housing, most live off campus.  CCNY transports passengers around the vicinity of the campus as well as to several subway stations in the area.  NextBus is proud to help this bustling student community get where they need to go, quickly and safely.

MICHAEL SMITH, GENERAL MANAGER AND CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER OF NEXTBUS DISCUSSES HIS INVOLVEMENT IN MEETING OF THE MINDS CONFERENCE

Meeting of the Minds, is a premier leadership summit that connects more than 250 invited global urban sustainability leaders to spotlight fresh ideas in urban connectivity and sustainability. NextBus’ own Michael Smith talks about what he hopes to gain from the conference:

“To further the idea that cities can be improved by providing more information, not just more service, and by improving transit we create more livable cities and enable and encourage people to live in a more environmentally sustainable way. I also hope to learn from others how significant improvements can be made with respect to improving our cities.”

Michael is responsible for both the business and technical aspects of NextBus and develop, plan, and execute its vision. He has also been a long time transportation activist and co founded and led Walk San Francisco, the pedestrian safety and advocacy organization. NextBus is also leading the charge at improving cities through its technology. Michael explains,

“At NextBus we track buses and other transit vehicles (streetcars, cable cars, ferrys, trains, etc) using GPS locators and determine when the buses really will arrive at the bus stops. We eliminate the uncertainty associated with taking public transportation. We also reduce the wait time and thereby reduce the travel time, making transit a more desirable alternative. The old fashioned way of improving service was to run more buses, an extremely expensive proposition. We have found that it is far less expensive to move information than to move buses. And we motivate the riders who have a choice to take transit instead of driving.We also provide and continue to develop new management tools for more effectively running a transit agency. That way transit agencies can provide better service at less cost. Our current goal is to develop a COMPSTAT program for transit (similar to the police COMPSTAT program developed in New York), to enable an agency to measure, publicize, and act on key transportation metrics. The desired outcome is to make city policies more effective and also provide transparency and accountability.”

Michael is also excited about the future of NextBus and its technology.  He discusses a multi-platform smartphone application that automatically tells users when the buses will arrive at nearby stops.  He explains:

“No need to configure the application. It uses the location of the phones to determine which stops are nearby. No need to setup one’s configuration. No need to know where the bus stops are. The information that is useful to the passenger is automatically provided and it is available everywhere.”

For more information about the Meeting of the Minds conference, please visit:  http://www.meetingminds2012.org/

NSU INTEGRATES NEXTBUS DATA WITH THEIR OWN MOBILE APP

Nova Southeastern University, commonly referred to as NSU or Nova, is on the leading edge of technology with their free mobile app.  Also known as the “iShark”, the app allows students and faculty to stay connected with NSU.  It offers easy access to the latest news,  maps, events and much more.

Beginning this month, the latest update of the app will include NextBus data as well.  This convenient service will report when the next Shark Shuttle will be arriving.  Students can pull up maps that display where each bus is currently on the route.  Since the data is also available on NSU’s website, as well as the iShark app, users can access it from anywhere, and anytime 24/7.

NEW DESTINATIONS, AND NEXTBUS REAL-TIME ARRIVAL INFORMATION ATTRACTS RIDERS

The Charm City Circulator just added another stop on its route. The new destination, Fort McHenry, links riders from Light Street through the harbor and South Baltimore and Locust Point to the Fort’s gates.

Riders include both locals and tourists alike. Some of them are commuting to their jobs, or use the circulator as a connection to Penn Station. Even seniors can hop on for a trip to the grocery store within a stop or two from their homes. Tourists find it easy to take advantage of a free ride to some of Baltimore’s hotels and shopping areas.

As the service continues to grow, riders are taking advantage of NextBus technology available on the buses. Commuters can easily determine when the next bus will arrive, ensuring they will arrive to work on time. Out of towners can simply use their smart phone to download the NextBus app  and easily navigate around the city. In addition, because the bus route connects up with the MTA’s light rail to the airport, riders can use NextBus to precisely time their airport arrival to ensure they will be on time for their scheduled airline departure.

The circulator also highlights areas of downtown Baltmore that have recently been rebuilt. The circulator has become a feeder to Penn Station, too, where it connects with MARC commuters and Bolt Bus and Amtrak passengers.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT REPORT, THE USE OF SMART TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, SUCH AS NEXTBUS, CONTINUES TO GROW ACROSS THE WORLD

Many transportation systems are going through an evolution due to high tech communication and acceptance in major cities across the globe. This is due to both the widespread ability of high speed networks, along with the ability to include intelligent data on mobile devices. For instance, NextBus real time bus arrival information can easily be accessed through a mobile device in an instant. The data is accurate, informative, and instantaneous.

A recent report conducted by Pike Research, global investment in four key applications for smart transportation systems will total $13.1 billion between 2011 and 2017. The report, “Smart Transportation Systems” recognizes the heavy investment in smart transportation. Senior analyst Lisa Jerram explains,

“Even as governments seek to reduce their debt, ITS will not see significant cutbacks and will, in fact, benefit as transportation agencies seek to optimize their existing infrastructure, rather than fund major new capital projects. Cities, transit operators, and other owners of transportation assets see smart transportation technologies as tools to help them enhance mobility, reduce fuel consumption and emissions, improve safety and strengthen economic competitiveness.”

The Executive Report can be found here: http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/smart-transportation-systems