We selected Philips for the power and reliability of their intelligent Android powered displays and class-leading after-sale warranty and support.”
Bryan Gilliom, President, Message Point Media
To achieve their goals, BJCTA teamed up with Message Point and OnSign TV along with Philips Professional Display Solutions. To solve the problem of limited space, dynamic bus bays were introduced at the intermodal terminal. With fewer bays serving more buses, Message Point deployed TransitPointTM, a realtime passenger information solution powered by the OnSign TV Cloud Signage Platform, to deploy an integrated solution with over 47 screens throughout the facility, each customized to show information specific to its location. Screens provide real-time information for MAX, Greyhound, Amtrak, Megabus, and Zyp Bikeshare services. However, the real innovation, along with the design challenge, is in the Dynamic Bay System. Rather than waiting on a pre-assigned bay, incoming drivers may select the first available vacant bay when arriving.
This improves average daily bay utilization by over 40%, allowing more routes to be served by an efficient and compact facility. It also created unique signage challenges to make sure passengers get to the right bay on-time.
Dynamic bus bays: Reduced impact on the downtown core and improved efficiency through a compact terminal design accommodating more buses by using a dynamic vacant bay system.
Signage Platform: Message Point selected OnSign TV to power TransitPointTM because it offers one of the most powerful professional signage platforms while enabling them to develop their own entirely new signage apps to extend the platform. OnSign TV has also worked together with the Philips team to allow Message Point full remote control, support and management for their Android powered signage screens.
Positive impact: The daily commute has been improved with better efficiency for passengers and easier control for operators.
Remote central updates: BJCTA can supplement real-time information on bus arrivals and departures with additional dynamic service alerts and passenger information.
Remote upgrades: OnSign TV allows the core signage app as well as Message Point’s custom apps to be mass updated remotely. This reduces onsite time required, maximizes uptime, and ensures each display is running smoothly with the latest features and stability requirements.
Airport-grade information: Outdated static information has been replaced with a wealth of location specific live information for bus and train arrivals and departures.
Android: Custom content, information layouts and insights are all operated through the Android integration system. Phillips’ robust customized Android environment provides the 24x7x365 always on reliability Message Point and BJCTA demand.
Future-proof: Evolving requirements from BJCTA can be easily be accommodated by Message Point using OnSign TV and the Phillips Intelligent displays, enabling them to expand the system as needed. Such as replacing the driver’s manual arrival entry with automatic Bluetooth Beacon based arrival signalling by year end.
Enhanced Accessibility: Designed from the ground up to meet or exceed all requirements of the Americans with Disability Act, the system enables more riders to leverage public transportation.
Optimised capital expenditure: A smaller terminal design equires less real estate, resulting in a lower cost of operation. The TransitPointTM and OnSign TV cloud service platforms are both provided as an annual managed service. This substantially reduced upfront costs and ensures BJCTA always receives the latest features, and all the support they need to keep the system at the leading edge for years to come.
Client
Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority.
Location
Bimringham, Alabama, USA
Project
Birmingham Intermodal Terminal Real-Time Passenger Information Display System
Partners
Message Point Media, OnSign TV
Products
Philips 49” and 65” D-Line Series displays (34 units)
