Metro DISPLAYS AT transit centers facilitate multimodal trips with information regarding connection to the regional rail network. MARCH 2017 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 23 Sign Management The earliest phases of Metro’s installation and implementation of digital signage was not without its problems. Originally, arrival predictions and service information were relayed from Metro to a third-party vendor, which then relayed them to the stations where they were displayed on screens via a media player. The need for a third-party vendor left Metro with no direct way to monitor the digital signs and as a result, sign malfunctions would often go unnoticed until reported by passengers. Metro established the goal of finding a proactive solution to improving sign management, and ultimately to more effectively and efficiently respond to problems with digital signage maintenance. After investigating and testing various solutions, the Metro team decided to develop its own application to generate the sign information. A web-browser application was written with Angular JS to support this development. Th e numerous benefi ts of the new Nextrip electronic signage (e-signs) application were felt immediately. By eliminating the need for a third-party vendor, the application has proven to be both effi cient and cost-eff ective. More importantly, digital signs that are generated by this application can now be monitored remotely by Metro in real time. Because of this, Metro can react immediately when a problem occurs. Refl ecting the success of Metro’s application, third-party vendors have now begun to consider the need for system maintenance tools in their digital sign products and are now improving their products to support this need. Future Plans With a digital sign management tool implemented and optimized through the new application, Metro is turning its sights toward the future. It is in the process of expanding the scope of its digital signage presence, bringing new e-signs to bus stops. Out of the nearly 14,000 bus stops served by LA Metro, 300 were chosen to host digital Nextrip displays. Th ese sites were selected through careful consideration of ridership data and existing passenger shelters. Th e expansion of the e-signage program will improve the rider’s trip not only in downtown Los Angeles, but also in neighboring communities across the county. Installation of the new bus stop e-signage will start in early 2017. Additional digital signage applications for customer information, wayfi nding and transit alerts are also being evaluated. By streamlining the fl ow of information directly to riders through improved Nextrip e-signage, Metro hopes to facilitate multimodal trips and attract new riders. Network expansion and improvement projects, like e-signage, have led to a growing number of Angelinos embracing mass transit. In November 2016, ballot Measure M, which proposed a sales tax to fund future Metro transit projects, passed with more than 71 percent of Los Angeles County residents voting in its favor. Th e ballot measure enacts a new half-cent sales tax and extends the half-cent sales tax enacted by Measure R. Measure M will generate more than $860 million in revenue annually and is forecasted to raise about $120 billion in its fi rst 40 years. Th is revenue will fund not only Metro’s mega projects, such as expansion of the rail network, but also technological improvements such as e-signage. As the evolution of digital signage continues to expand, Metro will continue to pursue practical applications for these user-friendly devices. Low-cost, user-friendly, ease-of-maintenance solutions will help drive digital signage expansion. Multi-purpose digital signage that enables public-private partnership arrangements will also help fuel the expansion as Metro looks for cost-sharing solutions that provide the end user with useful and complimentary information instead of the various interested parties developing single-purpose digital signage solutions that may not maximize the opportunities that can be realized. MassTransitmag.com/12300472 Th e Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) is a member of the Digital Signage Federation, the only independent, not-for-profi t trade organization serving the digital signage industry. Th e DSF supports and promotes the common business interests of worldwide digital signage, interactive technologies and digital out-of-home network industries. To learn more, go to www. digitalsignagefederation.org. Al Martinez is senior director of information technology at Metro.
MassTransit_March_2017
To see the actual publication please follow the link above