More awareness needed as mass transit changes

I applaud Iowa City for its implementation of an Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) system, but am shocked at its local officials and the Iowa Public Transit Associations' lack of awareness of the use of AVL in Iowa.

The Cedar Rapids public transit agency implemented an AVL system called “TransitMaster” in the late '90s. And a major player in the development of AVL technology exists in Cedar Rapids/Hiawatha. The Cedar Rapids public transit agency was the first to receive an AVL system as a pilot project of a small local group within Rockwell in 1999.

This group is now much larger (with many of the original founders still involved) owned by Trapeze Software and manufacturing. We have two offices, many new innovations including a Web-based notification system and on-the-street signs developed and manufactured in Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar Rapids public transit agency continues to use our system (although the system has progressed to state of the art). Our locally developed system is used across the United States and in Canada.

Please continue to bring awareness of the use and availability of technology to make mass transit a viable alternative for the public - it is the future. But please acknowledge and inform about the technical innovations going on right here in Iowa.

Vickie Nurre

Cedar Rapids