In This Blog
- Automated Passenger Counters (APCs) are essential for data-driven transit planning, but their true value lies in seamless integration with operational systems for real-time insights.
- Vontas transforms raw APC data into actionable intelligence, enabling agencies to make smarter decisions about service adjustments, funding, and rider experience.
- Integrated platforms like IRMA Matrix and TransTrack deliver accurate passenger counts and intuitive dashboards that support compliance, performance management, and strategic planning.
- Disconnected APC systems create data silos and delay insights, making it harder for transit teams to respond to on-the-ground realities and optimize service.
- Fresno Area Express (FAX) showcases the power of integration, achieving fleet-wide visibility and automated reporting through Vontas’ unified solution.
Transit agencies know that accurate ridership data is critical for smart planning, equitable funding, and responsive service, but installing an Automated Passenger Counter (APC) system alone doesn’t guarantee results. The real value comes from what happens after installation, when that data becomes integrated into your broader operations, reporting, and service decisions. Vontas helps transit agencies move beyond inaccurate or unhelpful passenger counter data to fully integrated intelligence, combining real-time counts, operational insight, and future-ready strategy in one connected environment.
Why APCs Matter Now More Than Ever
Riders may not see them, but APCs have quietly become one of the most important tools in transit. From informing grant applications and route changes to analyzing crowding post-COVID, APCs help agencies answer some key questions:
- Are buses too crowded during peak hours?
- Should we adjust frequency on underused routes?
- Where are we under- or over-serving demand?
In a funding environment that’s increasingly tied to data transparency, such as government, these counts help agencies tell a clearer story to stakeholders, planners, and the public. But to do all that effectively, APC data has to go beyond the device and flow through your entire ecosystem.
The Challenge: Great Technology, But Disconnected Data
Many agencies have already installed some form of APC system, but without seamless integration, that data often sits in silos or gets manually extracted into spreadsheets. This delays insights, limits usability in real time, and makes it harder to operationalize the data. As a result, transit leaders and operations teams are often left scrambling to answer critical questions:
- Why don’t our ridership reports match what’s happening on the ground?
- Why is it so difficult to combine APC data with our schedule or block performance
- Why does it take so long to get usable insights from our APC system?
Why Vontas Is Integration-First, Not APC-Only
Great APC data only matters if it quickly reaches the people and systems that need it. Vontas goes beyond device deployment to act as your integration partner, helping connect your APC system directly into your Computer-Aided Dispatch/Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL), reporting tools, and operational workflows. Through our partnerships with IRMA Matrix and TransTrack, we help agencies deploy powerful APC solutions that are already built for modern integration. Together, these solutions unlock a smarter approach to passenger counting, one that’s designed to support the big picture, not just device-level detail.
IRMA Matrix by Vontas
- Delivers highly accurate, real-time passenger counts using sensor fusion and edge intelligence
- Integrates directly with the Vontas OnRoute platform for instant visibility into ridership trends
- Offers flexible configuration options for bus doors, boarding behaviors, and vehicle types
ITS TransTrack
- Turns APC data into actionable insight with intuitive dashboards and built-in reporting
- Supports National Transit Database (NTD) compliance and performance management
- Makes it easy for agencies to align APC data with service, budget, and strategic decisions
Providing the Tools for Seamless Integration
When Fresno Area Express (FAX) needed to modernize its CAD/AVL system, integration was top of mind. Their goal was to get real-time visibility into vehicles, ridership, and performance without sacrificing reliability or compliance. With Vontas, FAX rolled out a fully integrated platform that combined a variety of elements:
- APC data from IRMA Matrix sensors
- Real-time vehicle tracking through OnRoute BusOps
- Dashboards and reports powered by TransTrack
Through this, FAX gained accurate passenger data across its entire fleet, complete with intuitive dashboards and automated reporting tools that eliminated manual processes. This allowed the agency to make better decisions about service adjustments, justify funding requests with data, and stay agile during unexpected events. As FAX’s own leadership put it: “The integration was seamless. Now we have the tools to respond to today’s needs—and the insight to plan for tomorrow.”
Get More From Your Ridership Data
For modern transit agencies, APCs are a foundation for smarter decision-making. But without strong integration, even the best sensors can become an underutilized asset. Vontas helps agencies bridge the gap between raw data and real insight. By combining APC technology, operational visibility, and reporting tools in one connected platform, we turn passenger counts into context and context into action. Ready to get more from your ridership data? Let’s talk about how we can work together to seamlessly integrate your APC system. Reach out to an expert now.