From a book launch to product demonstrations and tasty cookies, the Vontas booth was a standout highlight of APTA 2024 TRANSform, held in Anaheim, California, from September 29 to October 2.
Check out our APTA TRANSform interview with Paul Comfort where Peter Aczel, Richard Blackburn and Zac Herness answered questions about what’s going on at Vontas!
As visitors entered the show floor, they were greeted by an active and engaging booth featuring product demos, Vontas-branded cookies, and exciting book signings. The event kicked off on Sunday with a signing reception for Paul Comfort, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer, who introduced his new book, The New Future of Public Transportation. Attendees eagerly formed a long line and grabbed every single copy of Comfort’s book, underscoring the excitement surrounding his insights.
The momentum continued into Monday when Comfort hosted a panel featuring five top public transportation CEOs. They engaged in dynamic discussions covering everything from career highlights to managing transit without subsidies, as exemplified by Hong Kong.
The distinguished participants included:
- Andy Lord, Commissioner at Transport for London
- Dottie Watkins, CEO of CAPMetro (Austin)
- Dwight A. Ferrell, CEO of Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (Detroit)
- Shawn M. Donaghy, MPA, CEO of North County Transit District
- Adam Leishman, Executive Chairman, Ascendal Group (Hong Kong)
The lively discussion attracted a large crowd around the Vontas booth, eager to hear firsthand from these industry leaders.
Innovative Demonstrations
The product demonstrations showcased the latest advancements, including Vontas OnCall, Vontas OnRoute, and Vontas OnSite.
Vontas OnCall represents a significant integration with Orion, enhancing the Vontas OnRoute platform. This integration facilitates seamless communication and swift responses with effective incident management. Incorporating Orion’s Push-to-Talk solution, it combines advanced voice technology with real-time communication systems to prioritize the safety of passengers and drivers. By fusing the power of Orion with the Vontas OnRoute CAD/AVL system, Vontas is setting a new standard for transit safety.
Demonstrations of Vontas OnRoute and Vontas OnSite illustrated how technology continues to empower transit agencies. A key highlight was the new data integration between Vontas, Swiftly, and Transit, enabling seamless information flow across platforms. This integration provides riders accurate and timely updates during unexpected service changes, enhancing the overall transit experience.
Celebrating Partnerships
The excitement continued on Monday evening with a Happy Hour event at the Westin Anaheim Rise Rooftop, overlooking Disneyland. Co-sponsored with Swifty and Transit, this gathering celebrated partnerships and demonstrated the power of collaboration in creating a better transit experience for all. It provided an excellent opportunity for industry peers to connect and strengthen collective efforts.
Sharing Experiences
APTA TRANSform 2024 also offered a variety of informative sessions that provided valuable insights for transit agencies.
One standout session, Mobilizing Millions: Optimizing Transit for Mega Events, explored how transit agencies can prepare for large-scale events like the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2026 World Cup.
Another engaging discussion was Taking Stock of the ZEB Transition, which featured candid insights into the challenges of transitioning to a zero-emission bus fleet. From battery electric to hydrogen fuel cells, attendees examined best practices and the hurdles accompanying the shift to zero-emission public transportation.
Additionally, the session titled Ridership Trends: More Than What Meets the Eye delved into changing rider demand several years after the pandemic. Representatives from Calgary Transit, Metro Transit, and Southwest Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) shared their perspectives on adapting to ridership changes and strengthening community connections.
Overall, APTA TRANSform 2024 was a resounding success. It showcased the latest advancements in public transit technology and collaboration and set a high bar for next year’s event