Upgrading core systems is one of the most important steps a transit agency can take to improve service delivery, rider satisfaction, and daily operations. Metro Transit in St. Louis knew that doing so would help modernize its system, improve real-time operations, and prepare for future innovation across bus and rail services.
We recently spoke with Trenise Winters, the Assistant Executive Director of Metro Transit, about the agency’s transition, the impact of new features, and what’s next.
A Critical Upgrade to Support a Growing City
Metro Transit’s CAD/AVL system was due for an upgrade. As Winters put it, “We just upgraded our OnRoute system from TransitMaster (version 14) to OnRoute (version 24).”
While the system was reliable, it was clear the agency needed new capabilities to better manage operations in a rapidly changing environment. “We needed to move into the next phase of OnRoute, and there was some functionality that we did not have and we needed in order to move our agency forward,” Winters explained.
One major gap in their previous version was the ability to implement real-time reroutes during service disruptions. Winters shared that with the upgrade, “we’re putting [reroutes] into place right now. Being able to shift some of the real-time information to our customers as well is helpful.”
Early Operations Improvements for Dispatchers and Operators
While introducing new technology always comes with a learning curve, Metro Transit’s dispatching team quickly saw the value of the upgrade. “Our dispatching team is quite impressed with how the new system is functioning from where they sit,” Winters said.
For operators, the transition was designed to be seamless. “They really don’t see a big difference from their end. But we are in the process of introducing some new functionality where they will see a difference.”
One of those new features is Turn-By-Turn navigation, which gives operators visual route guidance directly on their Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs). In the future, if reroutes are needed, drivers will also receive real-time updates without relying solely on radio communication. This will be a major step forward in operational flexibility and safety.
The Role of Vontas Support
Technology transitions are rarely perfect, and Winters was candid about the early challenges Metro Transit faced during the upgrade.
“It was frustrating initially,” Winters admitted. “Once we made a couple of phone calls and started having more conversations around the upgrade and what’s not functioning properly, the [Vontas] team became more responsive, and they’re working weekly to take care of some of the issues we were having. So I would say that they’re very responsive.”
Ongoing collaboration between Metro Transit and the Vontas team ensured issues were addressed quickly and transparently. Frequent communication helped keep the project on track and allowed the agency to focus on delivering better service.
Looking Ahead: CAD/AVL Rail Integration
For Winters, the journey doesn’t end with the OnRoute upgrade. She’s already thinking about the next phase: integrating bus and rail real-time information through Vontas OnTrack.
“I’m looking forward to OnRoute for Rail (OnTrack). Integration between bus and rail, being able to provide our customers with real-time information for both bus and rail, seamlessly. As well as the management piece that will come for our rail supervisors,” Winters said.
Seamless multimodal coordination will create a better experience for riders and give the Metro Transit team stronger operational control across their entire system.
Lessons Learned for Other Agencies
When asked what advice she would give to other agencies considering an upgrade, Winters emphasized the importance of communication and pacing.
“Meet and have conversations first. Make sure you don’t rush into it. I believe initially we were rushing into it instead of slowing down and making sure we had all the pieces in place to move the project forward and have a clear understanding of what is needed. It’s hard when the agency is moving before Vontas or Vontas wants to move faster than the agency. You have to move together in sync.”
Her experience highlights the critical need for agencies and technology providers to stay aligned at every step, from planning to deployment and beyond.
Metro Transit’s journey is a great example of how modernization efforts pay off, not only in improved operations but also in creating a stronger foundation for future innovation.