Detroit Installs Solar Powered Real-Time Signs with SmartLink Management System at Bus Stops

The Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART Bus), in Detroit, MI continues to invest in bus stop shelter amenities for its riders.  SMART is in the middle of a multi-year deployment of its new FAST shelters that feature a mix of solar powered digital technologies aimed to improve the ridership experience as well as reduce SMART’s operational overhead.

The bus shelters feature 400W of solar power that powers a 32” digital e-paper display, illuminated location sign, shelter security lighting and USB charging port.  The e-paper displays provide dynamic messaging with real-time bus arrival times, ridership alerts and marketing campaigns.  This reduces SMART’s need for printed schedules and maps and provides riders with updated arrival information every minute.  With the option to push marketing campaigns alongside real-time arrival info, SMART leverages the displays to post job openings, ridership incentives and community events.

Inside each FAST shelter is a SmartLink SL-4-DC controller that enables SMART’s operations team to remotely manage each of the devices from their office or mobile device.  Detroit experiences severe rain and snowstorms throughout the year and having the ability to remotely control its digital inventory drastically reduces the need for site visits.  The SmartLink system gives SMART the control to schedule each device individually, reboot the e-paper displays if they lose connectivity, and modify the solar power settings if necessary.  If a shelter location is poor for solar, the run-times of the devices can be remotely altered to maintain device uptime during the most critical operating times.

For more info on this project, contact Jenni Evans with OutdoorLink at jennifer@outdoorlinkinc.com or (256) 885-9768 ext. 309.