Since the start of Northgate Link service this month, King County Metro has brought online a network of new digital real-time information signs (RTIS). The initial batch of signs are located around light rail stations inNorthgate, Roosevelt, U District, and Capitol Hill. Metro plans to install more than 340 signs over the next five years as part of a contract with Connectpoint, which specializes in RTIS systems.
In a statement to The Urbanist, Rick Wood, President and Chief Executive Officer of Connectpoint, said that “King County Metro is one of the premier transit agencies in the country” and that “other agencies look to them for ideas and best practices,” alluding to Metro’s track record of innovation and ongoing endeavor to provide better rider tools like the company’s industry-leading e-paper displays. “Connectpoint displays provide crystal clear readability while King County Metro can control them through our cloud-based backend,” he said. Among the direct user benefits, Wood said that the displays would provide riders “with real-time service information and up-to-the-minute real-time service alerts and import community service messages and graphics.”
Where RTIS is being installed and capabilities
As of Monday, Metro has installed new RTIS at 15 locations near four light rail stations in Seattle. Around half of the signs are energized and mostly operating, but seven still needing to be energized and others need final programming. Two other locations still need RTIS to be placed, energized. The map below shows the locations with green indicating energized/operational, orange indicating awaiting energizing and programming, and red indicating awaiting installation, energizing, and programming.
