One platform, 55 transit systems: Unifying public transit across British Columbia

British Columbia, Canada — 16 June 2025 — BC Transit has successfully unified more than 55 public transit systems across the province under a single intelligent platform, implemented in partnership with Consat Telematics. The multi-year rollout, which began in 2022, brings real-time oversight, local adaptability, and improved passenger experiences to a vast and operationally complex network.

The solution, built on Consat Telematics’ modular CAD/AVL technology, enables local operators to manage their services independently while providing BC Transit with a province-wide view of performance and data. The system is now live across British Columbia, supporting everything from remote on-request minibuses to Victoria’s 300-vehicle fleet.

“We’re not just a transit agency – we’re a large consortium of transit systems,” said Jeff Kendrew, Manager of Operational Implementation and Standards at BC Transit. “What makes our model so unique is that each of our systems is distinct. But thanks to Consat, we now have a single system that brings it all together.”

Tackling provincial-scale complexity

Before the project, BC Transit relied on a patchwork of legacy tools with limited data visibility, unreliable hardware, and fragmented reporting.

“We had systems where the cost to maintain hardware was spiralling,” Kendrew recalls. “And on top of that, the software just didn’t give us what we needed. We had no shared reality.”

The new platform provides centralised planning with decentralised delivery, giving each local system tailored access to data while maintaining a real-time operational overview at the provincial level.

“What we got wasn’t just a system, it was a team we could rely on,” said Kendrew. “Consat delivered a solution that truly fits how we operate. And just as importantly, we found a partner we can grow with.”

Shared data, measurable results

Since adopting the platform, BC Transit has seen tangible performance improvements. In one of the medium sized transit systems, on-time performance increased from 54% to 73% within just a few months—achieved without adding service hours or vehicles.

“We just used the data better,” said Kendrew. “That kind of runtime analysis, combined with local insights and performance data, helped us meet and exceed our on-time performance targets.”

Passengers have also responded positively to the visual upgrade onboard. High-resolution TFT screens displaying upcoming stops have become a visible symbol of the service’s evolution, offering improved accessibility for parents, older adults, and those with disabilities.

“Traffic Studio opened our eyes,” said Kendrew. “For the first time, planners, schedulers and operating partners could see the same thing, in real time. It changed the conversation.”

Built for the future

The solution is electrification-ready, with early integrations already underway to support BC Transit’s goal of a fully electric fleet by 2040. Real-time tracking, geofence alerts, driver displays, and custom reporting are all in place, laying the digital groundwork for future capabilities like state-of-charge monitoring.

“We’re building for tomorrow, not just today. And that takes partners who understand the scale and ambition of where we’re headed,” said Kendrew. “With Consat, you get the personal feel of a local partner with the muscle of a global system.”

Learn more about Consat Telematics’ intelligent public transit solutions here.

Read more about BC Transit here.