Case Study: University of Minnesota boosts transit ridership and bus safety with Trimble VRS network and driver interface

University of Minnesota VRS Network, Sophisticated Driver Interface Join to Increase the Use of Public Transportation

The University of Minnesota led a USDOT Urban Partner project in collaboration with the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority (MVTA), Metro Transit and MnDOT to improve safety and increase public transit ridership across the Twin Cities. The core challenge was keeping large buses on narrow bus-only shoulders during harsh Minnesota winters—when snow, poor visibility and only inches of clearance on each side make maintaining schedules and safe lane position difficult.

The team retrofitted 10 MVTA buses with high‑accuracy GPS receivers tied to a six‑station Trimble VRS network, Trimble Integrity Manager monitoring, 3G corrections, laser scanners, virtual mirrors, a head‑up overlay, haptic steering and an active seat, plus an industrial touch display and passenger Wi‑Fi. The system delivers centimeter‑level positioning and real‑time driver feedback, helping buses stay on schedule and operate more safely in poor weather, with the program positioned as a scalable prototype to boost ridership and reduce congestion.

University of Minnesota

Craig Shankwitz

Director of the Intelligent Vehicles Lab