Case Study: CityBus of Lafayette, Indiana achieves reliable transfer priority and improved rider & driver satisfaction with TripSpark Streets Transfer Protection

Transfer Protection is Essential for Spoke-Style Fixed Route Systems

CityBus in Lafayette, Indiana operates a spoke-style fixed-route network—10 buses meet at a downtown transfer hub every half hour—serving commuters and university students. The agency struggled with a confusing, paper-based transfer process and unreliable radio communications: drivers had to memorize requests, dispatch handled roughly 350 transfer requests for 485+ riders daily, and tight 3-minute wait windows led to missed connections and schedule instability.

To address this, CityBus implemented TripSpark Streets with a Transfer Protection module, digitizing transfer requests through in-vehicle MDTs and using AVL to deliver real-time arrival estimates. Automated approvals (with dispatcher override), reduced radio traffic, and the ability to make last‑second 2–3 minute hold decisions have improved transfer priority, reduced missed connections, and increased both driver and rider satisfaction.

CityBus of Lafayette Indiana

John Metzinger

Manager Development