MERIDA, YUC. – MOBILITY ADO and the Yucatán Transportation Agency signed an agreement to implement the BusLab project , which uses advanced technology to improve service quality and collect data to plan new routes and services.
But what is this initiative about? BusLab uses cutting-edge technology in buses to continually evaluate the quality of public transportation. It also allows you to collect real-time information about the service, which helps design and adjust routes and operations.
Juan Carlos Abascal, director of LATAM Mobility at Mobility ADO, explained: “For this initiative, five questions were developed for the authority in order to obtain live feedback from the user on specific problems. This will allow us to make appropriate and concrete decisions based on the user’s real needs.”
Abascal also highlighted BusLab’s lost and found management system , where buses will have a QR code so that if someone finds something, they can take a photo and hand it to the driver. There will be a database where users can check if their lost items have been found.
For his part, Rafael Hernández, director of the Yucatán Transportation Agency, highlighted the technological advances already implemented in the “Va y ven” buses belonging to the Mérida transportation system.
“These units have internet on board, USB ports to charge cell phones and cameras that replace the rearview mirrors. These advances are just the starting point. Innovation is not just about creating something new, but also about improving what already exists. Thanks to technology, we can plan the service appropriately and offer a more pleasant travel experience.” Rafael Hernández stood out.
The BusLab project will initially be implemented on two buses, one on the IETRAM route and another on the peripheral circuit. Depending on the quality and quantity of information collected, the agency will decide whether to expand this technology to a broader operational level.
This technological laboratory will serve nearly 30 thousand daily users, integrating advanced technology and promoting constant feedback to continually improve the public transportation service in Mérida.
The official signing of this agreement took place within the framework of the Smart City Expo Latam Congress 2024 , where both the Yucatán Transportation Agency and Mobility ADO highlighted the joint work between the private company and the levels of government for the modernization of Mérida.
In this sense, Luis Sánchez, operations director of MOBILITY ADO, highlighted that the BusLab project and ADO not only seek to avoid accidents through advanced techniques, but also to develop a profession for drivers.
“We have 15 schools recognized by the government throughout the republic, where the certificates we grant allow us to issue licenses. We use advanced technology, such as simulators, to train drivers, evaluating and improving their skills and knowledge. In addition, we offer a career plan that begins with minor services and progresses to executive and luxury services,” Sánchez highlighted.
For her part, Daniela Flores, director of Electromobility of the Transportation Agency in Yucatán, explained that the electric charging system of BusLab and the Mérida transportation system is innovative at the national level.
“We have ultra-fast chargers that allow us to charge the buses from zero to 100 in less than an hour. The infrastructure is designed for fast and efficient charging, similar to a gas station, optimizing the time of buses on the route. Additionally, we use 100% renewable energy through a five-megawatt photovoltaic operation,” Flores said.
The BusLab project, launched by MOBILITY ADO and the Yucatán transportation agency, seeks to significantly improve public transportation in Mérida through the implementation of advanced technology and comprehensive driver training . With innovations in electric charging systems and a commitment to sustainability, they aim to establish a new standard in urban transportation that in the future could be replicated in all states of the country.
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