The
Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Washoe County has made a major leap forward in public transit modernization. In just five months, RTC migrated its OnRoute CAD/AVL system to the
Vontas Cloud, completely reimagining how the agency operates behind the scenes. This migration included adding General Transit Feed Specification-Real Time (GTFS-RT) capabilities, ensuring passengers receive live updates while the agency improves operational efficiency and reduces IT complexities.
Shedding Legacy Infrastructure for a Smarter Approach
For decades, RTC depended on an aging on-premises server setup to manage its systems—a resource-heavy and maintenance-intensive approach. Transitioning to the cloud allowed the agency to move beyond hardware that demanded constant upkeep and upgrades, easing the burden on IT resources.
“The idea of having servers in the back room really doesn’t make sense anymore,” said James Gee, RTC’s Manager of Service Planning and Innovation. “A more seamless backup means better security and it’s essentially a more robust package that we could build and offer ourselves internally.”
Powered by Microsoft Azure, the Vontas Cloud enables RTC to reduce costs while gaining the agility to scale resources dynamically. Freed from managing physical infrastructure, RTC’s IT team can concentrate on innovation and enhancing transit services.
Real-Time Updates Keeping Riders Informed
A key improvement in this migration is the integration of GTFS-RT, which provides real-time data allowing passengers to track buses, receive alerts, and stay up to date on delays or service changes. These instant updates offer riders precise information, empowering better travel decisions.
Real-time bus location and arrival updates have strengthened RTC’s relationship with its riders, fostering trust through transparency. Serving over five million rides annually, GTFS-RT has become essential in elevating daily passenger satisfaction.
A Cost-Effective and Resilient System
RTC’s move to the Vontas Cloud prioritizes operational efficiency, cost reduction, and increased resilience. By retiring on-premises infrastructure, the agency avoided expenses tied to maintaining physical servers and shifted to a subscription pricing model aligned with actual resource use.
Beyond cost savings, the cloud solution boosts RTC’s disaster recovery capabilities. Data is securely backed up across multiple geographic sites, ensuring minimal downtime in case of disruption. These features keep transit services running smoothly while safeguarding critical data from loss or cyber threats.
“The transition was absolutely seamless with no issues at all,” Gee emphasized. “In essence, that’s less work for our IT staff, less work for operations, and allows us to just have the latest and greatest and deliver the best product to our customers.”
Accessible Systems for Agile Operations
Cloud adoption also enables RTC staff to manage systems remotely, whether in the office, on the go, or working from home. This flexibility allows for rapid updates, adjustments, and troubleshooting regardless of location.
Kevin Robillard, Assistant Operations Manager for Keolis Group, described the change as transformative, highlighting the ability to access the system from laptops, phones, or tablets as a game-changer for operations. He praised its portability, intuitive design, and overall efficiency.
This accessibility has also simplified integrating new technologies, enabling RTC to adopt future-forward tools and stay ahead of industry trends without the complications of managing multiple vendors.
Setting a New Standard for Transit Agencies
RTC’s migration to the Vontas Cloud demonstrates the significant impact modern technology can have on transit operations.
By leveraging cloud technology, the agency has cut IT demands, increased operational efficiency, and improved the passenger experience. These achievements offer a model for other transit agencies seeking to modernize and streamline their services.
James Gee noted that transitioning to Vontas Cloud has positioned RTC to deliver higher-quality service while securing critical data and simplifying future upgrades. “Working with Vontas allows us to basically work with one partner and allows us to be more streamlined and provide better and more accurate information to our customers.”
As transit agencies nationwide face growing demands for efficiency, reliability, and real-time communication, RTC’s success underscores the importance of embracing scalable, cloud-based solutions to meet evolving rider needs.
