Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) provides public transportation services across Jacksonville, Florida. Among its core services is Route 30 Cecil/103rd Street, a key east-west corridor that serves major community destinations including three local schools, a Walmart, and an Amazon fulfilment centre.

In autumn 2024, JTA’s Service Department began searching for ways to improve On-Time Performance (OTP) and enhance schedule reliability throughout the day. A particular concern centred on recurring delays near a local high school during peak student traffic hours.

“With Optibus’ Predictive Runtimes, we improved Route 30’s On-Time Performance from 83% to 94-98%, making travel more reliable for our passengers and operations smoother for our team,” said Tavis Bader, a Planner at JTA.

Solution and impact: Data-driven timetables and reliable results

To tackle the issue, JTA used Optibus’ Predictive Runtimes, which uses real-time data to generate optimised runtimes that better reflect current operating conditions. The engine is powered by data from Snapper Services, whose Mosaiq Transit Intelligence Suite processed the agency’s real-time vehicle positioning data and made it available via API.

Using data collected in autumn 2024, Optibus’ software analysed traffic patterns and proposed refined timetable suggestions. JTA planners cross-validated Optibus’ recommendations against CAD/AVL data in Power BI dashboards. The predictive runtimes closely matched actual performance metrics, providing the confidence needed to proceed with updates.

The results were immediate:

• OTP improved ten percentage points, from 83.4% to 94%.
• Schedule reliability increased.
• Drivers reported that trips were running “right on the nose.”
• According to the assistant SDM, some days the route reached up to 98% OTP, a major accomplishment.

JTA’s operators are proud of the improvement. One staff member shared: “We did a great job.”

Drivers have also appreciated the recognition that comes with operating high-OTP routes, boosting morale and motivation.

The agency noted cost savings from reduced timetable delays. The new schedules accounted more accurately for peak school traffic, especially westbound on 103rd Street, improving punctuality without overcompensating with excess layover time. 

“After implementing Predictive Runtimes, we improved OTP by more than ten percentage points, giving our passengers more reliable service and making daily operations smoother for our team,” said Tavis Bader, a planner at JTA.

Shared lessons from Jacksonville

The success achieved in Jacksonville, Florida, highlights how advanced scheduling technologies and real-time data integration can transform public transport operations. These solutions, proven in the US, have direct relevance for UK transport authorities. With Optibus and Snapper Services already established in the UK, their combined expertise is being explored by UK operators seeking to improve schedule reliability, reduce delays, and boost On-Time Performance (OTP).

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