Passio Technologies president tackles transit technology in wide-ranging Q&A

In the midst of a national dialogue about the role public transportation plays in helping to ease congestion on the nation’s increasingly crowded roads, the heads of public transit agencies recently gathered in Washington, D.C., to discuss needed investments.

Technology plays an important role in that discussion — from justifying service to keeping budgets in check to improving the passenger experience, according to Mitch Skyer, president of Atlanta-based Passio Technologies.

“We’re at a crossroads. Because there are so many technology solutions, it is easy to get lost in the ‘wow’ factor,” Skyer said in a Q&A published on Communities Digital News. “Many people want to use technology for technology’s sake simply because it’s available.

“Transit organizations — and all organizations for that matter — need to keep their business objectives in mind when implementing any technology,” Skyer added. “Organizations should customize a solution to be certain it serves their specific needs and the needs of their end users, from optimizing routes based on rider demands to real-time vehicle tracking. Just because something can be done doesn’t mean it should be.”

Skyer has been helping transit agencies, private organizations and colleges and universities nationwide implement transit technology that helps streamline operations. In the wide-ranging Q&A, Skyer tackled many of the hot-button issues facing the public transit industry today, including the use of mobile platforms and big data.

“It’s fair to say the popularity of public transit is at or near an all-time high. Many cities, such as Atlanta, where we’re based, are experiencing the trend of millennials and younger professionals moving in town,” Skyer said. “Many are eschewing cars and opting to use alternative forms of transportation or public transportation.”