Press Release

Pierce Transit Awards Connectpoint a Contract for Multiple Solar-Powered Digital Bus Stops for its New Stream Community Line

May 14, 2024

Goleta, CA – May 14, 2024 -- Connectpoint has been awarded an inaugural contract by Washington’s Pierce Transit for the installation of 28 new solar-powered 13” digital bus stop signs along its new Stream Community Line. The agency's service area covers 292 square miles of Pierce County, Washington state’s second-largest county. In 2023, the system had ridership of 6.7M.

The new Stream Community Line is a high-capacity transit service offered in partnership with MultiCare, offering a frequent, rapid, and convenient weekday morning and afternoon service between Spanaway and Tacoma Dome Station, where riders can make connections with other local buses, Sounder commuter rail, Express Bus, the T-Line into and through Tacoma, and other transit options. Stream service is provided in addition to the existing Route 1, offering another option on weekday mornings and afternoons for commuters looking to make a quicker and more direct trip.

Stream service uses uniquely-branded buses and header signs to differentiate it from Route 1 service along the Pacific Ave./State Route 7 corridor. Bus stops served by Stream have a branded sign and ride guide posted on them. Stream bus stops will also feature enhanced shelters and lighting, along with a Braille sign and Connectpoint Digital Bus Stops which display next bus information and a push-to-text feature to hear next bus information.

“Connectpoint’s award-winning ePaper digital bus stops will provide 24/7 information to passengers using Stream’s new Community Line which runs weekdays during peak hours and is designed to make fewer stops for a quicker commute,” commented Rick Wood, CEO, Connectpoint. “We are delighted to have been selected for this important project, providing real-time solar-powered digital signage and text-to-speech buttons to provide updated passenger information and alerts, 24/7.”

“We are looking forward to introducing Pierce Transit customers to these Connectpoint devices,” said Pierce Transit CEO Mike Griffus. “They will vastly improve the rider experience, offering live bus arrival information not only for Stream Community Line riders, but for anyone who rides a route that shares a bus stop with Stream service. They will also be very helpful to riders who would benefit from audio announcements and braille signage and will help us increase accessibility within Pierce Transit’s system.”

The Connectpoint® Digital Bus Stop® offers ground-breaking technology via solar-powered, real-time departure and schedule information as well as service alerts. These “smart city” digital signs are equipped with ePaper displays that provide crystal-clear readability any hour of the day or night. Connectpoint’s Digital Bus Stop® signs are easy to install, can be retrofitted to existing bus stops or shelters. System health, power, and content across digital signage is managed by a single cloud-based content management system, Connectpoint’s CPAM (Connectpoint Asset Management), the industry’s only device agnostic, content management system, which can be accessed from any mobile device for on-the-go changes and performance visibility and can be converted into an emergency message system.

About Pierce Transit

Founded in 1979, Pierce Transit is a nationally recognized leader in the public transportation industry. The agency’s service covers 292 square miles of Pierce County with roughly 70 percent of the county population. Serving Washington’s second-most-populous county, Pierce Transit provides four types of service: traditional bus, SHUTTLE paratransit, on-demand Runner and Rideshare that help get passengers to jobs, school, appointments and other critical destinations.

About Connectpoint

Connectpoint’s ePaper digital signage, available in 5 sizes—13”, 23”, 28,” 32”, and 42”—is the most deployed ePaper digital signage solution within the U.S. transportation industry. Connectpoint also offers LED and LCD digital signage solutions.

Connectpoint designs, builds, and manages all product development, with content delivered and managed by CPAM™, our device and technology-agnostic content management system. Clients have input and control over all signage from desktop or mobile devices. Our diverse and talented team have specific software expertise to deploy ePaper and other digital signage solutions and are able to solve even the most complex issues and deliver on-time, challenging projects. In conjunction with our sister company, CHK America, we have helped power over 2 billion trips annually, allowing transit riders to make informed decisions. Connectpoint’s robust client list includes Pittsburgh Regional Transit, Pittsburgh, PA; King County Metro, Seattle; Tri-Met, Portland; VIA, San Antonio, TX; DASH, City of Alexandra, Virginia; GCRTA, Greater Cleveland, OH; SMART, SE Michigan; RTCSN, Las Vegas, NV; DART, Dallas, TX; FWTA, Ft. Worth, TX; GRTC, Richmond, VA; Seattle Streetcar, Seattle, WA; Sound Transit, Seattle, WA; and Portland Streetcar, Portland, OR.  

Connectpoint Digital Bus Stop® Awards

¨     2024 Smart Cities “Smart 20 Awardee” for “TriMet Improves Passenger Experience Providing 24/7 Real-Time Information with Energy Efficient Solar Powered Digital Signage from Connectpoint”

¨     2023 Smart Cities “Smart 50 Awardee” for “Seattle’s King County Metro Improves Passenger Transit Experience with Connectpoint’s Smart City Signage” project

¨     2022 IoT Breakthrough Award winner for “Overall Smart City Solution Provider of the Year”

¨     2022 Digital Signage Award in the “Sector Specific Response to Covid-19” category 

¨     2022 Globee Gold Award in the “Information Technology Project or Initiative of the Year” category 

¨     2022 Golden Bridge Gold Globee Award in the “Information Technology Hardware” category

¨     2021 Digital Signage Award winner in the “Technical Advances and Innovation” category for displays and other devices