The Chadron Handi-bus is going high-tech.
The city council approved an agreement with the Nebraska Department of Transportation Monday to provide funding for the purchase of TripMaster, a dispatching software for public transportation.
Gale Kittell, who operates the Chadron Dispatch Center, said the city will be able to apply for 100% reimbursement for the program, which will send dispatch information to tablets on the bus, track rider stats, and provide an app for the public to download to request a ride on the handi-bus. The program will send an alert to the tablet in the handi-bus with the name of the rider making the request and the pick-up address.
“It should help improve our efficiency and help relieve some of the pressure in dispatch,” he said.
Police Chief Rick Hickstein said the availability of an app should be popular with riders under 40, alleviating calls to dispatch and streamlining the process.