
The Evolution Public Transit
In a rapidly urbanizing world, public transit faces an urgent need for innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. BusPas, led by CEO Youval Abenhaim, is at the forefront of revolutionizing public transportation with smart technology that enhances safety, optimizes operations, and improves the passenger experience. In this interview, Abenhaim discusses the key challenges facing transit agencies, the role of data-driven solutions, and the future of mobility, as well as how BusPas is shaping the smart cities of tomorrow.
Q: How did you get into the transit industry?
Youval Abenhaim: I started my career in technology as a Chief Technology Officer at a large engineering firm, focusing on integration and technology projects. My primary goal was always solving problems for clients. One of the cities I was working with faced a challenge—how to provide real-time information for passengers. This led me to partner with an Israeli company, ISR Transit, where we built smart bus technology. Over the years, I gained deep insight into the challenges faced by transit agencies, especially how crucial data is for optimizing operations, increasing ridership, and enhancing customer satisfaction.
Q: How do challenges vary across different cities and regions?
Abenhaim: Surprisingly, the challenges transit agencies face are quite similar across regions. Everyone is trying to increase ridership and improve customer satisfaction with minimal investment. One of the first technologies implemented is fare collection, followed by passenger counting. However, the real challenge starts at the bus stop, where passengers begin their journey. Historically, passenger counting happened inside the bus because we lacked the technology to do so at bus stops. Today, capturing data at the stop provides invaluable insights into passenger behavior, allowing us to optimize service and enhance safety.
Q: Could you explain the five elements needed to gather data and optimize transit systems?
Abenhaim: Absolutely. The five essential elements for any smart city or transit system are: strategic sites for infrastructure, sensors, communication capabilities, processing power, and maintenance. At BusPas, we’ve developed smart appliances that combine these elements, offering functionalities like passenger displays, audio announcements, and passenger counting. This infrastructure allows us to collect vital data that helps optimize transit networks and improve the overall passenger experience.
Q: Who are some of your key partners in developing smart urban furniture for transit systems?
Abenhaim: We’ve collaborated with prominent companies like Nvidia and Mila, leveraging their expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) to create a platform for future innovation. Our goal is to provide a shared infrastructure that benefits multiple stakeholders—transit operators, cities, and passengers. For example, we offer tools to ensure safety and cleanliness at bus stops, monitor passenger behavior, and even provide cities with data on traffic patterns, air quality, and more. By partnering with leading technology companies, we’re building the foundation for the smart cities of tomorrow.
Q: What role does Nvidia play in BusPas’ vision for smart cities?
Abenhaim: Nvidia has been a fantastic partner. Their goal is to bring AI to the world, and they created their Metropolis platform to support smart city applications. We’re working closely with them to process video analytics and other data while ensuring the privacy of passengers and citizens. Our smart appliances, equipped with Nvidia GPUs, enable AI at the edge, meaning data is processed locally without compromising privacy.
Q: Where do you see the future of mobility heading?
Abenhaim: In the next 10 years, I see a greater reliance on automated vehicles, not just for transit but also for services like robotaxis. These vehicles will need extensive data to operate efficiently, and BusPas will play a crucial role by providing the necessary infrastructure at bus stops and other urban furniture. We’re preparing for a future where smart roads interact seamlessly with both automated and non-automated vehicles, ensuring safe and efficient transit.
Q: What challenges does BusPas face in achieving its vision?
Abenhaim: One of the biggest hurdles is the slow pace of innovation adoption in public transit, which is often due to the lengthy processes required for public sector investments. However, we’re working to accelerate this by offering solutions like bus lane and bus stop violation enforcement, which can generate revenue and improve transit efficiency. Our technology helps create safer, more efficient transit systems while also providing cities with the data they need to optimize their infrastructure.
As cities around the world look to meet the demands of growing populations and shifting transit needs, BusPas is leading the charge in transforming public transportation through advanced, data-driven solutions. Under CEO Youval Abenhaim’s leadership, the company is redefining how we think about transit infrastructure and urban mobility by developing technology that serves not only transit agencies but also the broader vision of tomorrow’s smart cities. From enhancing passenger experiences to pioneering AI-driven urban furniture, BusPas is on a mission to make public transit safer, more efficient, and fully integrated into the fabric of modern cities.
PART 2 – Coming soon…
Stay tuned for the next part of our interview with Youval Abenhaim, where he dives deeper into the innovations shaping the future of transit, the critical role of public-private partnerships, and how BusPas is preparing for a world where automated vehicles and smart roads will be the new standard. Don’t miss Abenhaim’s insights into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the next generation of urban mobility.
BusPas Inc.
At BusPas, we innovate to offer cutting-edge technology and user-friendly solutions to transit agencies and municipalities. With a focus on integrating AI, real-time data analytics, and smart urban infrastructure, we are a leader in smart city technology.