For over a decade, fixed-route transit technology has been stuck in silos: planners work in one tool, schedulers in another, dispatchers in a third, and riders are left in the dark when disruptions hit. Via’s new Fixed Route solution replaces that fragmented workflow with a single, connected platform spanning planning, scheduling, live operations, and rider communications.
In our recent webinar, Caitlin Proctor (VP of Product) and Brian Ng (Director of Product) demoed the platform in action, while McCall Huston (GM of Via Services) broke down its real-world impact on operations. Below, we’ve rounded up the top audience questions, organized by theme.
Most agencies don't run just one kind of service, and your software shouldn't force you to manage them separately.
Can riders and booking agents see both fixed route and microtransit options?
Yes. Multimodal is built in for every persona: when a rider or booking agent requests a trip, the system surfaces the best options available, whatever the mode.
We already run Via microtransit. Can we add Fixed Route?
This one was the easiest answer of the day. Brian's words: we'll flip a switch, and you're good to go.
Moving to a new system shouldn't mean starting over. Here's how planning, scheduling, and payroll fit in.
Is Remix required? What if we don't use it today?
Remix, Via's planning and scheduling software, is included in the Fixed Route solution. Already have routes planned elsewhere? Import a GTFS file from any source with Remix's self-serve upload.
That matters because many ops systems use different maps and IDs, forcing agencies to rebuild routes. It costs time, adds errors, and makes last-minute changes painful.
What about bidding, rostering, and payroll? Is there employee self-service?
Remix Scheduling covers blocking, run cutting, rostering, and bidding all the way through driver assignment. From there, Via integrates with payroll, keeping an accurate record of the time your team actually worked. Even complex CBAs are covered: Via evaluates agency-specific driver pay rules so payroll is calculated accurately.
The short version: Via is hardware agnostic, and Fixed Route can run on just the driver app and a tablet, with Via's native hardware integrations, or on top of third-party CAD/AVL systems like GMV. Here's how the details shake out.
What can Via support through the GMV integration?
Via works with GMV's public APIs and runs as a head on top of the vehicle hardware, including the VLU and head signs from providers like Hanover and Luminator. Via can supply the hardware, or sit on top of most GMV setups after case-by-case discovery.
Will Via help procure onboard hardware, like APCs?
Yes. Via is responding to CAD/AVL RFPs and partnering to provide hardware and support the procurement process.
Who handles hardware testing?
Via validates the full system at deployment, using third-party installers or your staff. APCs carry federal testing requirements, handled with qualified installers or the APC providers.
What about boardings and alightings outside of timepoints?
Via's intent is to capture them at every stop, a standard part of its own hardware integration. Specific GMV setups would be reviewed case by case.
What's coming for announcements, signs, fareboxes, and payments?
Fareboxes and digital payments are supported today, with more on the way. Automated vehicle announcements (including WaySign) are next, and integrations with onboard signs and head signs will keep rolling out through 2027. Arrival displays at stops and hubs are also on the near-term roadmap.
Real service means real-world conditions. Here's how Fixed Route keeps drivers moving when the signal drops or the route changes.
How does Via handle areas with limited cell coverage?
The driver app runs 100% independently of the rest of the system. Runs and blocks upload at the depot, and drivers can finish the day with no signal, and the app syncs seamlessly once reconnected.
Driver messaging also works on LTE or 3G, and Via is exploring Starlink as a backup.
When a detour happens, does the driver's turn-by-turn update in real time?
Yes. Drivers are notified and updated turn-by-turn directions appear on the map, including detours and closed stops.
Via Fixed Route is built on a simple idea: planning, scheduling, operations, and rider communications work better when they're connected. Agencies get real-time visibility across the service lifecycle, and riders are never left waiting for a bus that isn't coming.
Existing Via customers can reach out to their partner success manager. Not a customer yet? Talk to our team to request a demo, or tell us which hardware and systems you're working with today. We'll help you take the next step.