BC Transit, Spare to unify handyDART with one platform

BC Transit has selected Vancouver-based Spare to modernise handyDART paratransit services across 29 communities in British Columbia, rolling out a single digital platform outside Metro Vancouver.

The provincial agency said the project will standardise digital booking and service management across its handyDART network. The move covers 28 transit systems that operate handyDART within BC Transit's footprint.

BC Transit oversees public transport across British Columbia, excluding areas served by TransLink in Metro Vancouver. The agency said more than 1.9 million people across over 130 communities have access to its local and regional services.

Unified platform

Spare said the work will introduce a common model for handyDART operations across communities that range from larger urban areas to smaller rural towns. The platform includes rider-facing digital tools and functions for operational coordination.

The company said riders will be able to book and manage handyDART trips through web and mobile options. Spare also said the system will provide real-time trip tracking.

The announcement follows a recent selection by another major transit agency in British Columbia. Spare said that agency chose its technology to replace legacy systems and add digital booking tools and real-time trip tracking.

"Standardizing an entire province's accessible transit network is a major milestone," said Kristoffer Vik Hansen, CEO and Co-founder, Spare.

"We're proud to support BC Transit in improving mobility for the people who depend on these services the most, including family and friends of our own team members," said Hansen.

"This project shows how thoughtful innovation can make public transit more equitable for everyone," said Hansen.

Operational oversight

Spare said its platform will give BC Transit a single interface for coordinating trips and monitoring service performance across the handyDART systems in scope. The company said the tools cover trip coordination, service oversight, and role-based access controls.

Spare said the controls will manage information sharing between BC Transit staff and local operators. The company said the approach includes privacy and security measures.

The company also said the system will unify data across regions. It said BC Transit will be able to compare services between communities as a result.

BC Transit and Spare also framed the work as part of a staged approach to accessibility upgrades. The partnership centres on a province-wide standard for booking and trip information. It also includes data collection that BC Transit can use for planning.

Planning data

Spare said BC Transit will receive additional data from the system. The company said BC Transit will use the data to forecast demand and plan future service changes.

Spare also said BC Transit will use the information in discussions about funding needs. The company presented this as a way to assess demand and service delivery across communities.

BC Transit's handyDART services operate in a wide geography and involve local delivery models. Spare said its platform will maintain local control and governance while applying a standardised operating model for digital access and oversight.

Vendor footprint

Spare said it was founded in British Columbia and that many staff live and work in the communities served by BC Transit. The company said it has worked with public transit agencies in multiple regions.

Spare listed Canadian customers that include Brampton Transit, Hamilton Street Railway, Medicine Hat Transit, Oakville Transit, Saint John Transit Commission, Saskatoon Transit, Winnipeg Transit and Milton Transit.

The company said the BC Transit partnership forms part of a broader shift among agencies in the province away from legacy systems and towards digital self-service for paratransit users. It said agencies want better operational visibility as part of that change.

Spare and BC Transit did not disclose financial terms for the project. They did not provide an implementation timeline.

BC Transit and Spare said the roll-out will deliver a single digital platform for handyDART across the communities covered by the agreement, with mobile and web booking and real-time trip tracking included in the approach.