The new control center is prepared to respond to any situation. Photo by CTS-México.

Guadalajara's Macrobus unveiled a new control center on July 17 in an effort to provide transit users with a better, more reliable service.

The new center, located in the Juárez del Tren Eléctric station, monitors system operations along the trunk road and feeder routes. The center receives reports via radio communications of all the equipment installed at stations, including automatic doors, turnstiles, vending machines and recharge cards using advanced technology.

There are many benefits of the new system:

Discounts. Transfers can be made with one peso using a contactless card.

On Time. The use of the trunk road allows for predictable speeds and schedules because of the exclusive lane.

The Express Route allows users to move more quickly because it only stops at nine of the 27 stations.

Security. The stations offer safety and shelter for inclement weather. in addition to 24-hour staff who monitor the property.

Multimodal. Transfers between Guadalajara's Macrobus system and the electric train fare get a 50 percent discount.

Multi-currency. Feeder and trunk routes can be paid with 5 pesos or a rechargeable prepaid card.

Accessibility. The system has special facilities for people with different abilities and people in wheelchairs.

In addition, the main trunk line route includes 23 kilometers of fiber optic cables, which are linked to 27 stations, the general management building, the traffic light control center of the Ministry of Roads, and the main control center.

The optical fiber network is used as a means of communication, coordinating traffic lights, connecting 36 closed-circuit cameras in the stations, and operating things like turnstiles, vending machines and recharge machines.

Improvements are currently underway to display user information on LED displays that are already installed in the stations.

CTS-México helped create the Operations Manual for the new control center, which includes flow charts of all the activities and responses necessary to respond to possible operations scenarios.