System and method for providing real-time and predictive speed, traffic signal timing, station dwell time, and departure window information to transit vehicle

A method comprising:

• provisioning a computer system, the computer system including a database server to store, access and update data;
• storing in the database server transit vehicle route data describing a transit vehicle route including locations of traffic signals and transit stations along the route;
• in the computer system, implementing an iterative process to acquire real-time traffic signal state data from the traffic signals along the route;
• updating the acquired real-time traffic signal state data on second-by-second or similar frequency basis;
• in the iterative process, acquiring real-time position and speed data from the transit vehicle operating on the transit system route;
• updating the acquired real-time position and speed data on second-by-second or similar frequency basis;
• in the computer system, calculating expected arrival times of the transit vehicle at next downstream stations and signals along the route based on the stored route data and the current updated position and speed data from the transit vehicle;
• in the computer system, calculating a recommended speed for the transit vehicle to travel through a maximum number of consecutive downstream traffic signals along the route during respective green signal phases of the downstream traffic signals based on the acquired real-time position and speed data, calculated estimated travel times to the downstream traffic signals and signal predictions for the downstream traffic signals;
• transmitting a first advisory message to the transit vehicle in real time, the first advisory message including the recommended speed;
• receiving the first advisory message onboard the transit vehicle;
• generating a first screen display in the transit vehicle based on the first advisory message, the first screen display including an indication of the recommended speed, and/or providing the first advisory message to an autonomous vehicle longitudinal control system;
• in the computer system, in a case where a recommended speed is not possible under current circumstances, determining a station dwell time that the transit vehicle should remain at the current location;
• sending a second advisory message to the transit vehicle, the second advisory message including the station dwell time;
• receiving the second advisory message onboard the transit vehicle;
• and
• generating a second screen display based on the second advisory message, the second screen display including an indication of the station dwell time, and/or providing the second advisory message to an autonomous vehicle longitudinal control system.