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Wheels selects Lyt for cloud-based transit signal priority
Agreement will bring intelligent signal priority tech to 67 intersections across Livermore, Dublin and Pleasanton, with plans to expand across Lavta’s full bus fleet.
At a glance
Who: Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (Lavta); Lyt.
What: Lavta, operator of Wheels bus service, has selected Lyt to modernise transit signal priority to favour buses at intersections across the Tri Valley region in California.
Why: When a qualifying bus approaches a signal, Lyt’s platform can request additional green time or reduce the wait for the next green signal, helping delayed buses recover time while limiting disruption to cross traffic.
Where: Lyta will begin with several months of baseline data collection before activation, and the system is expected to go fully live in early 2027.
The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority (Lavta), operator of Wheels bus service, has selected Lyt to modernise transit signal priority to favour buses at intersections across the Tri Valley region in California.
The five-year agreement authorised by Lavta’s board of directors will bring Lyt’s cloud-based platform to 67 intersections, including 33 in Livermore, 26 in Dublin and eight in Pleasanton, with a planned expansion to support Lavta’s full fleet of 68 buses.
GPS-enabled platform
Lavta has used transit signal priority since 2011, when the agency first equipped its original Rapid line with infrared technology. The system was upgraded to a GPS-enabled platform in 2019, but that system is no longer supported by its manufacturer and does not provide the regular reporting Lavta needs to confirm how well it is performing.
Rapid buses operate in mixed traffic, and signal delay can make it difficult to protect connections and travel times across the region. Lavta identified the need for a modern system that could operate consistently across three cities, work with varied signal infrastructure and expand alongside the agency’s fleet.
“Moving buses faster matters, especially in suburban areas where cars naturally get a lot of priority”
The project is centred on Rapid routes 10R and 30R, which connect riders to Bart, the Livermore Transit Centre and Ace Station, and major employment centres throughout Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore.
When a qualifying bus approaches a signal, Lyt’s cloud-based, AI-powered platform can request additional green time or reduce the wait for the next green signal, helping delayed buses recover time while limiting disruption to cross traffic. Lavta plans to expand signal priority support from its current 20 equipped buses to its full 68-bus fleet, giving the agency more flexibility in vehicle assignments while preserving the benefits riders see on the Rapid corridors.
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“Moving buses faster matters, especially in suburban areas where cars naturally get a lot of priority,” said Christy Wegener, executive director of Lavta. “Having experienced first-hand what the Lyt system can do, I am thrilled to see the improvements we can make to our bus system.”
Over approximately 14 months, Lavta worked with its consulting firm to evaluate signal priority systems alongside staff from the three cities. The review, part of the agency’s broader design and engineering project confirmed that Lyt best matched the group’s shared operational, technical and integration requirements. All three cities approved the improvements incorporated into the final design, and Lyt submitted its proposal in May 2026.
“Having experienced first-hand what the Lyt system can do, I am thrilled to see the improvements we can make to our bus system”
Beyond faster, more reliable trips, the new system is expected to give Lavta information it has not routinely had access to under its current setup, including real-time priority logic, multi-jurisdiction integration and reporting through Lyt’s Travel Analytics portal. Lavta staff highlighted these capabilities, along with the system’s overall performance and operational effectiveness in board materials presented ahead of the agency’s July 2026 approval.
Baseline data collection
Lyt will begin with several months of baseline data collection before activation, and the system is expected to go fully live in early 2027. Field equipment at each intersection will be procured separately by Lavta, while Lyt’s agreement covers software licensing, implementation, testing, deployment, analytics and ongoing support.
Lyt is an intelligent connected traffic technology provider whose cloud-based, AI-powered platform helps public agencies coordinate traffic signal priority for transit and emergency vehicles. Lyt works with existing signal controllers and vehicle systems to help agencies improve transit reliability and emergency response without adding roadside hardware at every intersection. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, Lyt serves municipalities across the US and Canada.
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