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Client Story

Metrobus, St.John's NL, Canada

Metrobus upgraded its radio system to a Tait DMR Tier III—distributed by Allcan and integrated by MacKay Marine-to eliminate coverage gaps, improve audio clarity, enable GPS tracking, and support emergency response. Designed for transit operations in Newfoundland, the system is scalable, resilient, and built for future growth.
MetroBus NL Canada
Client Story

Metrobus, St.John's NL, Canada

Metrobus, the public transit provider for St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, needed a communications upgrade that could meet modern demands without disrupting daily operations. In partnership with Allcan and Mackay Marine, we delivered a full transition from an aging MPT 1327 system to a resilient Tait DMR Tier III solution, executed seamlessly in a single overnight switchover. Our team retrofitted the entire fleet with TM9300 mobile radios and equipped support staff with TP9500 portables, achieving full coverage and streamlined dispatch operations from day one.

The new system features Tait Location Solutions, integrating real-time GPS polling every 15 seconds, seamless AVL connectivity, emergency switches, call queuing, and full interoperability with the City of St. John’s municipal network. Built with dual towers and generator backups, it’s designed for long-term resilience and reliability.  

Learn more about each feature and how they support transit safety and efficiency by reading the full case study from Allcan here

"The audio is wonderful. We’ve finally conquered the issue of coverage—and have no more dead zones. We get GPS updates every 15 seconds, and the emergency switch gives us peace of mind."

Judy PowellGeneral Manager of Metrobus

The Situation

For years, Metrobus relied on an aging MPT 1327 Trunked Radio System that struggled to keep pace with modern transit demands. Frequent audio dropouts and persistent dead zones in critical areas-such as Water Street and Kenmount Road-disrupted communication between buses and dispatch, compromising both efficiency and rider safety. The system offered no built-in GPS polling or direct AVL integration, limiting Metrobus’s ability to track vehicles in real time. As the legacy system neared end-of-life and sourcing parts became increasingly difficult, Metrobus recognized the need for a modern, scalable communications upgrade.

The Response

In response to persistent communication issues, Metrobus launched a comprehensive review of modern technologies to identify a reliable, future-ready solution. After carefully weighing their operational requirements, they selected the Tait DMR Tier III platform for its proven reliability and transit-focused safety features.

A key factor in their decision was the system’s emergency switch, which allows drivers to trigger a high-priority alert that automatically opens a live audio channel to dispatch and activates an audible alarm. This functionality-critical for protecting solo operators-was not available in LTE-based alternatives. In addition, the Tait system offered seamless AVL integration, real-time GPS polling every 15 seconds, and call queuing to ensure uninterrupted, fleet-wide communication.

Metrobus carefully selected trusted partners to support the deployment of their new solution. Mackay Marine, who had previously serviced Metrobus's legacy system with excellence, played a key role throughout the project. Their experienced team, based in St. John’s, provided direct, hands-on support from start to finish. Allcan worked closely with Mackay to ensure timely delivery of the Tait equipment, while Tait remained actively involved at every stage. This included multiple site visits to St. John's both before and during deployment, with support provided by Tait personnel from across the globe.

The Solution

The project involved a full retrofit of the Metrobus fleet. Tait TM9300 mobile radios were installed across all buses, while
TP9500 portables were provided to support staff who required mobility. Additional TM9300 units were configured as desktop stations for internal support staff. MacKay Marine led the installation in Newfoundland’s challenging terrain, often accessing remote tower sites by ATV and 4WD vehicles.

A Tait engineer provided system training, and the final switchover from the old system to the new was executed seamlessly over a single Saturday night, minimizing disruption to service. The transition strategy included running new radios on the old system during installation to allow an efficient, coordinated cutover.

The Outcome

The upgrade has delivered a dramatic improvement in communication reliability and clarity. Full coverage has been achieved in previously problematic areas, providing the team with clear audio. AVL (automatic vehicle location) updates are now near-instant, with GPS location polling every 15 seconds—a major enhancement over the old system.

Dispatch operations have been streamlined, with dual-terminal functionality, enhanced system redundancy, and new recording capabilities that store up to 30 days of communications for accountability. Emergency response potential has expanded with the ability to connect with the City of St. John’s municipal radio system, unifying communications under one network. The system is built for resilience, featuring dual towers, generator backups, and multiple failover nodes.

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