A passenger communication system for a transit vehicle, comprising: an interactive display device adapted to be positioned in close proximity to one or more vehicle doors on the transit vehicle and adapted to display a visual notification to one or more passengers on the transit vehicle; and a programmable control unit electrically coupled to the interactive display device and adapted to alter the visual notification on the display device to indicate one or more states of the vehicle door representing at least one of a fully opened state, a fully closed state, or a transition state between the fully opened state and the fully closed state, characterized in that the programmable control unit is adapted to alter the visual notification on the display device to display a plurality of visual notifications indicating at least the following states of the one or more states of the vehicle door: in a first state when the vehicle door is fully closed, the interactive display is either ON or OFF; in a second state when the vehicle door is authorized for opening or closing, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a first color; in a third state when the vehicle door is fully open, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a second color; and in a fourth state when the one or more passengers request that the vehicle door be opened, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a third color. an interactive display device adapted to be positioned in close proximity to one or more vehicle doors on the transit vehicle and adapted to display a visual notification to one or more passengers on the transit vehicle; and a programmable control unit electrically coupled to the interactive display device and adapted to alter the visual notification on the display device to indicate one or more states of the vehicle door representing at least one of a fully opened state, a fully closed state, or a transition state between the fully opened state and the fully closed state, characterized in that the programmable control unit is adapted to alter the visual notification on the display device to display a plurality of visual notifications indicating at least the following states of the one or more states of the vehicle door: in a first state when the vehicle door is fully closed, the interactive display is either ON or OFF; in a second state when the vehicle door is authorized for opening or closing, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a first color; in a third state when the vehicle door is fully open, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a second color; and in a fourth state when the one or more passengers request that the vehicle door be opened, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a third color. in a first state when the vehicle door is fully closed, the interactive display is either ON or OFF; in a second state when the vehicle door is authorized for opening or closing, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a first color; in a third state when the vehicle door is fully open, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a second color; and in a fourth state when the one or more passengers request that the vehicle door be opened, the interactive display device displays a visual notification that comprises a controlled display in a third color.