An apparatus implementing a Video Ticket Office (VTO) for providing an interactive agent-assisted transportation service, the apparatus comprising: a video display screen oriented to display in the direction of an expected user location; a video camera oriented to obtain images of the expected user location; a microphone oriented to receive sound from the expected user location; a speaker system oriented to direct sound to the expected user location; at least one input device; at least one output device; a communication interface module capable of transmitting and receiving real-time video and audio communications with a separately located operator center; an auxiliary visual display screen comprising a touch screen and configured to display prompts received from the operator center and to receive inputs and cause the inputs to be transmitted to the operator center; and a computer comprising memory and one or more processors communicatively linked to the video display screen, the video camera, the microphone, the speaker system, the at least one input device, the at least one output device and the communication interface module; wherein the processors execute instructions from the memory that cause at least one output device to transmit to the expected user a transportation service output, characterized in that the instructions further cause the processors: to display on the auxiliary visual display screen information regarding service options for the expected user to select, the information regarding service options being selected by a service agent at the operator center based on interaction with the user; and to transmit to the operator center a response, entered through the touch screen of the auxiliary display screen, regarding the service options displayed on the auxiliary display screen. a video display screen oriented to display in the direction of an expected user location; a video camera oriented to obtain images of the expected user location; a microphone oriented to receive sound from the expected user location; a speaker system oriented to direct sound to the expected user location; at least one input device; at least one output device; a communication interface module capable of transmitting and receiving real-time video and audio communications with a separately located operator center; an auxiliary visual display screen comprising a touch screen and configured to display prompts received from the operator center and to receive inputs and cause the inputs to be transmitted to the operator center; and a computer comprising memory and one or more processors communicatively linked to the video display screen, the video camera, the microphone, the speaker system, the at least one input device, the at least one output device and the communication interface module; wherein the processors execute instructions from the memory that cause at least one output device to transmit to the expected user a transportation service output, characterized in that the instructions further cause the processors: to display on the auxiliary visual display screen information regarding service options for the expected user to select, the information regarding service options being selected by a service agent at the operator center based on interaction with the user; and to transmit to the operator center a response, entered through the touch screen of the auxiliary display screen, regarding the service options displayed on the auxiliary display screen. to display on the auxiliary visual display screen information regarding service options for the expected user to select, the information regarding service options being selected by a service agent at the operator center based on interaction with the user; and to transmit to the operator center a response, entered through the touch screen of the auxiliary display screen, regarding the service options displayed on the auxiliary display screen. <EOS>