MTA app due by year's end on Staten Island

[Via Garibaldi 8]

"STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Bracing for those seemingly interminable waits for the bus in frigid winter?

 

Good news: By the time the fiercest weather is upon us, a new Internet-based service will be available for all Staten Island riders, allowing them to check their computers or smart phones to find out whether the bus is about to pull up or whether they should duck into the deli for a hot cup of joe.

MTA Bus Time -- part of the movement to marry city public transportation with 21st century technology -- is coming to all bus routes on Staten Island by year's end.

 

The $6.9 million pilot program will allow straphangers to access information from the bus stop, their home, office or anywhere they carry their smart phones to get up-to-the minute information on when that (insert adjective here) bus is going to arrive.

 

'This adds to the customer experience in the positive way by taking the guesswork out of waiting for the bus to arrive,' said Kevin Ortiz, a spokesman for the MTA."

 

Read more: http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/10/mta_app_due_by_years_end_will.html

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I guess this means that it won't be further delayed... Looking forward it to and now maybe those X10s will come at the time that they're scheduled. How exactly is this going to work though? In other words who will be watching over this system to see when buses are showing up etc.? From what I hear this has been very popular on the B63, but I don't know if reliability has improved or what. On the M16 and M34 lines it seems like the buses still come whatever and the times in which the buses are supposed to arrive seem to be way off.

[Noflexdont]

I think what info you will be getting is from the crew dispatcher. So if bus operator Smith calls out sick and nobody cover his run the you will know that the 455pm bus is not showing up. I know that the road dispatcher are getting issued mini computers that updated whatever info they have via satellite every few mins and and it tracked from the command center. The way of the pen and paper is going out the window. I was talking to this one dispatcher in-particular and said that the info needs to be from all levels. He does not receive information from the crew or yard about bus not pulling out or operator not showing up for duty so he finds out that a bus not there when it never shows up. If he had that information he would be able to make adjustments so service is stays as normal as possible. When all the computers talk to each other then notice of service for the public will greatly improve. Until then your will always be taking a shot in the dark with bus service.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

I think what info you will be getting is from the crew dispatcher. So if bus operator Smith calls out sick and nobody cover his run the you will know that the 455pm bus is not showing up. I know that the road dispatcher are getting issued mini computers that updated whatever info they have via satellite every few mins and and it tracked from the command center. The way of the pen and paper is going out the window. I was talking to this one dispatcher in-particular and said that the info needs to be from all levels. He does not receive information from the crew or yard about bus not pulling out or operator not showing up for duty so he finds out that a bus not there when it never shows up. If he had that information he would be able to make adjustments so service is stays as normal as possible. When all the computers talk to each other then notice of service for the public will greatly improve. Until then your will always be taking a shot in the dark with bus service.

 

Wow that's something. Well I'll tell you, this is certainly a step in the right direction, especially for me because going to and from work I tend to take the last express bus of the morning there on Forest Avenue. Sometimes if the bus doesn't come by a certain time then I use my back up plans and go over to the X14 or the X12 which take longer. However, knowing whether or not the last X30 has come or not in advance will be great, because I can plan my route accordingly. Also good when there are traffic accidents and such, but yeah I agree that more technology is needed for the buses. To be honest, this could help increase ridership since folks will be able to know whether or not a bus is coming and when.

[IronboundNJT]

I like the idea I hope that it's using some form of gps tech hell I like the fact you can just search for it online as opposed to (NJT)s way in customer calls the number gets customer service who contacts control who contacts operator who responds then control tells cust service who tells caller speak about round a bout

[checkmatechamp13]

I think what info you will be getting is from the crew dispatcher. So if bus operator Smith calls out sick and nobody cover his run the you will know that the 455pm bus is not showing up. I know that the road dispatcher are getting issued mini computers that updated whatever info they have via satellite every few mins and and it tracked from the command center. The way of the pen and paper is going out the window. I was talking to this one dispatcher in-particular and said that the info needs to be from all levels. He does not receive information from the crew or yard about bus not pulling out or operator not showing up for duty so he finds out that a bus not there when it never shows up. If he had that information he would be able to make adjustments so service is stays as normal as possible. When all the computers talk to each other then notice of service for the public will greatly improve. Until then your will always be taking a shot in the dark with bus service.

 

But if the bus isn't coming, then wouldn't it just not show that particular bus?

 

For argument's sake, say you're at Forest Avenue/Broadway and it's 17:15 on a weekday afternoon. The next S48 bus is due at 17:20, so your bus should be around Jewett Avenue or so.

 

If that bus is MIA, it should just show the next bus (scheduled to arrived at Broadway at 17:32), and it would show it around Maple Parkway.

 

Well, knowledge is power. Maybe if you have a backup (say, running up to the S44 on Cary Avenue), you can use that, or at the very least you know to expect a crowded bus.