The mass transit system of New York City did not have any sort of arrival-time information system prior to the installation of the first subway and bus countdown clocks in the 2000s. Ī Select Bus Service wayfinding countdown clock, part of WalkNYC, during the debut of the M86 SBS in 2015 īus Time is also used by the MTA to create performance reports for bus routes, and by bus dispatchers and managers to monitor and improve service. The technology is similar to the technology used for countdown clocks found in the New York City Subway system (called Subway Time). Cambridge Systematics was also involved in the development. The Verifone system is the successor to a pilot 'Smart Card' payment system developed along with MasterCard. The hardware is provided by two companies, Verifone and Cubic Transportation Systems, with GPS devices supplied by Trimble Navigation, and open source software called OneBusAway. For most buses, the console is equipped behind the driver's seat. The current Bus Time system uses on-board GPS and wireless communication units, at the cost of about $20,000 per vehicle. Bus Time is also integrated into countdown clocks installed at several bus stops throughout the city, displaying how many stops away the next bus is, to serve riders without internet devices or mobile phones. Intersection information can also be found by scanning the QR code for a stop, or texting the stop's numerical code to receive information via SMS both codes are found on the Guide-A-Ride box affixed to bus stop signage. Typing in an intersection will give a list of buses operating to that stop and the approximate time for the next bus to reach the stop. For web-enabled mobile devices, typing in a route will display the list of stops along the route and the position of buses along it. It will also give the distance (in number of stops or miles) and approximate time away from the next stop for each bus. Q22) or intersection into the search box. On computer browsers, the service uses Google Maps to display bus routes and the position of buses along routes, by typing in a route (e.g. MTA Bus Time allows riders to track the location of buses along a route.

Mta bus time app