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MTA Expands 'Bus Time' Program To Staten Island

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority's bus time and mobile online tracking service is now available borough-wide on Staten Island.

The program allows commuters to track every bus on every route in real time on the Internet, smart phones and by text message to any cell phone.

Borough President James Molinaro said he has secured a promise from the MTA to include signs with bus time information at some stops so people without smartphones have access to the information as well.

"In a borough that lacks a subway system, this is a great improvement for the people of Staten Island to track the real time location of buses to enhance their commuting experience," Molinaro said.

Riders can use MTA Bus Time in three different ways:

- Using a desktop computer of smartphone, customers can go to http://bustime.mta.info/and enter the bus route, intersection or bus stop code and get a map showing where the buses are along the route and how close the next bus is.

- Customers can text a bus stop code or intersection to 511123 on their cell phones. They will receive a text message  back stating how many stops away the next bus is.

- Customers with a smart phone can scan a Quick Response (QR) code available on the Guide-A-Ride schedules at their stop.

"In an increasingly digital world, it's more important than ever to provide New Yorkers with the 21st Century mass transit system they need and deserve," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in a statement. "Today, the MTA took a positive step towards that goal by launching Bus Time in Staten Island – a real-time tracking service that will provide greater convenience and more flexibility to New Yorkers."

For more information click here.

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