MTA: Real-Time Bus Tracking Arrives In Brooklyn, Queens; Entire City Now Covered
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - If you've ever wondered "where's the bus?", the MTA has expanded the service that helps answer that question.
Real-time bus tracking is launching in Brooklyn and Queens today, the MTA said.
MTA's "Bus Time" system now covers all 164 routes and 9,000 bus stops in those boroughs. That means every bus line in the city is now covered by the system.
Customers can use a smart phone, the web, or text message to get the location of the next bus in real time.
"MTA Bus Time allows you to use your computer or phone to 'Know Before You Go' to keep you informed of your bus' expected arrival at the bus stop," said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast.
"MTA Bus Time is yet another way we are trying to improve service for our customers," said Carmen Bianco, President of MTA New York City Transit. "As we have seen with train arrival information in the subway, customers appreciate when they know when that train or bus will show up at the station or stop."
The routes added are: B1, B100, B103, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B16, B17, B2, B20, B24, B25, B26, B3, B31, B32, B35, B36, B38, B39, B4, B41, B42, B43, B44, B44-SBS, B45, B46, B47, B48, B49, B52, B54, B57, B6, B60, B62, B64, B65, B67, B68, B69, B7, B70, B74, B8, B82, B83, B84, B9, BM1, BM2, BM3, BM4, BM5, Q1, Q10, Q100, Q101, Q102, Q103, Q104, Q11, Q110, Q111, Q112, Q113, Q12, Q13, Q15, Q15A, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q2, Q20A, Q20B, Q21, Q22, Q23, Q24, Q25, Q26, Q27, Q28, Q29, Q3, Q30, Q31, Q32, Q33, Q34, Q35, Q36, Q37, Q38, Q39, Q4, Q40, Q41, Q42, Q43, Q44, Q46, Q47, Q48, Q49, Q5, Q52, Q53, Q54, Q55, Q56, Q58, Q59, Q6, Q60, Q64, Q65, Q66, Q67, Q69, Q7, Q70, Q72, Q76, Q77, Q8, Q83, Q84, Q85, Q88, Q9, QM1, QM10, QM11, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17, QM18, QM2, QM20, QM21, QM24, QM25, QM3, QM4, QM5, QM6, QM7, QM8, X27, X28, X37, X38, X63, X64, and X68
More than 15,000 stops are part of the Bus Time system citywide, and 5,500 buses are operating with enhanced GPS systems that help power the service.
To use the system from a computer or smart phone, click here and enter a bus route, intersection, street address, landmark, or bus stop code. That will bring up a map indicated where buses are located.
You can also text an intersection or street address to 511123 from any cell phone to receive a message listing local bus routes. Select a route and direction to learn the location of the closest bus stop and how far away the next buses are. You can also text a bus stop code instead. Bus stop codes are provided in text responses, are online at Bus Time's website, and printed on the Guide-A-Ride schedules posted at bus stops.
If you have a smart phone with a QR Code reader, you can also scan the QR Code printed on the Guide-A-Ride schedules posted at bus stops. Without touching a button, your smart phone will instantly take you to information about buses approaching the stop where you're standing. Not all bus stops are yet equipped with the QR codes.
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