The U.S. Department of Transportation this week singled out the MBTA as among those transit agencies leading the way nationally in facilitating smart phone transit apps that provide customers with real-time information about bus and train location and arrival.
A USDOT "FastLane" blog article entitled, "Transit Apps Empower Riders with Information," says more people use public transportation when they have access to more accurate information about the location and arrival time of the next bus or train. Yet its review of 276 transit agencies found just 15 that offer riders real-time information about the next arrival. It provides the MBTA as one example:
"Boston's MBTA had one solution. They discovered that opening the data from their system to the public actually reduced their own costs because app developers and everyday citizens took the data and designed ways to make it useful to riders. One coffee shop actually has installed a real-time countdown sign that tells customers when the next train is due at a nearby station."
Read the entire article on the USDOT FastLane blog. And visit the MBTA App Showcase to check out the latest apps built by independent developers at no cost to the T that help customers know where the next bus or train is located and when it will arrive.
Hands down the best thing MBTA has done in the last years. All of a sudden I was capable to figure out that there is a bus line my son can take to school - saving me a ride and the environment the extra carbon. Way to go!
Posted by: Hart | February 01, 2012 at 01:27 AM