MTA introducing real-time bus information in Baltimore

According to this press release, "MTA CUSTOMERS TO GET REAL-TIME INFORMATION AT BUS STOPS TELLING THEM WHEN THE NEXT BUS WILL ARRIVE: State-of-the-Art Global Positioning Technology Drives New Customer Service Initiative."

Again, I'd rather have more frequent service and bike racks. Information about when the next bus is to arrive is mostly demanded by non-riders.

According to the press release:

The Next Vehicle Arrival system is just one component of a series of major MTA service enhancements under the leadership of Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. These include:

* A major restructuring of the paratransit system that produced an improvement in on-time performance from 76% to over 90%;

* Improved bus maintenance leading to a 718% increase in the miles a bus travels between major breakdowns;

* The double-tracking of the Baltimore Light Rail system;

* The purchase of new buses to reduce the age of the bus fleet and the introduction of new hybrid diesel/electric buses;

* Installation of advanced Public Address systems and Visual Signs for Light Rail, Metro, and MARC;

* Installation of a system-wide closed circuit television security system, and

* The development of MARCTracker – a system providing MARC customers with real-time, on-time performance information on MARC train via the internet.
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I had no idea about MARCTracker. There's too much to keep track of...

Index Keywords: transit