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New Transit App Allows Real Time Tracking Of Port Authority Buses

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Thousands of people use public transportation to get where they are going in Pittsburgh.

Now, a local group wants to help riders get to their destinations faster.

Pittsburghers for Public Transit has been out on the town letting people know about the best way to utilize technology.

"These are now on all Port Authority buses, and so as a group that looks out for riders, we want to make sure people have a better experience especially in this cold weather," Molly Nichols said.

Real time data is now available for Port Authority buses on an app called Transit.

"You can put on your phone and see, okay, here's where I am. Here's where the bus is. It's coming in three minutes. I know exactly how long I have to wait before it comes," Nichols said.

Nichols has been showing riders how it works and how easy it is to know exactly how long you have to wait for your bus. There are other ways to get that critical information too.

"For people without a smartphone, they can also call the Port Authority Customer Service number and they will tell you exactly when the bus is coming when you tell them your location. Also, if you are in your office or at home and you want to see, you can go online," Nichols said.

In the future, numbers will be available for T-service riders. For Pittsburghers for Public Transit, it comes down to helping people use the services more efficiently.

"We have been trying to do a lot of work to help communities that have lost their buses over the years, and now we are also working to make sure that current riders have a good experience on the bus and this is why the real time technology is so helpful," Nichols said.

The Transit app is free for iPhone and Android users, as are the true time numbers from the Port Authority website.

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