Port Authority Rolling Out Real-Time Bus Tracking

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Taking the bus is getting more convenient for people in Allegheny County as the Port Authority continues to roll out its real-time bus tracker.

If you take the bus to work, you know waiting at a stop can sometimes be frustrating.

"Usually late and you're wondering what's going on or you just missed the bus because when it's not late, it's really early. So, you just never know when it's coming sometimes, depending on what line you're on," Danae Carter said.

A new system is taking the guesswork out of waiting.

For the past several months, the Port Authority has been testing out an electronic, real-time bus tracker on the P1 route.

The testing is now complete and beginning today, the tracker will be available to P1 and P3 riders.

But, that's just the beginning.

"In a couple of weeks, we'll turn on a handful of extra routes and then basically from that point forward, every few weeks we are going to turn on a cluster of routes. Maybe three to five routes at a time, monitor, see how it's going, make sure there are no glitches," Port Authority Spokesperson Jim Ritchie said.

Ritchie says implementing some type of real-time tracker has been the number one request among riders.

Initially, the system will show the location of a bus and the arrival time. Later down the road, people will be able to see what's actually causing a delay, like bad weather or an accident.

Eventually, there will also be digital screens at some of the larger stations to display the same information.

"I think that would be great, yeah if I could check on my phone when the bus will be coming," Abigail Horn said.

All of the bus routes will be phased into the new system by the end of this year. Then, the T routes will be added next year.

You can access the real-time information by going to RealTime.PortAuthority.org

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