BusTime Expands To All Manhattan Lines
Earlier this morning, I received word from the MTA that its real time bus tracking system, BusTime has been expanded to cover all Manhattan bus routes. Here is more via press release:
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced that its live bus tracking service, MTA Bus Time™, has expanded to cover all Manhattan bus routes. Customers can get the locations of Manhattan buses in real time via smart phone, web and text message. This is the third borough to offer MTA Bus Time™ on its buses, and the MTA is on track to offer MTA Bus Time™ on every bus route in New York City in the next six months.
“MTA Bus Time™ is a game changer and a service that greatly enhances our customers’ experience with bus travel,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “MTA Bus Time™ has turned your phone into a tool that tells you when to start walking to the bus stop so you can get there right when the bus does. Meet your bus, don’t wait for it.”
“MTA Bus Time™ helps our customers make the most of their valuable time,” said Carmen Bianco, President of MTA New York City Transit. “Our customers can now spend less time waiting for a bus if they know when it’s coming. Know before you go.”
“The real-time data that customers receive on their phones, PC’s and tablets is another example of our firm commitment to bring our system into the 21st century,” said Darryl Irick, Senior Vice President for Buses for MTA New York City Transit and President of the MTA Bus Company. “Taking the guesswork out of riding a bus through real-time arrival information is a logical step toward that goal, and I look forward to seeing every bus in the City equipped with MTA Bus Time™ next year.”
The routes added today are the: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M8, M9, M10, M11, M14A, M14D, M15, M15 SBS, M20, M21, M22, M23, M31, M35, M42, M50, M57, M60, M66, M72, M79, M86, M101, M102, M103, M104, M106, and M116.
The M34 and M34A are already equipped with MTA Bus Time™ along with 21 Bronx routes and 20 Staten Island routes that have a Manhattan portion to their trip. Brooklyn and Queens bus routes which operate a portion of their service in Manhattan will be added when those boroughs add MTA Bus Time™ to their routes in the next six months. Approximately 93 percent of all Manhattan bus customers can now access MTA Bus Time™.
Today’s expansion adds nearly 1,800 bus stops to the MTA Bus Time™ system bringing the total to 6,000. Crews have now installed enhanced GPS hardware in 2,852 buses operating in Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
MTA Bus Time™ began serving all bus routes on Staten Island in January 2012 and Bronx routes last November. It also continues to serve two routes in Brooklyn, the B61 and B63. The MTA is working to bring MTA Bus Time™ to the remaining routes in Brooklyn and Queens within the next six months.
MTA Bus Time™ uses location data provided by an enhanced global positioning device mounted inside each bus. That information is transmitted wirelessly to a MTA Bus Time™ server using onboard cellular equipment. The server integrates bus location data with bus route info, schedules and map files to output the information received by bus customers.
MTA Bus Time™ is easy to use in three ways: Click it. Text it. Scan it.
• Click it: From any web-enabled smart phone or desktop computer, just go to bustime.mta.info and enter a bus route, intersection, street address, landmark, or bus stop code. You’ll get a map showing where buses are located within the specific route or region you’ve searched. Click on a bus stop or a bus for more detailed information.
• Text it: 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. Bus distances are given in terms of miles away if the bus is far, in terms of bus stops away if it’s close.
o Tip: You can save a step by texting 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.
• Scan it: If you have a smart phone with a QR Code reader, 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. Because of Hurricane Sandy and the nor’easter, some bus stops do not yet have Guide-A-Rides showing the QR Codes and bus stop codes. They will be updated soon.
MTA Bus Time™ servers also feed raw data to app developers free of charge. Now that data is available for Manhattan bus routes, a number of apps that already provide real-time information about buses can expand their offerings to cover Manhattan as well. Try out these apps by downloading them via the iTunes app store or the Android Marketplace:
• iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch: All Aboard NYC; All Schedules Free; Bing Mobile; Bus New York City; Google Maps for Mobile; In Time Staten Island; Ride On Time NYC; Roadify; Transit Times.
• Android: Bus Tracker Pro – MTA NY; Sched NYC.
MTA Bus Time™ is made possible by a number of contractors, including Cubic Transportation Systems, Cambridge Systematics, Verifone, Open Plans Transportation, and Mobile Commons. For more information, go to http://bustime.mta.info/.
My initial reaction is about time! It is a shame that a world leading city like New York has been decades behind smaller cities in terms of transit technology. Here is to hoping that riders use BusTime to its full advantage.
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Brooklyn & Queens Bus Time Coming Soon
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Full New Haven Service Restored
Commuters on the MTA Metro-North’s New Haven line will wake up to good news as full service on the line will be restored for the morning rush. Here is more via press release:
MTA Metro-North Railroad announced today that full train service on the New Haven Line will resume Monday morning, October 7, following successful initial overnight tests of a major new electrical substation at Mount Vernon.
The failure September 25 of a 138,000 volt Con Edison feeder cable knocked out train service in an eight-mile section of the New Haven Line, the busiest passenger rail line in the country. The outage occurred during the construction and commissioning of the new, long-planned, $50 million substation installation that will enable the railroad to increase service on the line.
“As soon as Con Edison fixed the power failure, Metro-North was on the ground speedily restoring service,” said MTA Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast. “On behalf of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, I want to thank our customers for their patience in the face of an unprecedented, 12-day service disruption. While authorities continue to investigate the cause of this failure, I want to thank the hundreds of people who worked tirelessly and safely to make needed repairs.”
“We have coped with many challenging situations in the past, including blackouts, but this persistent power outage was especially challenging, both to our customers and to Metro-North employees who worked relentlessly to provide the best possible alternative service,” said Metro-North President Howard Permut. “We are grateful to Metro-North workers who expedited testing of the new substation once Con Edison completed its work and we are grateful most of all to our customers who persevered with us through this latest adversity.”
For the remainder of this weekend, Metro-North will provide about 70% of normal New Haven Line service while activation and breaking-in of the new substation continues.
Soon after the outage occurred, Con Edison and Metro-North electrical engineers determined that the fastest way to restore power was to expedite completion of the new substation rather than repair the failed feeder, which is not expected to be returned to service until October 22.
The railroad quickly established limited diesel train service between Stamford, CT., and Grand Central Terminal, a shuttle bus service to the Harlem Line, which was not affected by the outage, and a network of park and ride lots to get people to other subway and rail lines. Customers from New Haven had to transfer from electric trains to diesel-hauled coaches at Stamford for the remainder of the trip to New York City.
Within days, Con Edison was able to activate three huge, temporary transformers that provided limited power to the section and enabled some electric trains to operate through the affected area between Mount Vernon and Harrison stations.
Last week, the railroad carried about 80%-90% of its normal New Haven Line ridership, although most trains were crowded and travel times were longer than usual due to mostly local service.
After a special vote of the Board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Oct. 1, procedures were established for New Haven Line weekly and monthly ticket holders to obtain prorated credits for their future ticket purchases.
The magnitude and duration of the impact of this non-weather related event make this disruption unique in the history of the MTA and Metro-North.
Customers can apply for this credit until March 31, 2014. There will be no processing fee charged for these credit transactions.
For information about train service and the credit process, check the website at mta.info or contact Customer Service at 511 (From Connecticut, 877-690-5114).
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Metro-North To Begin Substation Upgrade
- Metro North Expands New Haven Service
- New Haven Line Weekend Service Plan Info
- Cause Of Disruption Identified
- New Metro-North Schedules For 2 Lines
Service Diversions 10-03-13
Get a head start on your plans for the weekend as I have just updated the Service Diversions.
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Have a safe & wonderful weekend!
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Service Diversions 02-07-14
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Metro North Expands New Haven Service
Earlier today, the MTA Metro-North announced it will be expanding service on the New Haven line with limited electric service. Here is more via press release:
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Thomas F. Prendergast and MTA Metro-North Railroad President Howard Permut today announced the railroad will offer a limited amount of additional rail service to accommodate half its normal New Haven Line weekday ridership in time for the Monday morning rush. While trains are expected to be crowded and customers are urged not to travel during the busiest part of rush hour, thousands of park-and-ride spaces in Westchester County and the Bronx will allow customers to ride other MTA services into Manhattan.
“Con Edison’s temporary substation allows us to run very limited electric trains through this critical section of the New Haven Line for the first time since power was disrupted last week, but it’s still far less than the normal service our customers expect,” Prendergast said. “While Con Edison works to restore full power to their damaged feeder cables, the MTA is doing everything it can to accommodate New Haven Line customers on other services.”
The new schedule, available at mta.info/mnr, is constrained by the power supply available to the eight-mile section between Harrison and Mount Vernon, which can only accommodate two electric trains at one time under very limited loads. Electric trains draw the most power when starting, so they will only operate express through that eight-mile section. About 20 percent of normal New Haven Line rush-hour service will be provided by electric trains, in addition to the 30 percent provided by diesel trains borrowed from other Metro-North lines.
“This service plan will remain in effect until Con Edison is able to provide full power through the Mount Vernon feeder to the New Haven Line,” Permut said. “They now expect to complete their repairs by Oct. 7, with the goal of giving Metro-North time to complete required testing and restore full train service by Oct. 8. Until then, we thank our customers for their patience and flexibility during this disruption.”
Metro-North will offer 8,600 free park-and-ride spaces that will connect with other MTA services with cooperation from Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino, the New York State Department of Transportation, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and local police forces throughout the region. New Haven Line tickets will be cross-honored on those services.
“The disruption of service on the New Haven Line has caused tremendous inconvenience to thousands of Westchester commuters,” Astorino said. “I reached out to Metro-North to offer our assistance and help provide an alternative to New Haven Line commuters.”
The following locations will open at 4:30 a.m. each morning to accommodate park-and-ride customers, and up to 72 shuttle buses provided by MTA New York City Transit and MTA Bus Company will begin operating at 5 a.m. Metro-North employees will be available at each location to provide information and assistance:
• Orchard Beach – 5,000 parking spaces, with a free shuttle bus to MTA New York City Transit’s Pelham Bay Park station on the 6 subway line.
• 8 E. 153rd St. Garage (Yankee Stadium) – 1,500 parking spaces, a short walk to Metro-North’s Yankees-E 153 St station and the 161 St station on the B, D and 4 subway lines.
• Rye Playland – 1,500 parking spaces, with a free shuttle bus to the White Plains station on the Metro-North Harlem Line.
• Kensico Dam, 600 Park Drive West, Valhalla – 600 parking spaces, with a free shuttle bus to the North White Plains station on the Harlem Line, and walking distance to the Valhalla Station on the Harlem Line.
Customers can also choose to go to other stations on the Harlem and Hudson lines, which will cross-honor New Haven Line tickets. The Hudson Line has more capacity available, while the Harlem Line is expected to be very crowded despite the addition of cars to some trains. Parking is limited at those stations, and Metro-North recommends customers arrange car pools or “kiss and ride” drop-offs.
Metro-North urges its monthly and weekly ticket holders to retain tickets used during the service disruption while the railroad considers the possibility of reimbursement.
Customers are advised to leave additional travel time, and use trains that arrive in Grand Central after 9:30 a.m., after the morning peak period. Those who can stay home or telecommute during this service disruption are urged to do so. Contact 511 (1-877-690-5114 outside NYS) for further assistance.
xoxo Transit Blogger
You might enjoy reading these related entries:- Metro North Service Update For Wed Feb 4
- Full New Haven Service Restored
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- Metro North Service Plan Info 03/12/14
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New Haven Line Weekend Service Plan Info
A short while ago, I received word on the Metro North’s service plan for the New Haven line this weekend. Here are the complete details:
A reduced schedule will be in effect this weekend (Sat., Sept. 28 &Sun., Sept. 29) due to the continuing Con Ed power outage to a crucial 8-mile segment of the New Haven Line. There will be hourly train service from all New Haven Line stations in both directions all day on Saturday and Sunday.
To Grand Central:
• From New Haven, a train will depart at 45 minutes after the hour making all local stops to Stamford. At Stamford, customers can switch to a diesel train for express service to Grand Central or to a diesel train for local service to stops between Stamford and Grand Central.
• Express trains to Grand Central will depart Stamford at 55 minutes after every hour.
• Local trains making all stops (between Old Greenwich and Fordham) to Grand Central will depart Stamford on the hour, every hour.
From Grand Central:
• Local train making all stops to Stamford will depart Grand Central at 34 minutes after every hour.
• Express trains to Stamford will depart Grand Central at 8 minutes after every hour. The express will connect with a local to New Haven, departing Stamford every hour on the hour.
Bus Service will be provided on the Waterbury Branch and limited shuttle train service will operate on the Danbury and New Canaan Branches.
Please visit our schedules pages later this afternoon for complete schedule information.Customers Please Note:
• New Haven Line tickets continue to be cross honored on the Harlem Line
• Expect crowded conditions and listen for announcements
• NO BICYCLES will be allowed on New Haven Line trains this weekend.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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