Buses Will Be Equipped With 'Smart' Technology

NJ Transit announced a pair of initiatives last week intended to give customers real-time information on trains and buses.

NJ Transit entered into a contract Tuesday to install Smart Bus technology on all its buses. The technology will allow customers to receive bus location and arrival information on their web-enabled devices.

NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein said the Smart Bus technology could lead to signs that display when the next bus will arrive, and web tools like maps displaying where buses are on their routes.

The installation of smart bus platforms is expected to be completed in two phases by the end of 2012, while delivery of the remainder of NJ Transit’s new smart buses is expected to be completed in 2013. 

“By equipping the entire NJ Transit bus fleet with smart bus technology, we are laying the foundation for providing real-time bus service information to our customers,” Weinstein said.

Rail customers will also see improvements. The My Transit alert system, which alerts customers about delays, service disruptions and schedule changes via cell phones, smart phones wireless devices and e-mail, will now give customers weekend rail alerts and news of Access Link para-transit disruptions.

To sign up for My Transit, click here.