Squamish transit riders can now see in real-time where their bus is.
BC Transit’s NextRide technology was introduced to Squamish July 25 at the O'Siyam Pavillion.
Riders will now be able to access GPS data that tracks the location of buses, allowing them to see where a bus is and its estimated arrival time.
The announcement also includes other onboard upgrades. Buses will now announce upcoming stop information, in addition to having the name of the stop visible on an LED screen.
"This new technology is a game-changer for transit riders in our community as it eliminates the guesswork from the trip," said Mayor Patricia Heintzman in a release.
The technology for NextRide will be web-based. Customers can go to the bctransit.com home page and click the NextRide logo to be taken to the real-time map that displays routes, plan trips or set up route alerts.
BC Transit will make the real-time data available on its Open Data page, allowing third-party developers and applications to use the data.
Nanaimo was the first city to get the upgrades in May, followed by Comox, Whistler, and Squamish. The new technology will come to Kamloops, Kelowna, and Victoria later this year.
The $6.74 million funding for the project comes from the provincial and federal Public Transit Infrastructure Fund, announced in June 2016.
“The arrival of NextRide technology onboard buses in Squamish is great news,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Communities François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, in a release. “This innovative technology will help make transit services in the region more convenient and accessible for all users.”
