CTA Bus Tracker to Expand System-wide
- By Kevin Zolkiewicz
On April 23, 2007, the Chicago Transit Board approved three contracts totaling $24.1 million that would enable the CTA to expand the Bus Tracker program to all 154 bus routes. The contracts with Clever Devices, IBM, and Spring/Nextel provide for the purchase and installation of hardware and system upgrades needed in order for the program to be functional on CTA’s entire bus fleet.
Bus Tracker, which works using global positioning satellite (GPS) technology, can provide customers with real time arrival information via a Web-enabled computer, PDA, or cell phone. The system also allows supervisor personnel to monitor the location of buses and make service adjustments when necessary.
Routes originating from North Park garage, which operate in areas most impacted by three-track rail operations, will be the first to receive Bus Tracker. The system will be operational throughout CTA’s entire bus fleet early in 2008.