Thursday, August 20, 2015

Crisco hails GPS installation for buses

HARTFORD - State Sen. Joseph J. Crisco, D-Woodbridge, this week joined Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to announce that CTtransit buses throughout the state will soon be equipped with GPS devices that will provide real-time bus location information to riders.  

With a total of 42 million passenger trips taken per year, riders will be able to better plan travel with up-to-the-minute arrival and departure information, as well as a better experience, with the new devices.
Joseph J. Crisco

“Commuters expect and deserve to have modern technologies be used to make their transit experience convenient and efficient,” Crisco said. 
“The implementation of GPS devices to provide real-time bus location is just one step in the major transportation overhaul that we have initiated in Connecticut. This is a smart investment that will make transportation in Connecticut more accessible to the millions of passengers who use CTtransit buses every year.”

“This is all part of transforming our systems. It’s good for residents, it’s good for businesses, and it’s good for CTtransit. With real-time bus location information, it’s another step in our effort to take Connecticut into the future,” Malloy said.  
“We want the CTtransit experience to be easy and user-friendly, and the addition of this technology will make travel more convenient and reliable. This is a smart, strategic step in continuing the modernization of our infrastructure to move us towards a new era in economic growth that will support Connecticut families and businesses and create a best-in-class transportation system.”

This project will provide ‘intelligent technology’ for passengers on 500 CTtransit buses throughout the state.  Similar GPS tracking information has already been successfully deployed on CTfastrak buses in central Connecticut.  The new system is made possible by a $7 million allocation that was approved last month by the State Bond Commission.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is encouraging riders to download apps to their smart phones, such as “Transit App,” that will utilize the GPS tracking information provided on the bus system.

The installation of the new technology is the next step in a multi-phase statewide project that will include introducing new electronic fare boxes over the next six months. It will be compatible with the latest in new high-tech fare-paying options so that Connecticut can begin the design of a smart-card payment system as well as smartphone ticketing.

CTtransit is the CTDOT-owned bus service. In 2014, CTtransit provided 42 million passenger trips around the state.


This is a press release from Crisco's office. 

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