MTA to introduce smartphone bus tracking

When’s the next bus? Finding out may soon be as easy as checking Twitter.
Maryland Transit Administration officials say the agency will launch a smartphone-friendly service this fall to allow riders to track the carrier’s local buses, The Baltimore Sun reports.

“It’s imperative that this system runs as efficiently and reliably as possible, and this comprehensive review will help us achieve that goal,” said Robert Smith, the MTA’s administrator and CEO, in a statement. “We will continue to work closely with riders, residents, businesses, elected officials, civic leaders and transit advocates to complete the Bus Network Improvement Project.”

The initiative is part of Gov. Martin O’Malley‘s goal of doubling transit ridership in the state by 2020, and a response to riders’ complaints that buses in the city and county are often late and sometimes never show up.

The MTA already offers online tracking for light rail trains. Officials said the new bus tracker will be similar to the light rail system, according to the Sun report.