RIPTA offering real-time transit information with ‘Transit’ app

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is now offering real-time transit information through “Transit” – a public transportation app.
Available for both iPhone and Android, the Transit app became available earlier this month, and gives riders accurate arrival predictions of all RIPTA lines. The Transit app enables customers to watch their buses approach on a map, limiting wait times at stops and “relieving commuter anxiety,” according to RIPTA. Rhode Island residents wishing to try Transit on their mobile devices can download it free from the App Store or Google Play. It is also used by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority in Boston.
“We believe that public transit is the backbone of our economy, and plays a vital role in connecting our communities and providing access to jobs,” Barbara Polichetti, director of public affairs for RIPTA, said in a statement. “That is why we have been looking for ways to provide our customers and partners with the convenient timely information they need, and we think that the real-time tracking provided by the Transit app will give them the power to better plan their day with less fear of missing the bus.”
RIPTA uses GPS (Global Positioning System) to track its buses, and a challenge it has faced is making that information available to the public with an easy-to-use interface.
“That’s one of the reasons that we are so excited to work with Transit,” Polichetti said. “They are experienced in using this type of data to help transit authorities provide a better experience for their customers.”
Polichetti noted that RIPTA recently was involved in a statewide mobile app “hackathon” challenge, in which participants used RIPTA’s real-time bus data to come up with their own ideas for RIPTA apps.
“We’ll be following up the hackathon teams, so there may be more developments that are useful to our passengers down the road,” Polichetti said. “We’re also working with Google with the goal of getting our real-time information integrated with Google Maps.”

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