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Bus GPS technology spotty at best

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer and amNY.com
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

December 13, 2007

GPS-fed electronic signs being tested at some bus stops often clock inaccurate commuter wait times, amNewYork has found.

A reporter recently tracked the performance of signs at 2nd Avenue and 86th Street and at 14th Street and 1st Avenue. The reporter noted if the bus came when the signs said and if the signs said a bus was arriving.

In more than half the time, the signs never reported the bus was arriving or were late in doing so. Most of the inaccuracies were only off by about a minute, and often the buses arrived early.

"It makes you feel good, knowing something's coming," commuter Elen Lay, 80, as she waited for the M15 at 2nd Avenue and 86th Street. "Look, it says four minutes but I can see it. That's a good feeling."

New York City Transit is testing the 15 signs that use GPS technology to count down the arrival of buses. The signs also tell the time.

Transit officials say they will test the technology through the rest of the year before deciding how to proceed with the project. They hope to use the signs to smooth the commute and prevent buses from arriving in bunches.

When amNewYork told New York City Transit of the paper's findings, a spokesman said the project is still in development.

"That's why we're still working on them," Charles Seaton said.

Officials also point out that traffic and tall buildings that affect the GPS signal sometimes cause glitches.

amNewYork found that the sign at 2nd Avenue did worst telling commuters that a bus was arriving during the morning rush traffic and was inaccurate 62 percent of the time. The sign twice said a bus was minutes away when some buses arrived together. Once, the sign reported that a bus was arriving when none were in sight.

While results were slightly better midday at the same stop, there were a few exceptions. The most glaring glitch: the sign ignored three buses, failing to count down their estimated arrival time or say they were arriving.

The 1st Avenue sign did much better than its uptown counterpart, with no major glitches observed.

Commuters there were satisfied with the almost accurate.

"It's off but it's close enough," said rider Larry Stewart, 40.

*****

Electronic bus sign pilot program at a glance:

- 168 buses are outfitted with global positioning systems that communicate with the signs through satellites and an information center. - Beginning in July, signs were installed at 15 bus stops on the M15, M31, M57, M66 and M116 routes. - The technology will be used to prevent bus bunching, when buses arrive together and leave long delays in between. It is also intended to improve customer service. - Transit officials hopes to expand the program citywide and put the real-time bus information on-line

**** amNewYork observed the electronic signs at bus stops on the M15 line. Here are our findings.

2nd Avenue and 86th Street morning rush:

13 buses arrived early, 4 arrived late and 4 were on time.

2nd Avenue and 86th Street midday:

10 buses arrived early, 2 were on time and 2 were unclear because the sign stalled.

14th Street and 1st Avenue midday:

6 buses arrived early, 2 arrived late and 1 was on time.