Tracking transit
GPS service will be part of T3 Transit upgrades following funding announcement
Transit users on P.E.I. will soon hold the key to planning their route and tracking their bus in the palms of their hands.
A GPS service that will help users track their journey in real-time is one of several upgrades planned for T3 Transit following an announcement of $336,246 in joint federal and provincial funding on Tuesday.
Operator Mike Cassidy said the announcement was an unbelievable feeling of support.
“I have truly felt support, it’s an unbelievable feeling to have the federal, provincial and municipal acknowledgement of what we do as operators,” said Cassidy.
“Acknowledgment is motivation. I already had passion, but I’m walking out this door with even more passion today and I didn’t think that was possible. It’s a wonderful, wonderful feeling.”
The funding will help allow T3 to adapt 10 recently purchased buses to include the “ReadyPass” technology, which Cassidy said is a GPS software that will allow users to track the buses on their phone.
“So if you’re on North River Road and want to get to the Sherwood Business Centre, how would you do that? The ReadyPass technology will plan the route,” said Cassidy. “More importantly, based on the GPS component, if you’re waiting in the bus shelter, you can take out your smartphone and actually see the bus (which will show as a dot) moving towards you.
“So all of the anxiety when you’re a public transit user of ‘did I miss the bus, is the bus going to be delayed,’ all of that (information) is going to be on this ReadyPass.”
Apart from giving users some peace of mind and more ability to plan their route, the software will help the company track its boardings and departures.
The funding will also provide for extra signage, improved routing and more bus shelters throughout Stratford, Charlottetown and Cornwall.
Cassidy said he’ll be discussing with his drivers where to best place the new shelters.
The announcement was made by Charlottetown MP Sean Casey, on behalf of federal Infrastructure and Communities Minister Amarjeet Sohi, and P.E.I. Transportation, Infrastructure and Energy Minister Paula Biggar.
Members of Charlottetown, Stratford and Cornwall city council were also on hand to show their support.
The federal government will contribute $224,164 to the project, which will account for 50 per cent of the total eligible costs. The province is providing $112,082, or 25 per cent, while the remaining costs will be split between the three municipalities.
Biggar said the funding would encourage economic growth and sustainable development, while also provide more accessible transit.
“Investments like this show that, while P.E.I. is a small province, when we work together with our partners we can make big things happen,” said Biggar.
Cassidy said he hopes to have the ReadyPass system in place for this September.