Nashville Mayor Tests Real-Time Tracking Technology During Rush Hour Bus Ride

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry demonstrated the convenience of trip planning by using the Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) real-time information system, Music City Transit Tracker, to ride public transit to work.

Mayor Barry boarded a Route 7 Hillsboro bus from the stop nearest her home, along with MTA Board Chair Marian Ott, CEO Steve Bland and others to test the real-time feature for herself.

Upon arrival at Music City Central, volunteers from Transit Now Nashville, Vanderbilt University, and MTA were on hand to offer on-site demonstrations on the various ways to access MTA’s real-time information system to passengers waiting to board other buses

“It is great to see that MTA is now providing real-time tracking information to Nashville bus riders,” Mayor Barry said. “Having used the real-time bus information system myself, I have first-hand knowledge of the convenience and ease of use. I hope it will encourage more Nashvillians to experience the benefits of our city’s growing public transit system.”

With this technology in place, customers can now see where their bus will be at all times – in real time – via computer, smartphone, cell phone or landline, giving them better access to their trips and their time.  With Music City Transit Tracker, they can spend less time waiting and more time going, which means more convenience.

“This is an important next step for our transit system and our desire to make the system more relevant and customer-friendly for our riders,” Nashville MTA Board Chair Marian Ott said. “The availability of real-time is vital to meeting the growing demands from our customers for immediate transit information.”

MTA’s own Music City Transit Tracker app and third-party applications such as T-Hub (developed in partnership with Vanderbilt University students) and the nationally-renowned Transit app are available for download in Google Play and the Apple Store. Real-time information is also available via digital signs at the Music City Central transit station, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lite stations or Nashville MTA’s traditional and mobile websites using Google Maps and the automated Interactive Voice Recording (IVR) phone feature. 

The transit agency's investment in this new technology from Trapeze Group, a transportation solutions company, will not only improve the experience for current riders, it will ensure that the transit system will stay relevant and resilient as Nashville grows.

“Not only do we believe this new technology is an exciting new addition for our current riders; we hope it will open the door to prospective riders utilizing our system due to the easily accessible information and less stressful commute it can provide,” Nashville MTA CEO Steve Bland said.