WMATA aims to banish ‘ghost buses’ with tech upgrades
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has improved the data used to display busETA that will result in fewer ghost buses. Ghost buses are buses that appear on tracking platforms but are not actually in service. Ghost buses are an issue that research entities and transit authorities have worked to resolve throughout North America’s transit systems.
WMATA’s improved data inputs will better reflect when a bus is pulled out of service and will improve bus locations reported on busETA, as well as third-party platforms including Google Maps, Transit App and others. WMATA notes an update to the new data on those applications will be determined by each app provider. While busETA users will see improved reporting immediately, WMATA says displays at bus stops will see improvements in the coming weeks.
The authority explains if a bus’s GPS tracker is having technical or network issues, a customer may notice a bus arrive at their stop that is not displayed on busETA. When buses are identified with this issue, the Metrobus team will work to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.
“These upgrades to busETA are part of our commitment to listen to customer concerns and work as hard as possible to improve their experience using Metro,” said WMATA Senior Vice President of Bus Services Leroy Jones. “Ghost buses are one of the biggest frustrations we hear about the Metrobus experience, and this change will help take the guesswork out of planning your trip.”
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