The TTC has taken another step into the 21st century by expanding their solar-powered transit shelters that tell commuters exactly when they can expect the next streetcar to arrive.
TTC Chair Adam Giambrone was on hand to unveil a new shelter at Broadview Station's streetcar platform along with Mayor David Miller.
The city says 248 streetcars have been retrofitted with the GPS tracking system. The TTC hopes to retrofit the entire 1,782 bus fleet by 2011.
Officials say they will continue to assess the sign's solar power energy as they build other similar shelters across the city.
Nearly a dozen transit shelters and subway stations now use an LCD display featuring the Next Vehicle Arrival system. They are:
- Dundas/Spadina
- King/Bathurst
- King/Spadina
- Queen/Spadina
- Bathurst/Adelaide
- Broadview Station
- Dundas West Station
- Spadina Station
- Union Station
The Next Vehicle Arrival System uses GPS technology to determine where the nearest bus is located. The software uses that information to display an estimated time of arrival on an LED screen mounted on the shelter.
Next on the TTC's list is a new program that will allow commuters to obtain arrival information via text messaging. This is expected to be in place by mid 2010 for all street stops. The technology will be available for bus stops in 2011.
