As in mid-July, about 50 of the 100 high-ridership stops and transit hubs will have real-time ePaper bus arrival displays installed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) to enhance accessibility and the rider experience.
MCDOT claims that the technology, known as ePaper and provided by Connectpoint, is a digital display that shows real-time bus arrival information together with a text-to-speech button called Falcon and an audio readout. The screens are presently being installed at 100 bus stations throughout the County by the MCDOT Division of Transit. As of mid-July, about 50 screens had been mounted.
According to County Executive Marc Elrich, Montgomery County is dedicated to creating a transportation system that is dependable, easily accessible, and user-friendly. Riders can more accurately estimate their travel times and receive alerts about any problems that can impact their journey by using real-time information displays. In addition to making all Ride On buses free last month, we recently launched the first phase of Ride On Reimagined, a long-term initiative to update and enhance public transportation. We’re hoping that more individuals will opt for public transportation. Now is a fantastic opportunity to explore ride-on buses.
High-ridership bus stops and transit hubs in Bethesda, Germantown, Rockville, Shady Grove, Silver Spring, and Twinbrook will get the real-time information displays.According to MCDOT Director Chris Conklin, the digital signs fulfill a frequent request from our riders: real-time information on bus wait times and system alerts. Two years ago, we launched the Ride On Trip Planner app, which allows users to plan the most effective routes between various public transit options and access real-time Ride On bus arrival data. Since then, the app has been used to organize over 2.5 million trips, and riders have given it overwhelmingly excellent reviews. Another method of providing our riders with important information is through the ePaper displays.
Over the coming years, MCDOT anticipates expanding the number of ePaper displays at bus stations with strong usage.According to Conklin, we are determining which bus stops require these displays the most and are focusing on those with a lot of passengers and several routes. As we constantly look for methods to enhance service, the ePaper displays are being put as part of our yearly bus stop repair and upgrade program.
