Web Site’s Popularity Continues to Grow
On Monday, January 26, CTA will add 11 additional routes to its Bus Tracker web site, giving customers access to real-time service information for a total of 86 out of 153 bus routes. CTA Bus Tracker is a web-based program that uses global positioning system (GPS) technology to provide customers with the locations and estimated arrival times of buses operating along activated bus routes.
“Data gathered by CTA staff indicates that Bus Tracker’s popularity is continuing to grow as a tool for customers, with more than 2.7 million visits since the program launched in April 2008,” said CTA President Ron Huberman. “As CTA ridership continues to grow, we remain focused on improving the overall travel experience and quality of information for our customers. With Bus Tracker and the rail digital displays launched last week, customers have improved access to very specific CTA service information to better plan their commutes.“
Information analyzed by CTA also indicates the number of visitors to the CTA Bus Tracker web site has steadily increased, particularly since the onset of cold weather. Since November 1, the web site has logged an average of approximately 20,000 visits per weekday.
In addition, approximately 15 percent of all visits to the site are from wireless devices—indicating customers are using the web site while on-the-go.
Routes new to the web site beginning January 26 are:
- #3 King Drive
- #X3 King Drive Express
- #4 Cottage Grove
- #X4 Cottage Grove Express
- #22 Clark
- #36 Broadway
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- #49B North Western
- #82 Kimball/Homan
- #93 California/Dodge
- #96 Lunt
- #97 Skokie
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The dedicated CTA Bus Tracker web site (
www.ctabustracker.com) provides customers with a route map where icons indicate the location and direction of buses currently in service on up to five routes, an alarm feature that alerts customers when a bus is approaching their selected bus stop, and the estimated arrival times at bus stops.
The CTA Bus Tracker web site is accessible from computers and web-enabled wireless devices for customers to view the arrival times of buses along a route. BlackBerry™ users must have version 4.1 or higher. Personal digital assistants (PDAs) must have full Internet access capabilities through web browsers that support HyperText Markup Language (HTML) such as Internet Explorer®. Customers who use PDAs are able to access the arrival time display only. Cell phone users should contact their wireless service providers for information on their phone's Internet capabilities.
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