Passengers waiting at Knoxville Area Transit bus and trolley stops will notice more information on the signs at their stop.
KAT is placing stickers on all 1,300 bus stops in the system -- as well as new trolley flags at the trolley stops downtown -- that include instructions on how to find out when the next vehicle will arrive.
It uses the bus or trolley's current location. Each bus or trolley stop will have a unique number associated with it.
By texting the word “KAT” and that unique number to the number specified on the sign, the user will immediately receive a text with the estimated arrival times for all buses going by that stop within the next hour.
“We are very excited to begin rolling out this option for our passengers to get real-time information on their bus’s location,” said Melissa Roberson, Interim Director of Transit for the City of Knoxville.
The information is based on the stop number, not the location of the phone being used. This means that someone can find out from the comfort of the home or office when the next bus is due at his or her favorite stop.
According to KAT, all stickers should be on all stops by the end of December.
“Being able to know where your bus is in real time can be a game changer for transit use. By removing that uncertainty, people are more comfortable and can be more efficient with their time,” says Roberson. “We encourage everyone to try our new texting feature at the nearest bus stop, and let us know what you think.”
The text feature is the first phase of KAT’s real-time passenger information project.
The second will feature a smartphone app that will allow passengers to track their bus on a map or locate the nearest bus stops, along with other features. KAT hopes to release the real-time app in early 2019.