ColumBUS Transit patrons waiting to catch a city bus soon will soon be able to track its arrival time through a mobile app.
The Columbus Board of Works this week approved a three-year agreement with Los Angeles-based Syncromatics Corp. for $111,365 to provide the application.
The city will utilize a $62,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, with the difference coming from Economic Development Income Tax funds.
The app will be available to individuals with Apple and Android devices that should be ready in the next few months.
It will be similar to the Uber ride-sharing app that allows the public to see where vehicles are at a certain point in time, said Jamie Brinegar, the city’s director of finance.
The new app will allow transit dispatch employees to alert users about schedule delays caused by construction or other matters, said Bryan Burton, the city’s public works director.
The city offers five transit routes, all operating from the ColumBUS station near Mill Race Park, Burton said. Seven of the city’s large transit buses will be equipped with GPS tracking devices that will allow users to see where buses are at any given time, he said.
ColumBUS served 230,462 riders in 2017 and has had 172,425 riders so far this year, said Cindy Setser, the city’s transit coordinator.
Bus rides are available 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, with departures hourly, she said.
The city plans to post information on its website and Facebook page once the app is available to ColumBUS customers.
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ColumBUS Transit has five routes that leave the depot at Mill Race Station, 850 Lindsey St., Columbus, every hour from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
For information on current routes, visit columbus.in.gov/columbus-transit or call 812-376-2506.
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