New tech hopes to make catching RDN buses easier and more accurate

By Spencer Sterritt

July 11, 2017 - 11:05amUpdated: July 12, 2017 - 7:01pm

RDN buses will have mapping technology by the end of 2018 which will let riders see where their bus is at any given time, to make sure they never have to wait longer than necessary for buses again.File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW

NANAIMO — BC Transit hopes the days of waiting for an extremely late bus are over in the Regional District of Nanaimo.

New real time mapping technology will be rolled out to RDN buses by the end of 2018. Jonathan Dyck, communications manager with BC Transit, said it should make transit riders' life easier.

“You'll be able to see where the bus is on a map, be able to track it and see when it should get to the stop right on your phone or computer so you can plan your trip better,” he said.

Having real time bus route information will also make it easier to schedule routes and see which stops are busiest, Dyck said.

“This will help us look at those pieces, manage the schedules accordingly or get info out to customers through alerts as it's happening.”

The project costs roughly $6.75 million, but Dyck said fares won't increase since it's paid for through a much larger fund which BC Transit announced in summer 2016.

Real time mapping will also be installed in other communities around B.C., including the Comox Valley and Victoria.