New text message service updates for MTA! New York MTA, that is

Here's the news release out of the Big Apple. They've rigged up a system that uses text messages and e-mails to tell riders about service changes. Metrolink here has such a system using Twitter, the text-messaging service, but the Los Angeles County MTA offers only updates for rail service, and not  its buses, which carry many more people.

Caltrans District 7, which includes Los Angeles and Ventura counties, has said it's studying Metrolink's approach, but it hasn't done anything yet on providing live freeway condition updates. Caltrans does have a system that allows people to get the same travel time information displayed on overhead freeway signs.

As I've posted before, this is kind of frustrating. The MTA here could be doing the same thing. The MTA here also refuses to hand over bus and train schedules to Google for their inclusion in the Google Transit service -- something that might encourage new riders and help current ones. Caltrans desperately needs a way to tell motorists in real time about freeway closures instead of making users go to their road conditions web page and type in the road number to find out its status. This is a need vividly demonstrated during the recent wildfires, when freeways across the region were shut down.

 

MTA Launches Text Messaging and Email Alert System

Customers Can Register to Be Notified About Unplanned Service Disruptions

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today launched an email and text messaging system that will notify registered customers of planned and unplanned service changes at any of the MTA's family of transportation agencies. The system is a direct response to a key recommendation in the MTA's report on the storm of August 8, 2007, which raised awareness of the need for increased communication during large-scale service disruptions. The system will be fully operational tomorrow morning.

Using the MTA's website at www.mta.info, customers can register to receive alerts about any combination of subway lines, bus routes, rail lines, bridges or tunnels. They can choose to receive them 24/7, or only during a particular time of day or week. The system will use an email transmission technology called Distributed Processing, giving it the capability of sending out up to a million messages every five minutes.

"This is a revolutionary step that has the potential to transform the experience our customers have with us," said Elliot G. Sander, the Executive Director and CEO of the MTA. "If you know about a service disruption before you leave your home, or now, even as you are making your way to a subway or rail station or a bus stop, you can avoid the frustration of delays by seeking an alternate route."

This initiative builds upon years of experience that Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Rail Road have had in sending email messages notifying customers about service disruptions, and that New York City Transit has had providing weekly email updates about service changes caused by track work.

The launch of this system incorporates the functionality of those earlier initiatives, presenting them in a single online portal. It marks the first time that the MTA will send timely notifications of unplanned service disruptions on subways, buses, bridges or tunnels, and is the first MTA service to use text messaging.

This service is being provided in partnership with the MIS Sciences Corporation under a $10,000-a-month contract that includes an unlimited volume of emails and text messages.

While the MTA will not charge customers to use this service, those customers who have cell phone plans that charge for incoming text messages will be liable for those fees.

-- Steve Hymon

Comments

[Randy]

Ever wonder where all that real time traffic all over the web and television comes from? Metro and Caltrans - check out http://www.riits.net/ So why don't transit users get the same courtesy? They pay a higher subsidy with taxes plus the farebox, whereas highway and road users pay taxes only (well, until that HOT lane thing happens). Shouldn't we transit users get higher priority for real time information in as many formats, including SMS messaging and not just the web, as possible? We're reducing the traffic on highways and streets. Duh.... This is just disrespectful after passing Measure R. Its rude at best. Google transit is free for Metro - so hand over the data already, and gimme my service disruptions by bus and rail line while your at it.

[David Galvan]

The ideal would be if every bus stop had an LED screen that tells you if there are different road conditions. But a text-message service is much cheaper for the MTA. And if people can't afford the text messages, they won't subscribe. But this service would be better than no service, so I think it's a step in the right direction.

Also, twitter can be followed on your computer at your office, so it's not a cell-phone only thing.

[M]

Not to mention the fact that the whole world doesn't own cell phones with unlimited text messaging plans, internet access and email.... Requiring these things to get information increases the cost of riding public transportation for the users. That is bad. Nevermind the fact that there are also places in the public transportation system here in LA where cell phones don't work.