GPS tracking will soon be coming to Timmins Transit buses, which means you’ll be able to see exactly where your next bus is on your mobile phone.

Pending Timmins city council approval at their next meeting, transit buses will be retrofitted with technology developed by Consat Canada Inc for around $425,000—all of it covered by previously saved grants from the provincial gas tax fund and the federal Public Transit Infrastructure Transfer Payment Agreement.

There will also be a savings of around $15,000 in maintenance and service costs annually, due to the current call system in buses becoming redundant.

Councillors Noella Rinaldo and Pat Bamford both spoke on the item last Monday, giving their support in moving ahead with this.

The new technology is said to be coming to regular fleet buses as early as this fall.

While tracking a bus in real time is the biggest thing consumers will likely take away from this, the technology will also accomplish much more.

That includes automated passenger counts, “schedule adherence,” and improved security and communications between the buses and the terminal.

CLICK HERE for more details on the technology.

Filed under: Local News