Soon You’ll Be Able to Track SEPTA Buses and Trains on Your Phone In Real Time (well almost)

Soon You’ll Be Able to Track SEPTA Buses and Trains on Your Phone In Real Time (well almost)

We’re not sure if the increase in tolls is a result of SEPTA blowing $5.6 million to upgrade their systems, but it looks like riders will be able to experience and Uber like convenience by the end of the summer.  This is because SEPTA is currently installing cellular modems in its almost 1,400 buses and 159 trolleys to give riders a more accurate location of their transportation.

Currently SEPTA does offer this service on their app but it only refreshes every 3-7 minutes.  With the upgrades the system will refresh every 30 seconds which is pretty close to being real time.  Riders on surface transits such as buses and trolleys will get to enjoy this perk soon than later (end of July), while others using the app in substations will have to wait a little longer due to the signal being weaker underground.  However, SEPTA officials are working on installing modems in the tunnels to get the app to refresh at the same speed across the board.

For someone like me who does take SEPTA everyday it is definitely a game changer.  I no longer have to guess if I have to put my ass in third gear to make it to the platform on time or relay on my ears to gauge whether a train is arriving.

With the introduction of the upgrade in the app as well as the SEPTA Key, it looks like our transit system is actually making strides to catch up with other more advanced systems in markets such as New York and London.  We still have a ways to go but this is definitely a step in the right direction.