TTC: Union Station's next vehicle information pilot

Don't you love it? Standing in the narrow corridor waiting for the next TTC 510 or 509 streetcar to take you back to Queens Quay at the end of your day. Go in any rush hour and you've experienced the crush of commuters who wait, and wait, for the streetcars to arrive. We clearly feel bad for the commuters who need the 509 because they live west of Spadina. They're often looking pretty sad waiting there while the 510 Spadina car pulls away. Not to mention that it's winter and in the summer, that crowd gets really busy when they're trying to head to the harbourfront or BMO Field or the Exhibition.

Well fear not, at least you will know when the next packed car will arrive. The 510 at least.

Toronto Transit System's Union Station's streetcar stop is also the pilot project in a soon to be rolled out 'next vehicle notification' system, which will be expanded to their web site, and some sort of SMS service (mobile baby!). We've got the first ones at Spadina and Union for the 510 line and it brings our service closer to what other major cities (like what Washington DC does for its Metro lines) have given commuters.

As for functionality, there was a time when the next vehicle times were a little off. They're using GPS technology so it should be accurate. Recently they seem to be good.

For the next year, they're spending about $500,000, according to the most recent budget proposal.

TTC's Brad Ross has been giving a lot of hints of what the program will look like, when you look at his Twitter account. Here are a few Tweets he sent out recently.

bradttc: @hiimerik It's great. Real-time next vehicle tracking later this year, inlcuding SMS for every bus stop

bradttc: @siraulo I don't know about apps yet, but you'll be able to send a text for a specific stop to get next vehicle arrival time

bradttc: @mikestarrunner The TTC will have a trip planner and real-time next vehicle tools later this year

He also responded to a question from us about improvements to Union Station.

@queensquaylife improvements to union stn to begin in 2010. The line is on its own ROW now along queens quay and spadina

We love to talk TTC so look out for more posts about its service in the Queens Quay neighbourhood.