For the first time, bus customers can receive alerts and advisories regarding route-specific delays, detours, schedule changes and construction activity. Customers can sign up to receive information for up to four bus lines and opt to have alerts sent to their mobile device, pager or desktop email.
This additional level of "Allison Excellence" certification will require distributors to meet aggressive customer service standards focused on timeliness of repairs, inventory stocking and customer feedback, according to the company.
Trying to eliminate or reduce service on the 305 and other bus lines for more than a year, due to the upcoming opening of the Expo light rail line, low ridership, budget concerns and to eliminate route duplication. Cuts will fall hardest on minorities and low-income riders, critics say.
Representatives from transit agencies in other major cities shared how rapid transit buses helped them improve service, increase ridership and attract redevelopment. Creating a regional agency to operate the system would force coordination and efficiency on overlapping city and suburban bus providers.
The funds, which will be used for research, education and other projects that help improve public transit, are provided by the FTA and distributed through U.S. DOT's Research and Innovative Technology Administration.