On Monday, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (RTA) launched its "Commuter Alerts" pilot project — a new customer communication service for rail riders that provides timely email or text message information about the status of their service.

Commuter Alerts enables a customer to select either a text message or an email alert, or both. If there is a service disruption on their selected routes, they'll receive information about the issue and then a follow-up message when the problem has been resolved.

"We utilize Twitter, Facebook and the media to communicate with the public for major issues, but this allows customers to 'opt-in' and permits us to provide them with information that is important to their commute," said RTA's GM/CEO Joe Calabrese. "It is targeted and specific to each customer, and can be adjusted by the customer if their schedules change. We believe that this service will keep our customers well informed with quick notifications to allow them to best utilize their time."

Commuter Alert messages will consist of what service is disrupted and the magnitude of the disruption. A follow up alert will be issued when the problem is resolved. Messages will be transmitted for delays of 10 minutes or more or other unusual occurrences.

For now, the pilot program is operational for rail service, which serves approximately 20 percent of RTA's customers. RTA plans on expanding the program to its other services in the future.