On Wednesday, the Kansas City (Mo.) Area Transportation Authority (KCATA) announced new online initiatives that will help customers stay informed about Metro bus service.

Customers can now track their buses online with the help of “WebWatch,” that enables riders to look up the route they want to catch, see where the bus is in real time and when it is expected at scheduled timepoints.

The new tool uses KCATA’s satellite and GPS technology to track the location of any bus serving a fixed route. Web pages on "WebWatch" get up-to-date information from Metro buses every minute. This feature will help customers know when to arrive at their stop.

Customers can follow their bus on a map, get predicted arrival times for timepoints, and receive notifications via email of bus arrivals at any Metro stop. ADA-accessible information is also available.

Other new initiatives will allow customers to connect to KCATA through social networking Websites Twitter and Facebook.

KCATA is using Twitter primarily to alert customers to temporary and permanent changes to routes, and to post contests, promotions and other passenger information.  To find KCATA on Twitter, visit www.twitter.com/KCATAMetro or search for “KCATAMetro.” Customers can find KCATA on Facebook here.