NJ TRANSIT President/CEO Kris Kolluri showcased a statewide initiative to upgrade buses with new computer equipment and antennas to provide more accurate real-time location data. NJ TRANSIT is utilizing this improved data to provide more accurate bus arrival predictions, and the new hardware offers bus customers free Wi-Fi.

The equipment and free Wi-Fi are currently available on more than 1,500 buses statewide and are scheduled to expand to nearly 2,000 buses by the end of 2026. 

"Customers want to know where their bus is and when it will arrive, and arrival predictions in our app have improved from 74 percent to 86 percent accuracy,” said Kolluri. “With the introduction of free Wi-Fi on more than 1,500 buses today, and nearly 2,000 by the end of the year, we’re also delivering a ride that becomes more productive for our bus customers."

In total, more than 1,500 buses currently have the new technology.  NJ TRANSIT retrofitted more than 1,300 buses with the hardware and free Wi-Fi, while new buses entering the fleet already have the upgraded components. 

Additional retrofits and more new buses joining the fleet will expand that number to more than 1,900 by the end of 2026, representing more than 80% of the 2,373 buses in the fleet. The remaining buses are marked for retirement and, as they are replaced, the new buses will be manufactured with the technology already installed. 

Benefits for Passengers

Officials said free Wi-Fi on board NJ TRANSIT buses aims to address inequity in broadband access by offering this critical feature in a setting that may be the only convenient and/or practical place for many bus customers to access the internet. The project is funded by a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Capital Projects Fund. 

The NJ TRANSIT bus Wi-Fi network is designed to provide bandwidth for all customers on each bus and support general web browsing. Buses with free Wi-Fi have a sticker near the entrance.

In addition, the agency is advancing its real-time bus arrival information through an ongoing effort with Swiftly.

Beginning in October, customers will see enhanced predictions on the NJ TRANSIT website, the mobile app, station signage, and a wide range of third-party applications.

The agency said it will continue strengthening these improvements through upgraded GPS hardware and antennas that provide more precise location data. The goal is to give customers clearer and more dependable information about where their bus is and when it will arrive.

Finally, NJ TRANSIT continues testing new high-tech bus stop signs with digital screens that show customers real-time arrival information for the next bus. The pilot program showcases technology from two companies at eight bus stops.

The agency has installed five signs from infrastructure provider BusPas at locations in Hudson County. The signs feature real-time customer information such as arrivals, detours, delays, service alerts and bus occupancy levels.

As part of the pilot, the signs are solar-powered and employ e-paper displays, like those of popular reading tablets, making them ADA-compliant. They also include text-to-speech announcement capability and automated safety lighting for improved nighttime visibility.

A similar pilot is underway in Manalapan Township and Howell Township in Monmouth County through a partnership with Urban Solar, a manufacturer of solar energy systems for bus stops and shelters.

The agency said these efforts support NJ TRANSIT’s Bus Fleet Modernization initiative, which is improving customer experience through modern technology, enhanced connectivity, more reliable real‑time service information, and a fully modernized bus fleet by 2031.