Part of the improvement will come from service optimization efforts, but we are also making other enhancements to the tracker themselves to assist in providing customers with accurate wait times and fleet locations.” Carter showed an image of a future Train Tracker screen that suggested the new version would show the exact, real-time locations of vehicles on a map. The document states, “CTA will enhance bus and rail tracker feeds in coming months to improve our communication and lower the instances of ‘ghost’ buses and trains. unveiled a new action plan for improving service, safety, and customer experience as the system recovers from its pandemic ridership slump, titled “ Meeting the Moment: Transforming CTA’s Post-Pandemic Future.” Under the “Upgrade digital tools” pillar of the plan, Carter teased that improvements to the bus and train tracker apps would be announced in the near future. In a nutshell, the CTA told Streetsblog last May this problem is due to the trackers reflecting a mix of schedule service (which often doesn’t realistically reflect the number of runs that can be staffed) and real-time data. At a time when CTA customers have been experiencing unreliable service and longer headways due to COVID-related labor shortages, the “ghost run” phenomenon – buses or trains showing up on Transit Tracker screens only to disappear before they arrive – has added insult to injury.

Cta 201 bus tracker