Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Buses

Bus Time Went Live in Manhattan This Morning

Bus Time is now operational for Manhattan buses. The service, already in the Bronx and Staten Island, comes to Queens and Brooklyn next year. Image: ##http://bustime.mta.info/#Columbus%20Circle%2C%20New%20York%2C%20NY%2C%20USA##MTA##

After signs went up in subway stations last week, the MTA made it official this morning: real-time bus tracking is now available for all Manhattan buses, joining Staten Island and the Bronx, with Queens and Brooklyn to come online within six months.

Bus Time for Manhattan buses appeared shortly after midnight last night, adding 36 routes and 1,800 bus stops to the program. Bronx and Staten Island buses that have portions of their routes in Manhattan are already equipped with the tracking technology, which was developed in part by OpenPlans, Streetsblog's parent organization.

As of today, the MTA says there are 2,852 buses in its fleet with the GPS devices, serving 6,000 bus stops in the three boroughs with Bus Time.

Real-time tracking information -- which tells users how many stops or miles away a bus is, instead of calculating a countdown estimate -- is available online and on phones via app, text message, or scannable QR code at each bus stop.

While Bus Time allows users to track their buses, some council members want real-time information to go one step further and are calling for the city to rewrite its bus shelter contract to include countdown clocks for buses, like those in some subway stations, so riders can get service information without checking their phones.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

U.S. DOT Sec. Sean Duffy Blackmails MTA to End Congestion Pricing

The other shoe has dropped ... and the new deadline is May 21 or Sean Duffy will take his money bag and go home.

April 21, 2025

EXCLUSIVE: Early Trump Memos Undermine Sean Duffy’s Argument Against Congestion Pricing

The feds did not question New York State's approach to congestion pricing in the first Trump administration, memos show.

April 21, 2025

Deep Dive: How Will Sean Duffy Fix Penn Station?

The Transportation Secretary has taken over the biggest transportation planning mess in North America. First, he has to realize that this job is more than just cosmetic surgery.

April 21, 2025

Monday’s Headlines: Randy Lewis-Mastro Edition

First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro is Eric Adams's latest point-man for handicapping Eric Adams's agenda. Plus more news.

April 21, 2025

Staten Islanders Fight To Keep Park Car-free

Politicians believe cars will make the park safer, but the opposite is the case.

April 18, 2025
See all posts