Thunder Bay Transit replacing its passenger web-tool

Thunder Bay Transit is launching a new web-tool for passengers looking for updated information on bus arrival times.

NextLiftwill replacethe existing web-tool called NextBus. The new siteis already online at NextLift.ca,although NextBus will not be taken out of service until December 31.

Transit planning and marketing analyst Jon Hendel said Fridaythe old system is near the end of its life, and has some glitches.

"TheNextBusservice has reached about eightyears, and you know that in technical terms that's times seven, so it's getting pretty old."

Hendel added, "You'll see no predictions coming up on the screen with the old system. With the new system, because it's all brand-new, all the buses are live and when, let's say, there's not a connection being made, it'll actually populatewith the scheduled arrival time, so you'll never be without information."

Hendel said althoughNextBus will remain acccessibleuntil the end of the month,Transit encourages its 10,000 daily passengersto start trying the new web tool immediately.

The full mobile version ofNextLiftwill be launched in February, and the full desktop version in March.Hendelpromised the system will be "very future-friendly,"saying it will allow Transit to "push a lot of data, real-time"to its passengers.

"It's all brand-new technology, so theGPSunits, as technology gets better, they become more and more accurate. They have been completely replaced on every one of our buses...as well, the modems have been updated on those buses to beLTE-compliant."

Hendel saidautomatic GPS positioning will "provide information aboutthe stops around you," as well as service notices from thedispatch desk, trip-planning tools, and live maps.