Student Government was pleased to note on Monday that the Alligator is anticipating the global positioning system improvements for Regional Transit System just as much as we are. However, with such a focus on the timeline and cost of implementing GPS on RTS, students still don't know how much they will benefit from these improvements. SG is sure this is a huge step for a system that students interact with on such a regular basis, and will help all Gainesville residents better control their travel and their time.
The most observable results would be access to an online map of the RTS bus routes, tracking the location of buses in real time. On top of that, students will be able to send text messages and receive responses with the projected arrival time for the nearest bus to each stop on its route. There will also be several LCD screens placed at major stops on campus, including proposed screens at the Hub and Rawlings bus stops. These screens will display maps of all the routes which run through the stop.
Technology plays a huge role in the lives of UF students. With these improvements, SG is helping to bring RTS up to the modern standards of instant communication.
While these benefits will certainly help students, the most important benefits won't be immediately apparent. RTS will be able to track bus movements in a more precise manner, buses will arrive at more even intervals and RTS will also be able to couple the information gained from GPS and rider-counting in order to design more efficient routes.
This will ultimately translate into improved and more consistent wait times for students. Ultimately, installing GPS on RTS buses will provide many immediate benefits, but more importantly, it will create an avenue for improvement by laying the foundation for future change.
SG is dedicated to not only improving the lives of students, but making a positive impact on the community that supports our university. We are sure that this program will help improve Gainesville and UF for current and future generations of Gators.
