D.C. commuters soon will be able to find out when the nearest train arrives, what the temperature is and watch local news while waiting for the next bus. The District Department of Transportation unveiled a test digital display that will provide travelers with real-time information about different transportation options on one screen.
The screen will display up-to-date information on buses, Metrorail, bike-sharing and car-sharing at the same time.
That includes the bus schedules for Metrobus and arrival predictions for D.C. Circulator and Metrorail. The number of bikes and open spaces available at Capital Bikeshare stations also will be shown.
Commuters will be able to get their local news and weather from the digital display as well.
“At DDOT, we’re trying to build platforms,” said DDOT Director Gabe Klein, who is leaving his post in two weeks. “We wanted to create something more robust than NextBus.”
Klein and DDOT’s chief technology officer, Lance Schine, demonstrated the technology at the intersection of 14th and U Streets Northwest, where the pilot screen is installed in the first floor window of the Franklin D. Reeves Center.
DDOT is planning on expanding the pilot to the first bus shelter in February by installing dual-sided 32-inch screens — viewable from the sidewalk and inside the shelter. Two more locations will be added in the coming months.
Klein said DDOT wants to introduce a phone app version for the public.
“We want to provide as much information for free as possible,” Klein said.
