Detroit uses technology to improve transportation system

Municipalities continue to think like businesses when it comes to improving services. The city of Detroit recently announced that it has attached digital tracking devices to 95% of its buses.

Riders of the public transit system will be able to download an application on their smartphone that can tell them the location of each bus fitted with the technology. The goal of the program was to improve the efficiency of the network.

Businesses have been using similar technology to make improvements to their distribution network. By monitoring truck locations, companies can more accurately manage inventory. Freight can be redirected in transit, making the system more responsive to changing market conditions.

In Detriot, city officials hope that the same process will restore people's trust in the system. This could result in a more reliable network for the city and increased use of buses, keeping additional cars off the road. 

"We have to re-establish the riders' confidence in the system," DDOT chief executive Ron Freeland told the Detroit News. "Once the riders regain confidence that DDOT is going to provide bus service, and it's going to be out there; it's going to be on time; we're not going to miss runs, then I think you'll see that the ridership will actually start to increase again."

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