Metro introduced an online tracker Wednesday that offers riders real-time information on how crowded a bus or train is before it arrives.
Customers accessing the data will see a bus or train’s capacity in one of the following categories:
– Many seats available — When a bus is less than 25% occupied or a rail car is less than 20% occupied.
– Few seats available —A bus is 25-49% occupied or a rail car is 20-32% occupied.
– Full — A bus is 50% occupied or a rail car is at least 33% occupied.
Metro officials said data crowding could be suspended because of large-scale events, unplanned service disruptions and heavy track work.
The tool is designed to ensure social distancing is practiced, a worry of Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld.
“Metro is doing our part to help Metro customers feel safe when traveling, and we’re proud to release this new tool to help customers make more informed travel decisions,” Wiedefeld said. “Social distancing is a top concern as we all navigate this public health crisis, and we hope customers find this information valuable when deciding when to ride.”