NJ TRANSIT UPGRADES REAL-TIME BUS TRACKING TECHNOLOGY AND INTRODUCES FREE ONBOARD WI-FI

New Onboard Technology Enhances Real-Time Bus Location Data, Supports More Accurate Arrival Predictions; System Also Provides Customers with Complimentary Wi-Fi Service

NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT today announced significant progress in its efforts to continue modernizing its bus fleet and improving the customer experience.  President & CEO Kris Kolluri showcased a statewide initiative to upgrade computer equipment and antennas on buses to provide more accurate real-time location data.  NJ TRANSIT is utilizing this improved data to provide more accurate bus arrival predictions, and the new hardware offers bus customers free Wi-Fi. The equipment and free Wi-Fi are currently available on more than 1,500 buses statewide and are scheduled to expand to nearly 2,000 buses by the end of 2026.  The enhancements continue to advance Governor Mikie Sherrill’s Rapid Action Plan and her commitment to improving accessibility, safety, cleanliness, and technology across all NJ TRANSIT services.

"New Jerseyans rely on NJ TRANSIT to get to work, school, appointments, and everywhere else life takes them, and we should be doing everything we can to make those trips easier,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill. "By upgrading real-time bus tracking and providing free Wi-Fi for customers, we're making NJ TRANSIT work better for the people who rely on it every day."

“Offering free Wi-Fi, service updates, and real-time arrival information will make bus travel more convenient for our customers while modernizing the technology that supports our operations,” said NJDOT Commissioner and NJ TRANSIT Chair Priya Jain. “I appreciate Governor Sherrill’s leadership and the sense of urgency fostered by the Rapid Action Plan which is helping deliver lasting improvements for customers across New Jersey.”

"Customers want to know where their bus is and when it will arrive, and arrival predictions in our app have improved from 74 percent to 86 percent accuracy,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “With the introduction of free Wi-Fi on more than 1,500 buses today, and nearly 2,000 by the end of the year, we’re also delivering a ride that becomes more productive for our bus customers."

In total, more than 1,500 buses currently have the new technology.  NJ TRANSIT retrofitted more than 1,300 buses with the hardware and free Wi-Fi, while new buses entering the fleet already have the upgraded components.  Additional retrofits and more new buses joining the fleet will expand that number to more than 1,900 by the end of 2026, representing more than 80% of the 2,373 buses in the fleet. The remaining buses are marked for retirement and, as they are replaced, the new buses will be manufactured with the technology already installed.

Free Wi-Fi on Buses

The provision of free Wi-Fi on board NJ TRANSIT buses aims to address the inequity in broadband access by offering this critical feature in a setting which may be the only convenient and/or practical place for many bus customers to access the internet. This project is funded by a $15 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury as part of the Capital Projects Fund.

The NJ TRANSIT bus Wi-Fi network is structured to provide bandwidth for all customers on each bus, supporting general web browsing activities. Buses enabled with free Wi-Fi are marked with a sticker near the entrance of the bus. To connect to NJ TRANSIT’s Wi‑Fi, open your device’s wireless network list and select NJTRANSITWIFI. This will launch the Accept & Connect widget; press Accept & Continue to proceed. Your browser will then open the NJ TRANSIT Connected Bus landing page, which provides links to key New Jersey services related to employment, education, and health.

For more information and frequently asked questions on the NJ TRANSIT bus Wi-Fi network, click HERE.

Bus Arrival Predictions

NJ TRANSIT is advancing its real-time bus arrival information through an ongoing effort with Swiftly, a leading transit technology company. This work continues to improve the reliability of bus arrival predictions to some of the best in the country. Beginning in October, customers will see these enhanced predictions on the NJ TRANSIT website, the mobile app, station signage, and a wide range of third-party applications. NJ TRANSIT will continue strengthening these improvements through upgraded GPS hardware and antennas that provide more precise location data. The goal is to give customers clearer and more dependable information about where their bus is and when it will arrive.

Digital Bus Signs

NJ TRANSIT continues testing new high-tech bus stop signs with digital screens showing customers the real-time arrival information of the next bus. The pilot program showcases two companies’ technology at eight bus stops.

NJ TRANSIT has installed five signs from infrastructure provider BusPas at locations in Hudson County (two in Hoboken, two in Union City and one in Jersey City). The signs feature real-time customer information such as arrivals, detours, delays, service alerts and bus occupancy levels. As part of the pilot, the signs are solar powered and employ e-paper displays, like that of popular reading tablets, making them ADA-compliant. They also include text-to-speech announcement capability and automated safety lighting for improved nighttime visibility.

A similar pilot is underway in Manalapan Township and Howell Township in Monmouth County through a partnership with Urban Solar, a manufacturer of solar energy systems for bus stops and shelters.

The BusPas digital signs currently in service are located at:
• 15th Street and Willow Avenue, Hoboken
• 9th Street and Washington Street, Hoboken
• 31st Street and Bergenline Avenue, Union City
• 31st Street at JFK Boulevard, Union City
• Congress Street at Palisades Avenue, Jersey City

Urban Solar signs are located at:

Manalapan Township

• Route-9 North at Gordon’s Corner Rd. (two signs at this location)

Howell Township

• Aldrich Rd. Park and Ride (Route-9 North and Aldrich Rd.)

These efforts support NJ TRANSIT’s Bus Fleet Modernization initiative, which is improving customer experience through modern technology, enhanced connectivity, more reliable real‑time service information, and a fully modernized bus fleet by 2031. Together, these upgrades help make bus travel more convenient, productive, and dependable for customers.

About NJ TRANSIT

NJ TRANSIT is the nation's largest statewide public transportation system providing more than 925,000 weekday trips on 264 bus routes, three light rail lines, 12 commuter rail lines and through Access Link paratransit service. It is the third largest transit system in the country with 165 rail stations, 62 light rail stations and more than 19,000 bus stops linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia.