Transit real-time information on Nextbus, Transloc may stop working starting Tuesday

On Tuesday, an AT&T network change may impact Chapel Hill Transit real-time information on Nextbus and Transloc.

Starting Tuesday, February 22, AT&T will begin dismantling its 3G service network. This change in wireless service will impact real-time predictions provided by Nextbus and Transloc.

Nextbus provides real-time information to signage throughout town and mobile apps through technology installed in every Chapel Hill Transit vehicle. When AT&T discontinues its 3G network, the 3G modems installed in the Nextbus systems will stop sending data updating customers about the buses’ locations.. Transloc also depends on this information from Nextbus to provide real-time information about Chapel Hill Transit service.

Chapel Hill Transit is working to replace all the modems, but the new modems will not arrive from Nextbus for several more months. Staff is looking at other alternatives, but due to the way the Nextbus system was built, other solutions will not work. It may be four or more months before the old Nextbus technology can be replaced.

Customers can continue to use our schedules online to find their bus departure times. The Transit App, that uses crowd-sourced data to determine bus predictions, should be unaffected by the network change and may be a good alternative for Chapel Hill Transit customers.

Chapel Hill Transit will continue to communicate important service information through Twitter, Nextbus and the website. The website, chtransit.org, is being updated to ensure the most accurate schedules are posted, and, as route schedules change, Chapel Hill Transit will do it’s best to post new schedules to major affected stops ahead of time.

Chapel Hill Transit will provide updates as the staff learn more.

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