Within a year, Chicago Transit Authority passengers with Internet access should be able to track the location of every bus in the city, CTA President Ron Huberman announced yesterday.

The $24 million dollar project is aimed at easing bus congestion and reducing passenger wait times. It will be the largest city-wide program of its kind.

The CTA's "Bus Tracker" website uses global positioning system technology to provide real-time information on bus locations and arrival times. It has been available exclusively on the #20 Madison bus as part of a pilot program since the summer of 2005.

CTA officials plan to install the technology on the entire fleet within the next twelve months, beginning with the following thirteen routes, where "Bus Tracker" will be activated on April 7:

• #35 - 35th

• #39 - Pershing

• #43 - 43rd

• #49 - Western

• # X49 - Western Express

• #54B - South Cicero

• #55A - 55th/Austin

• #55N - 55th/Narrangansett

• #62 - Archer

• #62H - Archer/Harlem

• #63W - West 63rd

• #94 - South California

• #165 - West 65th

The system will also feature digital signs in key stations, estimating the arrival time of the next bus, and an option to have updates sent to cell phones and handheld devices.

Eventually, CTA officials hope to incorporate trains into the GPS system.

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