New electronic signs tell bus riders how long they have to wait

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The new electronic bus sign on Bay Street in Stapleton. (Staten Island Advance/Michael Sedon)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- They're the signs of the times -- and so far Staten Islanders love them.
   
The city Department of Transportation installed two electronic signs at bus stops in Stapleton and New Dorp that show customers how far away their bus currently is from that particular stop, and responses from riders are overwhelmingly positive.
   
"It's convenient, and it's good to know how far the bus is away, so you know whether or not you want to take the train or walk or try another bus route," said Manny Jones of Stapleton from the Prospect and Bay streets stop. "I think the rest of them should do it too. I know they developed an app on the phone. That, I haven't tried yet, but this is very convenient."
   
The app for smart phones Jones spoke about, "Bus Time" is what feeds information to the signs, and it's exactly the kind of thinking Borough President James Molinaro had in mind when he announced the signs to complement Bus Time about two years ago.
   
Molinaro wanted to bring the benefits of Bus Time to everyone, so his office then allocated $250,000 to get the signs.
   
"They're going to be handy for the people who don't know how to handle a cell phone or even have one," Molinaro said. "When it's cold people could now duck into a store and know the bus will be there in X amount of stops."
   
Danin Binet of Mariners Harbor and Nelly Jimenez of St. George regular bus riders praised the initiative.
   
"It's very helpful," Ms. Binet said. "It's very good."
   
A number of other riders who did not wish to provide their names had nothing but positive reactions to the sign.
   
After Molinaro allocated the funds the DOT worked closely with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to get the two test sights up and running, and if things work out these signs will begin popping up in other locations on the Island and throughout the city, the DOT said.
   
"These signs give Staten Island's bus riders the info they need to take the guesswork out of when the next bus will arrive. It's another example of our great partnership with Borough President Molinaro to make it easier for Staten Islanders to get around," said city DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan.
   
City Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) and Councilman Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn) also provided funds for additional signs, the DOT said.
   
The New Dorp sign is located at the Hylan Boulevard and Reno Avenue stop.