Portland, Ore., TriMet riders have a new way to receive real-time arrival information for buses and MAX: text message. This arrival information option, one of the first in the nation, is useful for mobile phone users who have text message service plans but not more expensive mobile web service plans.

The text message option provides riders with an arrival time trip tool for any of TriMet's 7,000 bus stops or 84 MAX stations and can be easily used in environments with a lot of background noise such as high-traffic streets. Those who have tested the new tool report that the speed is a great benefit to them, that the results come back in seconds, taking less time than calling TriMet's TransitTracker^TM by Phone or pulling up an app on a smartphone.

Riders wanting to receive TransitTracker arrival times by text message can text a Stop ID Number to 27299. The service will send back the arrival times for the buses or trains that serve that stop. Adding the line number or MAX line to the Stop ID texted to 27299 generates arrival times for that particular line.

Stop ID Numbers are posted at just over half of TriMet's bus stops and all of its MAX and WES stations. TriMet is posting more and more Stop ID Numbers at bus stops all the time. All Stop ID Numbers are available at trimet.org using the Stops & Stations tool or at the agency's mobile site, m.trimet.org.

TriMet is also working to make Service Alerts available by text message.

TriMet's TransitTracker provides real-time arrival information for buses and trains, so riders have a better idea of when their ride is coming. TransitTracker can be accessed by phone, on the web or on a mobile device. Using satellite tracking on buses and sensors in the MAX tracks, TransitTracker estimates when the next vehicle will arrive, based on its speed and last reported location. If it can't make an accurate prediction, TransitTracker will show the scheduled time instead.

TriMet recently launched m.trimet.org, a mobile-friendly website for riders who use smartphones, such as BlackBerry®, iPhone® and Android® phones to access transit information quickly and easily.

Thirty-six third-party applications are also available at trimet.org, the most applications of any other transit agency in the country. The apps, created independently by third-party developers using TriMet's open data, provide a variety of information to improve the rider's experience. The apps include trip planning, maps, bus and rail schedules, GPS location of the nearest stops, trip planning via text messaging and saving planned trips. Many of the applications are available for download directly from the developers, while others are available through sites such as iTunes or Android. To view the applications go to trimet.org and click on "App Center" on the home page.

TriMet has created some very successful applications itself including an interactive map and TransitTracker. TransitTracker by Phone, which provides real-time arrivals for all buses and trains, receives about 1.7 million calls a month.