NJ TRANSIT LAUNCHES DIGITAL BUS STOP SIGN PILOT
Two Partnerships Through the Transit Tech Lab Bring New High-Tech AI-Powered Digital Bus Stop Signs With Real Time Bus Arrival Information.
March 3, 2026
NEWARK, NJ — NJ TRANSIT is 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. The companies submitted their ideas through the Transit Tech Lab, which is backed by the Partnership Fund for New York City and provides an accelerated pathway for early to growth-stage companies to solve public transportation challenges for the largest transit agencies in North America.
“Partnering with emerging tech companies allows us to test solutions that directly enhance the customer experience—in this case by improving access to important customer information,” said NJ TRANSIT President & CEO Kris Kolluri. “These digital signs not only provide real-time updates to riders at bus stops, but also supply NJ TRANSIT with valuable data to help us plan more responsive and customer-focused technology solutions.”
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.
In addition to customer-facing information, the signs also provide NJ TRANSIT with AI-driven customer analytics such as people-counting, occupancy detection and demand modeling, to help with future service planning. A breakthrough feature is called leave-behind detection—a capability that enables the agency to count customers unable to board due to full buses or schedule constraints. This is a crucial metric for service planning and resource allocation.
The signs are installed at the following locations:
Hoboken
- 15th & Willow
- 9th & Washington
Union City
- 31st & Bergen
- 31st at JFK
Jersey City
- Congress St. at Palisade Ave.
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.)
The pilot is expected to last for one year, and if successful, NJ TRANSIT will consider expanding the signs to other locations.
The digital sign initiative stemmed from the Transit Tech Lab, a program established by agencies in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region to bring private sector innovation to public transit by connecting tech companies with transit agencies to pilot new technologies and solve critical transit challenges.
Customers wishing to submit feedback on the digital bus stop signs can contact Customer Service HERE.
BusPas sign
Urban Solar sign
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.