Rochester's transit service is going high tech. The Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) invested more than a million dollars in new technology designed to make catching the bus easier.

Electronic message boards that have real time bus route information will be installed at 20 of RGRTA’s busiest stops through 2010.

The technology is being debuted at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). RGRTA says more than 1.2 million RIT students and faculty use its bus service each year.

RGRTA is in the process of installing GPS systems in all of its buses so riders can get up to the minute information on where their bus is and when it will pick them up.

Riders will even have the option to sign up to receive e-mails and text messages from RGRTA notifying them of when their bus is due to arrive.

"With the launch of this technology we will be connecting our buses to our customers like friends on Facebook,” RGRTA COO Randal Weaver said.

"All of these technologies are designed to make it easier for people to take advantage of our service. We believe that, coupled with the lower fair, in a difficult economy, continues to drive public transportation higher year after year in our community," RGRTA CEO Mark Aesch said.

RGRTA said the next few stops on the list to receive the technology include; the one at Main and Clinton, Strong Hospital and the Pittsford Wegmans.

RGRTA