AMTRAN News
Trip Planning Through Google Maps
AMTRAN is proud to announce transit trip planning through Google Maps™ to an already long list of technology applications to make it easier to ride the bus.
Just click the light blue icon above. Customers can plug in their origin, destination, and time of day to have Google Maps™ plan their bus trip for them. Their plan will include directions to the bus stop (and how long it will take to walk there), when the bus is scheduled to arrive (and how long the bus trip will take), and finally how to get from their ending bus stop to their final destination (again including how long a walk).
According to Eric Wolf, AMTRAN General Manager, “This is a simple, easy solution to customers asking ‘how do I get there from here?’ It works on a desktop computer, a tablet, or a smart phone. Plus it’s available 24/7.”
Trip planning is only the latest technological innovation for AMTRAN. For more than four years, customers have been able to get real-time bus departure times from any AMTRAN bus stop through their computer or phone plus through scan-able QR codes at every stop.
AMTRAN’s tech partner is Avail Technologies in State College, PA.
Technology you can use
We can tell you when your bus will be at your stop on your phone, smart phone or on the web.
myStop by Phone
Just dial 944-1200 and punch in your bus stop number. The computer will tell you when the next bus will arrive in real time. To see how easy it is, click the video on the right. (Every AMTRAN bus stop has stop number on the stop sign.)
myStop by QR Code
All AMTRAN bus stops have a Quick Response (QR) code for your smart phone posted on the myStop sign. It will tell you when the next bus will arrive in real time. (QR code readers are usually available as a free download at your App Store.)
myStop on the Web
Go to myStop. Then click your route and find your stop on the map. It will tell you when the next bus will arrive in real time.
No bus service on Sundays and on the following holidays - New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Dan's Story - a Penn State Altoona student
Many of the people that use public transportation in central Pennsylvania are either senior citizens or have a disability. Dan M. does not fall into either of these categories, however he still relies greatly on AMTRAN’s bus service on a day to day basis.
Dan is a full time student at Penn State Altoona. Like many college students he cannot afford a car and needs a source of reliable transportation. He uses the bus system as his primary means to get to class, especially during the winters when it is far too cold to walk or ride a bike.
AMTRAN doesn’t just give Dan the ability to get around town. It gives him the opportunity to pursue a college degree.
