The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is considering using aerial drones to track its 6,000-bus fleet, a move that has sparked outrage from union leaders. The agency’s Department of Buses issued a document requesting information from vendors on how drones could be used to create a real-time map of bus locations and traffic patterns along service routes. Union leaders argue that drones would be ineffective compared to the current system of dispatchers monitoring bus lines. The MTA already uses a program called Yard Tracker to monitor its bus fleet, which union leaders claim has failed to accurately track vehicles parked in bus depots. Union leaders have raised concerns about the potential cost of the drone program and the MTA’s track record with implementing new technology. They are calling for an internal investigation to determine why the MTA continues to spend money on programs that do not work. Despite the controversy, a spokesperson for the MTA has stated that the drone program could result in cost savings for the city. The document released by the MTA does not specify the cost of the potential drone program. The union leaders believe that the MTA should focus on more effective ways to manage its funds rather than investing in a potentially wasteful drone program.
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