Digital Signage
In 2019, our Technology Innovation Department (TID) began a digital signage program to provide riders with the most accurate real-time transit information available to us. During the community meetings that led to our long-term plan, Focus40, and in customer surveys conducted for the Better Bus Project, our riders told us they wanted more real-time information, and more types of information as well.
To meet those needs, TID has many digital signage projects underway, and an in-house team to design the information we display on all of those screens.
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
What Riders Want from Real-Time Signage
Our initial research made clear to us that riders expect the following:
- Accurate, reliable predictions
- Dedicated sources of real-time information—in subway stations, they want these to be available before they pay their fare
- Current trip information, above all else
A focus on accessibility
We’re making our signage as accessible as possible by including including audio-equivalent resources for riders who are blind or have low vision, easy-to-read large text, and consideration of environmental factors, such as viewing distance and lighting.
Download our guidelines for audio- and visual-equivalence on digital signage (PDF, 618 KB)
TID's Digital Signage Projects
We’re installing digital signs inside and outside rapid transit stations, and at bus stops across the MBTA network.
Rapid transit station signage
In 2019, we began piloting solar-powered electronic ink (E Ink) signs at Green Line stops. We’re now scaling up this project to bring E Ink signs to most surface-level stops on the Green Line’s B, C, and E branches.
In 2022, we’ll launch our first customer information displays (CIDs). These side-by-side LCD screens will be dedicated exclusively to real-time information about our subway system and service. Over the next three years, we plan to install CIDs in all our subway stations.
At first, CIDs will display subway alerts about riders’ here-and-now needs, such as delays, disruptions, and out-of-service elevators. Many future uses are under consideration, including these possibilities:
- Visualizing service alerts on a digital line map, to make delays and disruptions easier to understand at a glance
- Displaying the time when service will end and the last train will leave the station
Our research suggests many more useful features. We welcome all rider input, and are doing research to find out which features riders value most.
Bus stop signage
The MBTA serves over 7,500 bus stops across more than 50 cities and towns. Most lack access to electricity. In 2022, we’ll double the size of our ongoing E Ink pilot, and work with municipalities that want to use similar signage of their own.
In 2021, we installed new, large-format digital signs along the center-running bus lane on Columbus Avenue, and plan to do the same on future bus lane projects. These screens include speakers that play an audio message every few minutes.
In 2022, we launched our first interactive Information Kiosk at Maverick Station, as part of a street furniture network across the Greater Boston region. Moving forward, we plan to install a network of digital information kiosks and bus shelters to assist trip making and provide real-time transit information to riders supported by advertising revenue.
Photo Gallery
A blind man holding a white cane is seen in profile standing before a digital sign. His left hand is on a button labeled PRESS FOR AUDIO in standard writing and in braille. The rider stand in the lobby of the Government Center station; through the windows behind him the Government Center buildings are shown at right.
A rider boards a bus near the new E Ink sign at the Broadway bus stop in Everett
Overhead lighted blue and green sign with white text hangs above a stairwell at Kenmore station says Kenmore - No Green Line service to Boston College - Use shuttle bus. The bottom line gives the URL for service alerts: mbta.com/alerts
Overhead lighted blue and green sign with white text hangs above a stairwell at Kenmore station. Sign gives predicted time till arrival for three trains: says Kenmore on first line and shows time of 1-:54, next three lines say Riverside 4 m, Cleveland Circle 6 m, North Station 7 m. The bottom line says No Boston Coll trains.
A rider reads predicted arrival times on an E Ink digital sign at the Heath Street trolley stop on the Green Line's E Branch. The E Ink sign has a green border to match the related trolley line.
At left is a close up of a digital sign displaying Orange Line arrivals; at right are masked riders. Sign reads as follows: Sullivan Square and the time (3:02) are on the top line, and the following four lines say Forest Hills ARR, Oak Grove 4 m, Oak Grove 7 m, Forest Hills 9 m.
At left is an E Ink solar-powered digital sign at the Washington Square trolley stop on the Green Line's C Branch. The E Ink sign shows the time (10:55) and the destination (Cleveland Circle), and says Now in large letters to show that the trolley is now boarding. Below "Now" the sign says "11 m" to show that the next trolley will arrive in 11 minutes. A Green Line train passes on the tracks at right.
A large vertial electronic sign is shown affixed to a metal pole on the mezzanine level of Ruggles station. The sign says Ruggles at top, then in smaller letters beneath it says Upcoming Trips followed by the heading Lower Busway. Under that seven buses are listed by name and destination, followed by the number of minutes until arrival. At bottom is a Commuter Rail heading under which two trains are listed by destination; each line includes time till arrival.
A digital sign at the back entrance to Back Bay station is at left, the sidewalk is at right. The digital sign says Back Bay and the time on the top line, followed by two lines showing the next two orange line trains and their expected number of minutes until arrival. The bottom two lines show icons and names for the next two Commuter Rail trains followed by expected arrival times.
The Walnut Avenue bus shelter on Columbus Avenue has a large digital screen that shows the time, the stop name, and the predicted arrival times for the next six buses scheduled to arrive there. The screen also mentions 50%-off Youth Pass fares, and asks riders to tell us how we can improve this screen by going to this web address: mbta.com/walnut-2
We Want to Hear from You
We invite you to give us your suggestions, questions, or complaints about signage at T stops and stations. Please contact MBTA Customer Support, let us know if your comments are related to accessibility, and provide as many details as possible so we can give the most helpful response.
Phone
Voice: 617-222-3200
711 for TTY callers; VRS for ASL callers
Project Updates
Building a Better T
As part of our $9.6 billion, 5-year capital investment plan, we're renovating stations, modernizing fare collection systems, upgrading services for our buses, subways, and ferries, and improving the accessibility of the entire system.
We Want to Hear from You
We invite you to give us your suggestions, questions, or complaints about signage at T stops and stations. Please contact MBTA Customer Support, let us know if your comments are related to accessibility, and provide as many details as possible so we can give the most helpful response.
Phone
Voice: 617-222-3200
711 for TTY callers; VRS for ASL callers