Case Study: Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency (MBTA) achieves 10% improvement in bus predictability with Samsara's real-time GPS solution

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency - Customer Case Study

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) operates 1,050 buses across 177 routes, carrying about 450,000 passengers each weekday, but struggled with poor arrival predictions and declining reliability scores. Their legacy GPS delivered location updates only every 60 seconds and was frequently interrupted (including blackout zones like the Silver Line tunnel), which led to inaccurate ETAs, frustrated riders, burdens on dispatchers, and time-consuming maintenance searches.

MBTA deployed Samsara Vehicle Gateways, Bluetooth beacons in tunnels, and an open API feeding live GPS into their prediction software and dashboards, plus mobile tablets for on‑the‑ground dispatchers and remote diagnostics for maintenance. The result: a 10% improvement in bus predictability, faster complaint resolution and driver coaching, more efficient dispatch and maintenance operations, and improved rider confidence (with studies suggesting real-time arrival info can also boost ridership and revenue).

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Agency

Joe DiPrimio

Bus Maintenance Training Instructor