Why Is The Roosevelt Island Red Bus NextBus GPS Tracking System Not Working? Waiting For Necessary Equipment Upgrade Says Octagon Building Management

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive is about the Roosevelt Island Red Bus

NextBus GPS tracking system. Residents ask why is it not working

Image From NextBus

and when will the service return.

Octagon Building General Manager Andrea Heon provides the answer:

The Octagon paid and renewed our contract with NextBus towards the end of December in order to continue to provide our residents with the NextBus tracking service as it has in the past.

We understand that this is also a benefit for all residents of Roosevelt Island as well. Unfortunately, it came to our attention after we renewed, that all of the current tracking equipment under our contract is no longer compatible with the network available on Roosevelt Island.

NextBus has sent us an additional contract to upgrade all of the equipment in order for it to function properly. We have communicated to NextBus that we are reviewing the necessary steps to replace these items as quickly as possible.

As the equipment incompatibility issue was unforeseen, it has taken a little longer to review the new scopes and the contract for the new equipment than it did for us to simply continue on with the renewal of the contract. I hope this background will assist in understanding our intentions. We are very sorry for the inconvenience this issue has caused the residents of Roosevelt Island, and are hopeful to have the upgrades taken care of very soon to resume providing this service for Roosevelt Island.

Roosevelt Island NextBus service began in 2009.