MONTEGO BAY, St James — As frustrated commuters grumbled about the long wait for Montego Bay Metro buses to arrive in the transport centre here on Wednesday evening, one woman was able to provide them with periodic updates on how much longer they likely had to endure. She was using the recently introduced app that tracks its buses along their routes. It also alerts passengers to delays like the ones being experienced.

Passengers can download the FleetFactz app while on the bus by using the free Wi-Fi service now being offered. Both have been available since last month and the bus company is working to get the word out. It is touting its free Wi-Fi service as a way for commuters to stay connected while they travel.

A male student from Harrison Memorial High School told the Jamaica Observer that he connects to the Wi-Fi to do his homework during his trips from Montego Bay to Falmouth, where he lives. He admitted that sometimes he passes the time on social media. He declined to provide his name.

A Sandy Bay, Hanover, resident was also reluctant to share her name, but she happily sang the praises of the technology boost.

“I can now track the bus and know where it is and you know what time to go a road,” she said. “I don’t take any other bus; this is the only bus I take. It’s a comfortable ride, no squeezing.”

The woman seated beside her was among those eager to access the app.

“It’s good to know you can track the bus. I mostly use it in the evenings and every Friday morning,” she explained while retrieving her phone from a fellow rider who helped her download FleetFactz app.

She has a data plan on her phone, she was quick to note, but she thinks other riders will be happy for the free Wi-Fi.

“It will help them a whole lot because many times they can’t afford the plan,” she said.

MoBay Metro Route Inspector John James said the Wi-Fi and the app have both proven popular with commuters.

“A lot of people want to use both of them. The app, in particular, allows them to know where the buses are at any time. Go on their phones and quick, quick, quick they can say, ‘Yes, the bus at Hopewell coming, it’s at Round Hill.’ A lot of the passengers use the Internet as well,” he related.

However, the goodwill earned from providing the tech boost was almost entirely erased because of the lengthy wait time commuters had to endure at the Barnett Street transport centre. Frustrated Falmouth-bound travellers said it appeared the route was only being serviced by one bus.

“We deh ya from before 3 o’clock. We need bus, mi deh ya from how long and mi back a hurt me,” one passenger complained.

James said there were five buses active across the five routes — Falmouth, Cambridge, Goodwill, Knockalva, and Sandy Bay — served by MoBay Metro. According to an office employee who opted not to provide her name, there are typically 15 buses available.

A check on Montego Bay Metro’s Facebook page showed apologies for buses out of commission on Wednesday. That information is also available on the recently rolled out app. It is unclear when the buses will be returned to the fleet.

“Right now the schoolchildren having hard time, especially because not enough buses, they need to do something soon, man,” said one annoyed passenger.