Before moving forward, Transit Windsor's board of directors wants to know more about the cost of software that would provide riders the latest transit information on their cellphones.

City councillor Al Maghnieh, who sits on the transit board, said there is great potential to increase ridership by using the cellphone 'app' because people will know the bus system is reliable.

"This app that we're working on is one of the most important things moving forward with respect to modernizing our transit system, making it more effective, more efficient, making it more attractive," he said. "People will feel comfortable taking transit when they know it's reliable."

But he acknowledges the cost of developing and adapting this could be substantial.

"We've asked for a report that will give us exact costing on capital and operating. We'll hopefully take that to capital budget at the City of Windsor. If it's successful, we'll see our transit system moving into the digital age - moving into the technlogical age - where we'll have real-time applications telling you where the bus is on the map," Maghnieh said.

City council would have to approve any funding requests from the transit department.