WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Some new technology could help streamline bus service in Whatcom County.

The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) says they’re installing Automatic Passenger Counters (APCs) above the front and rear doors of their buses to count passengers as they board and exit.

The APCs will replace manual counting and will provide data for service planning and passenger trends, help optimize routes and schedules and let passengers know when buses are full.

WTA says rider privacy is a priority. The sensors are not capable of capturing any personal information and do not have facial recognition technology.

Installation of the APCs should be done by the end of December, and they will start collecting data in January after testing and training are complete.