"Knowledge is power, and we want to empower our customers with information about service issues that could impact their ride, so that they can adjust their plans if necessary," MDT Director Harpal Kapoor said.

To register for Rider Alerts, visit www.miamidade.gov/transit and click "Rider Alert Registration" in the left navigation bar under "Rider Tools." You can select to receive alerts on specific train stations or bus routes or on the entire Metrorail and/or Metromover system.

Passengers not signed up for Rider Alerts can still check the status of elevators and escalators on their mobile devices at www.miamidade.gov/transit/mobile/.

Rider Alerts are just the latest example of how MDT is using technology to improve the riding experience for passengers. MDT's Train Tracker already lets Metrorail passengers check train arrival times on their computers or mobile devices, and the County is in the process of implementing a new automated fare collection system that will improve passenger convenience by allowing customers to pay their fares with a reloadable EASY Card.