I've used YRT a lot, and I think they've got it pretty much right in terms of bus stop signs.
Like the TTC, there are hundreds, if not thousands of stops, so wide implementations of fancy bus stops would be somewhat costly. Most signs are just a plain bus stop sign, and many busy and/or interchange stops also have a schedule posted for them. It is usually reasonably up-to-date.
When I first started riding, only Vivastations had NextBus displays and they only tracked Viva buses. A couple years ago, they started listing YRT buses as well, which is very useful considering that many YRT services overlap with Viva. They have since installed NextBus displays for all YRT buses at all terminals.
So for the TTC I would pretty much leave the regular stop sign alone, but create a second type of sign incorporating a NextBus display for use at select busy locations.
I'm thinking they could put them at Rocket route stops (and list TTC buses on the existing Viva stops on route 196 York U Rocket). That would also give additional substance to the Rocket branding, giving it more of a BRT-like image (in fact, Route 196 is already BRT).
Although it would cost money, I think they have a tangible benefit, so they would be worthwhile. They reduce stress levels for people waiting for the bus, improving rider experience, and they allow for more optimal trip design, cutting journey times. That would make the TTC more competitive, increasing potential revenue.
From my experience, I've found YRT's NextBus displays very useful, because knowing when buses will come lets you optimize your trips, saving time.
Some examples:
- My friend checks the NextBus display when he gets off Viva. If his local bus is more than 9 minutes away, he knows it is faster for him to walk home.
- Traveling from Yonge and Clark to RHC, if the Viva is less than 2 minutes behind the 99 Yonge, it is faster to wait for it.
- I was at RHC and the direct local bus to Bathurst and Teston was 30 minutes away, so I just hopped on Viva Purple, transferred the Bathurst bus and was at my destination in less than 30 minutes.
These benefits would be most useful at 199 Finch Rocket stops, due to the large variety of services.