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Some 250 more buses across Bristol are set to be fitted with state-of-the-art GPS satellite monitoring equipment to enable bus management and council traffic teams to track their location and tackle punctuality issues.
The move would also open the way for more traffic signal junctions to provide priority for buses and for more bus stops to have digital Real Time Passenger Information displays.
In addition, new internet and mobile phone information services will be provided to enable customers to follow the progress of buses on any chosen route and help plan their journey.
The investment would allow the city to expand its innovative Real Time Passenger Information audio system, which benefits blind and partially sighted passengers and has already seen 'talking bus stops' installed in some parts of Bristol.
The initiative will ensure that the whole of First Bus' fleet in the city is fitted with the BusNet equipment and the proposals is expected to be agreed by the city council's Cabinet on Thursday night (February 8th 2007)
If agreed, the city council would fund the £570,000 capital cost of buying and installing the equipment while First would pay maintenance costs of £55,000-a-year for at least the next six years. Negotiations will be undertaken with other bus operators in the city to extend the scheme beyond the First fleet.
The system, manufactured by ACIS Ltd, was first installed in buses in the city in 1997. Currently 90 buses are fitted with the kit; 100 of the city's 1,600 stops have Real Time Passenger Information displays and there are 40 traffic light junctions with bus priority facilities.
Cllr Dennis Brown, Executive Member for Transport, said: "Installing this equipment in the rest of the First fleet will be a significant step forward in the city council's drive to monitor and manage bus performance and punctuality and provide passengers with better information. It demonstrates our determination to invest in our existing public transport system and to work with First to improve the service across the city."
Ends
Press release issued: February 6 2007
