TECHNOLOGY TO HELP IMPROVE BUS SERVICES


location based services

Two trials using state-of-the-art technology will be conducted during the third school term as part of the current review of Tasmanian bus services.
The Minister for Infrastructure, Jim Cox, said today that the review had been told by people across Tasmania that bus services were not meeting the needs of communities.
“If our bus services are to better meet the needs of Tasmanian communities, better information is required on the use of buses,” Mr Cox said.
“During term three we will be undertaking two technology trials. One will involve free-to-the-user school buses and the other fare paying bus services.
“These trials are the first step in delivering modern and up-to-date bus services to regional Tasmania and will test the applicability of modern technology to the age-old problem of delivering better bus services and connecting Tasmanians living in rural and regional areas with their major population centres.”
The free-to-the-user school bus trial will be done in the Smithton area and will involve 11 buses fitted with technology which will be able to collect information on the bus used, route travelled, the time spent at stops, number of passengers carried and the location of boarding and disembarkation for passengers.
“During the trial, students using these bus services will not notice any difference in the service,” Mr Cox said.
“However, the trial is designed to enhance route planning and safety through the use of Global Positioning Systems, which will be able to track the buses on the route, and the collection of accurate passenger numbers at each stop.
The route bus service trial will be done on the Dodges Ferry/Sorell/ Hobart route and the West Tamar Launceston route. This trial will involve 20 buses fitted with technology which will be able to collect information on route travelled, time spent at stops, concession passengers carried, concession category validation and location of boarding and disembarkation for concession passengers.
The trial is designed to enhance route planning and safety through the use of Global Positioning Systems and to test smart card technology in relation to concession passenger journeys.
Students and other concession holders will be issued with a special ‘Go Card’ for the duration of the trial to identify their concession category. During the trial, this card will replace the current identification passengers use to access their concession fare.
It will be available on Manions Coaches in the North and Smith’s Surf to City buses in the South during the trial.
“We want to encourage users to be part of this trial, so every time the Go Card is used, the holder will be entered into a competition to win a return trip to Melbourne or an ipod Photo.
“With better information on passenger numbers, where passengers are getting on and off the bus and how well the bus is meeting its timetable, my Department will be better able to plan the future provision of bus services in areas around Tasmania that are experiencing rapid changes in population,” Mr Cox said.