10 October 2003

Christchurch is again in the forefront for public transport technologies. Following up on its world-acclaimed Bus Xchange, Christchurch will boast leading edge plasma display screens to show travellers information on bus arrival times. The 42-inch displays will dwarf Singapore International Airport's signs and offer Christchurch bus passengers the sharpest and the most cost effective displays in the world today.

The Christchurch City Council is now trialling a signal priority system that grants late running buses priority at traffic lights, in an effort to further enhance the city's public transport.

The signal priority system - SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) - networks with Connexionz's real time tracking information. Then accurate schedule adherence information is used to give buses the green light, in times of need.

The objective of the trial is to determine the impact of traffic control on two congested sections of the main corridors, with a view to rolling out the system citywide.

At the Smart Urban Transport conference held in Sydney in May 2003, transportation expert Graham Currie of Booz Allen Hamilton stated that "to gain the maximum patronage growth from Real Time Passenger Information systems, full coverage of signs across the network would be required. However from a cost effectiveness viewpoint,selective coverage of at least 30% of the system will be more efficient".

For most passengers there are 2 stops of importance: Central city stop and their suburban stop; therefore it is important to provide real time passenger information at both locations.

Deploying signs at suburban stops constitutes the single most expensive item in a full system deployment. Except for The BusFinder^TM, the industry is starved of cost effective options to achieve significant streetside coverage.