Buses getting smarter

Buses within the Kelowna transit system are going to get smarter.

The city has entered into a memorandum of understanding with BC Transit for the automatic vehicle locator component of the SmartBus project.

It would mean transit users would know exactly where their bus is at any time.

This will involve installation of AVL technology on all existing buses operating on conventional routes, as well as passenger information displays at seven locations – UBCO, Queensway exchange, Westbank exchange, Orchard Park, Okanagan College, Mission and Rutland exchange.

It also includes corporate software for operational oversight, data analysis and reporting and the integration of real-time information in a web and/or mobile-enabled format for customer information purposes.

Transit programs manager Jerry Dombowsky says information will be available on exactly where a bus is on its route using GPS technology.

The city will pay just 17 per cent of the cost of the system, with the federal government picking up half the cost and the province 33 per cent.

The city will pay the 17 per cent for the first five years, then the formula kicks in to the normal 54 per cent share.

Dombowsky says the current information systems budget of $313,000 will more than cover the city's share.

"Essentially, we can move to a new, better system, and cover it within our existing budget. In fact, we will save money in doing so," said Dombowsky.

BC Transit will now initiate a request for proposal for the project.

Nanaimo will serve as a test market for the system.

If all goes well, Kelowna will be one of six areas in the province applying for the system, which Dombowsky says could be operational by the end of 2017, or the beginning of 2018.