Stratech Systems Limited ("Stratech") has been awarded a contract by Land Transport Authority ("LTA") to implement a nationwide Bus Travel Information System called transit.smart. This contract is worth S$40.3 million and this amount will be paid out in stages over the 30-month development period. The scope of the contract will involve building an islandwide radio communication network, the development of the central computer system, the enhancement of the Electronic Travel Guide and the provision of the necessary supporting infrastructure in Singapore. Stratech will be in negotiations with the LTA on the operation and maintenance contracts of transit.smart, which is potentially worth up to S$65 million over a period of 10 years.
transit.smart is an advanced intelligent Transport Systems ("iTS") that uses real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) – derived data and artificial intelligence to process real-time bus location and travel time data and make accurate predictions of the arrival times of public buses. Upon implementation of transit.smart, the arrival of buses in real-time will be accessible via the Internet. This will provide greater convenience and mobility to its users. As the Internet extends its reach beyond the personal computer to new wireless gadgets such as third-generation mobile phones and personal data assistants, the move to Internet-enable transit.smart is timely and forward-looking in catering to the needs of an increasingly wired and mobile public community.
The real-time data provided by transit.smart will also enable the bus operators to effectively manage, control and track the real-time movements of bus fleets, which will enable them to respond instantly to incidents and dynamic traffic scenarios involving their buses. This optimises operational efficiency and enhances service delivery to commuters. Public transport regulators and authorities can also make use of the real-time traffic data to better monitor, collect information on and manage the quality of bus operations and services.
The benefits to the Singapore public from the implementation of transit.smart are multifold. Commuters can look forward to a more user-friendly and efficient bus transportation system that allows them to plan their itinerary ahead and make better travel decisions, thereby cutting down on waiting times and overall travel times significantly. transit.smart will therefore empower users with greater user-control and convenience – this will result in improved overall management and use of the entire bus transportation system in Singapore.
Said Dr David Chew, Chairman and Chief Executive of Stratech: "The award of the transit.smart tender by the LTA is the result of Stratech’s in-house research and development efforts undertaken in its pilot Public Transport Traveler Information System project, which was successfully completed in Singapore in 1999. Securing the contract will greatly aid in Stratech’s expansion overseas," Dr Chew further added, "Singapore will be one of the few places in the world with this state-of-the-art technology.
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