Over 300 bus information screens set to be installed at bus stops making journeys even easier for passengers.
Thanks to the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan, Portsmouth City Council is investing in easier travel for everyone, the latest improvements will see up to 307 more screens installed with real time information about buses arriving and how busy they are. This will mean up to 95% of bus stops in Portsmouth will have information to help people have an easier journey.
All the new screens also have a push button on the bus stop, which can be pressed for passengers to hear the information displayed on the screens, making them more accessible to those with visual impairments.
Screens are being installed in direct response to bus users requests for more real time information at bus stops in the city, which was highlighted as one of Portsmouth’s resident’s priorities in the bus service improvement plan survey.
Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Portsmouth’s Cabinet Member for Transport, said:
“We often hear requests for clearer information at bus stops, and I’m excited to share that we’re installing screens throughout the city to provide passengers with the details they need for a hassle-free journey. Our aim is to make bus travel accessible and straightforward for everyone.”
Transport systems experts Vix technology will install the new screens this summer. There will be two different types of screens installed in Portsmouth, those at bus shelters and pole mounted screens at bus stops without shelters.
Bus stop information screens display an estimated time of arrival of bus services calling at each stop, with a countdown for when the bus will arrive. They use GPS data from detectors installed in each bus to calculate how far away the bus is from the stop and how long the bus will take to arrive. The newly installed screens will also be able to display other information in real time, such as weather reports and news updates.
Daniel Jacklin, Business Development Manager at Vix Technology said:
“We’re excited about the upcoming partnership with Portsmouth City Council, as we expand our real-time information displays to over 300 more bus stops in the city. This expansion, made possible through the BSIP funding, marks a significant milestone in our longstanding collaboration with Portsmouth. Looking forward to enhancing commuter experience and facilitating smoother journeys for all!”
Improving travel information is a priority to the council’s transport team and this is the latest step in plans to upgrade bus stops and improve the way people access bus timetable information. The council is also running a public survey about bus stops in the city, open until the 17 March asking for feedback from bus users. Once the consultation is closed, the council will develop more plans to further improve bus stops later in the year.
For more information about real time information in the city: travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/schemes/rti/
