OC Transpo is estimating a new $17-million suite of SmartBus enhancements could save the company more than $50 million over the next 10 years, but one east-end councillor wants to reboot the process on the grounds that it’s more than they asked for.
Innes Ward Coun. Rainer Bloess intends to bring a motion to city council today that would restart the procurement process for a next-stop announcement system, after the winning bid came in at $10 million more than initially estimated.
The winning option also included extra features like a state-of-the-art predictive arrival system and a diagnostic system on the buses.
In a memo to council, transit services general manager Alain Mercier wrote those extra features would produce a return on the investment of $50 million over 10 years by reducing the need for new buses, increasing revenue and creating operational and maintenance efficiencies.
The winning option is also endorsed by the city’s technology adviser, Rob Collins.
