Co-operate: Networked Bus Priority

Public description

Co-Operate is a flexible Bus Priority System that is delivered directly through the navigation software of individual vehicles and is designed to enable Local Authorities and transit operators to better manage the flow of buses, emergency service vehicles, public service vehicles, taxis and delivery vehicles (that all have access to bus lanes) in a manner that ensures an unobstructed path for emergency response and daily transit services. The system can be deployed without the need for expensive fixed infrastructure investment, enabling over and under capacity on the bus / road network to be managed more precisely, more flexibly and at a lower cost.

Our feasibility study will engage public sector organisations and fleet operators in the Sheffield and Rotherham area. Our proposed trial will demonstrate the technology by controlling which vehicles can use certain routes within a defined control zone and provide routing and dispatch instructions to those vehicles. Initially this would be through a combination of voluntary access restriction and incentivisation and involve a minimum two vehicle fleets.

The engagement will begin at a strategic level, to ensure political support and strategic alignment with public sector objectives, before engaging directly with the fleet (including bus operators and other fleets wishing to use bus infrastructure) and infrastructure operators to develop requirements. The feasibility study outputs will be used to validate the proposed use case, gather requirements and plan for the proof concept trial.