Council Cancels SmartBus Contract

Josh Pringle with Stephanie Kinsella
Wednesday, October 28, 2009

A contract to install an automated next-stop announcement system on OC Transpo buses has been parked.

City Council voted 11-10 against a $17 million contact with US-based Clever Devices to install the system on all OC Transpo buses.

City Staff had recommended awarding the contract for Advanced SmartBus features, which includes the Next Stop Announcement System.

Bell Canada had threatened legal action, saying the bidding process was unfair.

The city's legal department and outside legal counsel had concluded that the "least risky" option would be to award the contract to Clever Devices for $12 million, which would include the Next Stop Announcement System.

Staff had recommended approving an additional $5 million for "two vendor value-added options for the SmartBus capabilities" - bus time arrival information and vehicular system condition monitoring.

The issue will be on the Council agenda for November 16th, but will require 75 per cent of Councillors to vote in favour of re-opening the debate.