One major problem that cities often face is having an efficient public transport system that can handle daily commutes. A good public transport system means happy residents, wouldn’t you agree? Recently, cities have been reverting to technology to improve the systems. A great example of how it’s done can be seen in Moscow. The city tackled the problem and has had amazing results since. The implementation of Moscow’s smart city technology was a game changer, and set an example that many should follow.
The main leading man that captained Moscow’s transformation was the city mayor, Sergei Sobyanin. Originally from the Tyumen region, the mayor entered office in 2010. Receiving international acclaim by many, like Forbes and Bloomberg, the mayor has been the driving force behind Moscow’s rebirth. But what changed the game was the smart technology Sobyanin implemented around the city. The initial investment came with the introduction of the ITS, Intelligent Transport System. The system works by using surveillance cameras set up around the city to monitor its traffic. As the cameras pick up the information, city officials are able to act quicker and better in case of road blocks or any similar traffic problems, and therefore can solve it, and send people on an alternative route.
Because commuting was one of the main issues for Moscow, the ITS has also worked wonders for the public transport system. Not only are the commuters warned about possible delays, but they can also depend on the many new public transport vehicles added. In fact, one of the biggest investments that bettered the system was the focus on both the aboveground and underground transport areas. By having invested in brand new transportation vehicles, the situation improved tremendously. Sobyanin added new buses, metro train cars, implemented new electronic ticketing systems, and gave its passengers real-time information on the transport status. Furthermore, Moscow also added the Moscow Central Ring, a light train line that loops around the city and that is connected to the subway system.
With the added public transport vehicles, the annual number of full fare trips increased from 2010’s 1.9 billion to 2.8 billion in 2017. An impressive number that goes to show how well the hard work paid off. It went so well that the independent Community of Metros (the CoMET) stated that Moscow’s metro system was one of the top three best metro lines in the world for passenger satisfaction.
And because a city redevelopment is never complete without a newly improved bicycle lane, Moscow did not miss out on giving its residents a biking possibility too. The bicycle lanes cover the whole city, and can be considered the cherry on top of Moscow’s whole, smart (and eco-friendly) transformation.
Photograph by Xusenru