The City Has No Money

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

Second is a ~$7 million dollar proposal for an automated stop announcing system for OC transpo buses. I guess enforcing the 20-year old rule where drivers must announce stops is out of the question.

http://www.cfra.com/headlines/index.asp?cat=1&nid=53169

Toronto, London and Waterloo Region, are all areas in Ontario that are currently implementing this or will do this in the next few years as a result of the recent ruling... other areas haven't announced their plans yet but would prefer to implement a system like this (they may want provincial funding, like Windsor) many US cities have a system like this as well.
There are a variety of reasons why all of these transit systems are implemented automated systems, from inconsistency of volume/clarity, having a tone/voice that doesn't annoy passengers, ergonomics of buses, increased distractions for articulated bus drivers, difficulty in doing fare enforcement/priority seating/helping special needs customers/announcing and still having reliable service. . .