Abidjan selects bus Intelligent Transport System in French-speaking African first

Trapeze Group technology to manage one of West Africa’s largest bus networks.

Johannesburg, South Africa

Scania, in association with Société des Transports Abidjanais (SOTRA), has selected Trapeze Group to implement an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) to help manage 450 new buses, supplied by Scania, as part of Abidjan’s first Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The BRT system includes 9.8 kilometres of dedicated bus lanes and stations on the Boulevard Latrille, which runs from the north to the south of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The project is due for completion in 2023 – with the ITS solution extended through the project to manage the entire 1,950 strong bus fleet, transporting over 800,000 people daily. The Trapeze ITS solution enables SOTRA to deliver more efficient and reliable bus services. The solution includes a control centre system for enhanced driver communications and service monitoring and a passenger information system on buses and at stations.

Meité Bouake, Managing Director at SOTRA, said, “Trapeze supports SOTRA in the digitalisation of its activities by implementing a complete ITS solution, including a passenger information system. This deployment will improve service quality by providing real-time passenger information to SOTRA commuters. In addition, as part of the overall Abidjan multimodal project, Trapeze prepares SOTRA for full integration within the overall transport ecosystem with the arrival of future projects like the Metro and the BRT. In summary, Trapeze will help SOTRA to greatly improve the Ivorian population’s mobility.”

Johan Köhler, Managing Director Scania West Africa, said, “At Scania, we believe in providing solutions and not just products; in Abidjan, our partnership with Trapeze echoes our belief in partnering with experts to provide a complete package. With Trapeze, we are offering our customers the tools and products to improve public transportation in the city of Abidjan. This is a step in driving the shift to a sustainable future for all.”

The Trapeze ITS technology is already used by transport authorities worldwide, including Cape Town, Tshwane, London, Singapore, and Zurich. For SOTRA, Trapeze provides implementation support, consultation, training, and knowledge transfer. The system is scalable to include thousands of vehicles, has a high level of interoperability, and can also manage multimodal transport networks. The Abidjan project continues Trapeze’s commitment to supporting transport authorities and operators in West Africa.

Ms Maretha Britz, Trapeze South Africa Managing Director, said, “We’re delighted to work with both SOTRA and Scania to deliver ITS technology to West Africa that transforms urban mobility in Abidjan. This allows us to further support the public transport industry in Africa, and we look forward to contributing to SOTRA’s success.”

About SOTRA

The Abidjan Transport Company or Société des Transports Abidjanais (SOTRA) is a major public transport operator for Abidjan and its surrounds – the first organised in West Africa. SOTRA helps manage public transport through its bus and ferry fleet.

About Scania

Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions with 50,000 employees in 100 countries. Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions, including trucks and buses for heavy transport applications combined with an extensive product-related service offering.

About Trapeze Group

Trapeze Group works with public transit agencies and their communities to develop and deliver smarter, more effective public transit solutions. For more than 40 years, Trapeze has been here for the journey, evolving with our public transport customers worldwide, helping them move people from point A to Z and everywhere in between. Learn more at trapezegroup.com.au.