Buses in space!

How often have you found yourself stuck in a traffic jam right in the city centre? Traffic congestion is frustrating and adversely affects air quality, yet we continue to drive our cars rather than we take public transportation. All too often public transport is inefficient or inadequate and there is no incentive to leave the car at home. A project implemented in Palermo as part of the Urban programme is bringing new technology to transport. The result is an integrated public transport management system, known as "Saturn" (Satellite Application for Transport in Urban Nodes) which, as its name suggests, uses geostationary satellites. It records the exact position of each vehicle on the bus route and displays its precise time of arrival on electronic display units installed at each stop. Users know exactly how long they will have to wait and can plan accordingly. Palermo is participating in other projects to increase the energy supply. A new electricity generating plant using natural gas is currently being built. It will supply air conditioning and electricity to two classified buildings which have been restored to house local municipal services. The plant will reduce the cost and environmental impact of energy production.