Mattisse developments in the traffic and travel information market

This article considers the ongoing development of MATTISSE, a real-time traffic and travel information system for the Midlands region of England. Originally developed as part of a European Union project, the consortium of local authorities involved in the scheme finally transformed it into a public-private partnership. A ten-year partnering agreement was set up, involving a joint venture between two companies in the intelligent transport systems sector. Internet-based communications were chosen and a new database set up. A user group forum was initiated to include all interested parties, and the issues of quality, consistency and accuracy were addressed. Service expansion is envisaged, both to add sources of real-time data and to increase the variety of channels to deliver the information to the public. A partnership with a public transport operator will provide real-time bus passenger information, and further collaborative partnerships are expected.