THE REALIZATION OF THE MULTIMODAL TRAVEL INFORMATION SYSTEM

One way of tackling congestion is to encourage the selective use of the private car by offering a good and reliable public transport network. In order to make people use public transport, public transport not only has to have advantages, but people have to know about the advantages, too. To make passengers aware, everyone setting out on a journey should be able to compare the costs and travel time of taking the car. In June 1994, the Dutch government announced a call for tender for realizing this kind of Multimodal Travel Information (MTI) system. With access to MTI about journey times and costs, passengers can make informed choices between public transport and the private car, or decide to use a combination of both. They are also informed about the optimal route. It is clear that MTI has to provide travelers with objective information on means of transport, routes, arrival and departure times, prices, and congestion. When the costs and travel time of taking the car are compared with the costs and travel times of going by public transport, the latter choice may often prove to be the better alternative.