SANTA MONICA SELECTS SIEMENS FOR MODERN BUS SYSTEM

Santa Monica buses to incoporate Siemens' Advanced Fleet Management System to improve service.

SANTA MONICA, Cal. (PRWEB) April 16, 2003 -- The Big Blue Bus, the public transportation authority for the Santa Monica area will soon be making a bold jump into the 21st century with its latest innovation-an Advanced Fleet Management System (AFMS). The system will provide a modern solution for monitoring transit vehicles by harnessing the power of satellite technology. This will improve on-time performance, operational efficiency, driver and passenger safety, and the overall quality of service. The system will be provided by Siemens Transportation Systems Integrated Local Government Division (ILG) of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The AFMS is part of Siemens TransitMaster Advanced Public Transportation System (APTS) and will provide precise, GPS-based real-time bus location information to Big Blue Bus dispatchers and customers. Siemens will also provide the Big Blue Bus with computer-aided dispatching, automatic passenger counters, traveler information signs at stops, an on-vehicle announcement system, and a new security system.

The $6 million public transportation improvement project will be funded by federal, state and local funds.

Siemens Transportation Systems Integrated Local Government Division specializes in Advanced Public Transportation Systems and Intelligent Transportation Systems throughout North America. ILG solutions include TransitMaster and real-time traveler information systems, including Loud and Clear (on-vehicle announcements), OnStreet (signs at bus stops), WebWatch (online information), and EZTrips (trip-planning kiosks). Siemens also offers ResponseMaster, an emergency awareness, response management, and advanced data communication system for public safety agencies.

Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc. is one of Siemens operating companies in the United States. The company provides a broad spectrum of products and services to the U.S. transportation industry, including Intelligent Transportation Systems, communication and operation control centers, electrification systems, AC-traction locomotives, mass transit vehicles and complete design/build turnkey systems. For more information: www.sts.siemens.com.

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI), headquartered in Munich, is a leading global electronics and engineering company. Siemens and its subsidiaries employ 426,000 people in 192 countries and reported worldwide sales of $77.8 billion in fiscal 2002 (10/1/01 - 9/30/02). The United States is Siemens' largest market in the world, with 14 of Siemens' worldwide businesses headquartered here and annual sales of $21.5 billion in fiscal 2002. The Siemens companies in the U.S. employ approximately 70,000 people in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Corporate headquarters for Siemens' U.S. businesses are located in New York City. For more information: www.usa.siemens.com.