The change in local public transport in Modica will begin on July 1st. Yesterday morning the press conference entitled “Modica moves” dedicated precisely to the new service which will see Sais take the place, after decades, of Ast, the Sicilian transport company which is leaving local transport in many cities due to economic problems.
Sais already has experience in some municipalities and has decided to join the demonstration put forward by the Municipality of Modica. So Sais takes over from Ast and, at least in terms of prospects, a turning point in mobility is expected in Modica. The municipal councilor of the reference sector, Antonio Drago, also reiterates this: “With the same money that was given to Ast, among other things with a service that left much to be desired and which we had repeatedly noted, with the by relying on Sais we obtain many benefits. Benefits ranging from the renewal of the bus fleet to the protection of the environment given that they are high-tech vehicles – explains the councilor for mobility Antonio Drago – among other things, the buses will all be equipped with platforms for the disabled. The lines will be doubled: in the summer a shuttle to and from Marina di Modica will allow the use of public transport until late at night, so young people will have this important option which will guarantee greater safety.
A new line will also be activated with Marina di Modica. An application is also planned with an app that will inform you about the line, where the bus is located and when it arrives at the stops. Tickets can be purchased online and you can pay with your mobile phone on the bus itself. The Municipality will have control software that will allow us to know the status of the buses and their routes. The 100 thousand euros of compensation that we are giving them is returned to us in season tickets and with free tickets for vulnerable people and students. A true revolution in mobility. I worked on this project in silence, evaluating all the opportunities that came from this change of guard. We have succeeded in changing mobility in the full belief that this new service, with Sais managing it and with its fleet of buses, will make Modica move more streamlined”.
And Vincenzo Asaro, director of Sais, also speaks about the innovative aspects, a company ready for this new challenge that concerns Modica. “We will start the service with the mapping of the existing and we will bring the data by digitizing it on maps and programs. This data will also be used by the Municipality to have the possibility of carrying out analyzes on how the citizens of Modica move. With electronic ticket machines we will also be able to get into the merits of each timetable and each line.
This innovation will allow us to measure the attractiveness of the service and evaluate whether it complies with the needs of citizens. Then we will make evaluations together with the public administration. Let’s start with the current network and over the months we will realize any changes to be made to make the service closer to the mobility needs of citizens”.
What to say to those who are not used to using local public transport given that it has so far been unattractive? “The real challenge is precisely this: making public transport more attractive for those who are not used to using it – stated the director – The common objective, of the public administration and ours, is to make information connected to the public service as much as possible. easy as possible. We will do this with targeted communication and facilitate access to the public service. To achieve this objective, information must be timely and precise, both through the dedicated app and at individual stops, as well as paper maps and digital products”.
The Sais project in Modica represents a significant step towards a more efficient and accessible public transport system, with a strong commitment to the digitalisation and transparency of information. The objective is to improve not only the mobility offer, but also to promote a culture of public transport among the citizens of Modica.
