Representatives from the Biobío Region of Chile paid a visit to Optibus’ headquarters to discuss how technology can support their plans to increase public transportation ridership and reduce congestion and pollution in their region.
Members of the visiting delegation included Rodrigo Díaz Wörner, Regional Governor of Biobío; Rodrigo Alarcon Quezada, Director of the Security Unit; Oscar Ferrel Bustos, Head of the Government Infrastructure and Transport Division; Marcelo Chávez Velásquez, Director of the International Development Unit; and regional council members Alicia Yáñez Soto, Yanina Contreras Alvarez, Adriana Delgado Careaga, and Cristopher Gengnagel Carrasco.
The Biobío Region is one of Chile’s sixteen regions, located in the center of the country. With 1.6 million residents, it is the country’s third most populated region. To support smart and sustainable growth in the district, the governor and his advisors met with Optibus to discuss how technology can support their vision for a better regional public transportation system. The regional government is specifically seeking ways to elevate the passenger experience, reduce congestion and traffic jams, and roll out more electric buses.
“For us, it is very important to visit Israeli companies because they have a very broad knowledge of innovation and technology. In particular, Optibus has a transport planning system that we find very attractive with regards to investments we are making in electromobility in the BioBio region. This is essential for the regional government. Our intention is to sign a collaboration agreement with Optibus and other companies so that we can set up an innovation and development portfolio that favors the implementation of technology that benefits the quality of life of the citizens of the Biobío region,” said Oscar Ferrel, Head of the Government Infrastructure and Transport Division.
The Biobio delegation views technology as a key part of realizing this vision, particularly with regards to efficient planning and scheduling, data-driven methods for building a network around points of interest, including schools, employment hubs, and health facilities, and electric vehicle management.
“Many technologies have powerful implications for public transportation, but were not applied in a relevant way. Optibus makes innovation applicable and accessible to the industry, helping to raise the quality of public transportation systems to new heights. The Biobío Region’s vision for better public transportation will be key to the region’s sustainable development, and we admire their approach of integrating technology into their vision from the start,” said Amos Haggiag, Optibus CEO and co-founder.
The visit of the Governor and his delegation to Optibus follows recent visits from the Chilean Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Juan Carlos Muñoz Abogabir, and a delegation from Victoria, Australia, to the Optibus headquarters to discuss the future of public transportation and Optibus’ work in the region.
Optibus is a major software player in Chile’s public transportation industry, working with MetBus, the largest public transit operator in Chile and the largest eBus fleet in the Americas, and RedBus Urbano, one of Santiago’s primary public transportation operators and Transdev’s largest bus operation globally. Through its work with RedBus Urbano, Optibus’ software is helping to power 20 million monthly journeys in Santiago, over 25% of the city’s public transportation.
Read more:
• Case Study: Saving €600,000 in three months through digital transformation
• Webinar: The Time for Electric Buses is Now: Rethinking the service from the ground up
• eBook: How to Significantly Reduce Emissions and Save Costs with the Optibus platform
