Agreement Signed for New Practices in Traffic and Transportation!

The cooperation between E-Kent , which offers fast, practical and economical solutions to cities' public transportation problems, and Bahçeşehir University Transportation Application and Research Center (UYGAR) will play a key role in solving the urban traffic and public transportation problems of rapidly growing cities.

A subsidiary of Aktif Bank, Türkiye's first bank to offer "direct banking" services, and a provider of the high-technology solutions required by modern urbanism, E-Kenthas added a new service to those it offers. The cooperation between E-Kent , which offers fast, economical and lasting solutions to cities' public transportation problems, and Bahçeşehir University Transportation Application and Research Center (UYGAR) will play a key role in solving the urban traffic and public transportation problems of rapidly growing cities.

The signing ceremony for the project, developed to provide the public with a fast and economical transportation system using the opportunities offered by technology and to create a comfortable operating model for citizens, was held at Bahçeşehir University's Beşiktaş campus. At the signing ceremony, attended by Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan, UYGAR Chair Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilıcalı, Aktif Bank General Manager Dr. Önder Halisdemir and E-Kent General Manager Vahit Özkan, the solutions this cooperation will bring to the traffic problems of the cities served by E-Kent were explained.

In addition to the Electronic Fare Collection System (EÜTS), UYGAR and E-Kent will also serve municipalities in the following areas:

· Regulation of Urban Traffic,

· Public Transportation Planning,

· Preparation of Transportation Master Plans,

· Establishment of Urban Traffic Control Centers and Camera Systems,

· Establishment of Electronic Enforcement Systems (EDS),

· Establishment of Passenger Information and Vehicle Guidance Systems,

· Establishment of Parking Guidance and Information Systems

Pedestrian zones, bicycle paths

The projects E-Kent, which has introduced Bursa, Kayseri, Tokat, Gaziantep, Kütahya, Sakarya and Düzce to fast, practical, affordable and innovative systems, will implement with UYGAR in these cities will make E-Kent an important component of those cities' Traffic Control Centers (TKM). Within the scope of the project, the urban traffic system will be examined, and projects will be prepared by identifying bus stop locations, parking planning, pedestrian zones and bicycle paths according to needs.

The entire public transportation system will be optimized by integrating and streamlining routes among municipal buses, private public buses, minibuses and light rail systems where available, reducing parallel routes, determining departure times and intervals, and examining the efficiency of the routes used.

Transportation Master Plans will be prepared for cities based on their future land use decisions. The Transportation Master Plan will include collecting current and plan-period land use information, identifying existing transportation infrastructure, collecting socio-economic data for the planned area, conducting surveys and traffic counts, and preparing a transportation demand model and its calibration. Based on the transportation demand identified in this way, the most suitable transportation systems providing the necessary capacity will be selected and phased.
 

Traffic Control Center

A traffic control center using the latest technology will be established to manage the urban traffic system from a single center. This center will house and manage camera-based Traffic Density Sensors and Variable Message Systems (DMS), and optionally electronic enforcement systems, passenger information and vehicle guidance (vehicle tracking, smart stops and electronic public transport guidance) and parking guidance and information systems.

Traffic points monitored by Electronic Enforcement Systems (EDS) will be kept under 24-hour surveillance, reducing the number of violations through deterrence. Systems for on-street parking, emergency lane and red light violations will be installed and managed from the TKM.
 

Information via SMS

With the vehicle tracking system, public transportation vehicles will be tracked in real time, and passengers will be informed about vehicle arrival times via smart stops, the web and SMS. With the electronic vehicle guidance system, public transportation vehicles will be directed to collection areas, reducing vehicle density in city centers. Both systems will be managed from the TKM after field installation.

Vehicles parking in the city will be informed about parking occupancy via DMS boards and directed to the nearest parking area. In this way, urban traffic density will be reduced, while drivers will be informed about route traffic via DMS boards. The system will be managed from the TKM after field installation.
 

Scholarships from E-Kent for 10 municipal employees every year

Starting in February 2010, E-Kent will provide master's degree support each semester to 5 people, selected according to set criteria, in the "Urban Systems and Transportation Management" Master's Program coordinated by UYGAR, to help municipal employees specialize in Public Transportation and Traffic Engineering.
 

Financing for projects from Aktif Bank

Aktif Bank, for its part, will provide financing support on favorable terms, if needed, for the projects to be carried out by UYGAR and E-Kent.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, E-Kent General Manager Vahit Özkan said: "As E-Kent, with the goal of 'building city technologies', we have business partnerships with many respected and reliable domestic and foreign hardware, software and technology companies. The cooperation we are signing today has a very special meaning and importance for us, as it brings the scientific strength of Bahçeşehir University, one of our country's respected universities, to our side. We believe we will carry out successful work by joining forces with the academic staff led by UYGAR Chair Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilıcalı."
 

It will make a great contribution to local governments

UYGAR Chair Prof. Dr. Mustafa Ilıcalı said that the joint work of UYGAR and E-KENT, a first of its kind, will make a great contribution to local governments by enabling public transportation to be more efficient for operators and faster and more comfortable for citizens.

Stating that UYGAR prioritizes not only technical but also practical applications, Bahçeşehir University President Prof. Dr. Deniz Ülke Arıboğan said: "In this context, this cooperation with Aktif Bank is an important undertaking in terms of company-university partnership and an important service we are jointly bringing to society."

Noting that as our country and cities develop rapidly in the 21st century, the traffic problems of our cities continue to grow, Aktif Bank General Manager Dr. Önder Halisdemir said: "The project, developed to provide the public with a fast and economical transportation system using the opportunities offered by technology and to create a comfortable operating model for citizens, includes many applications, from pedestrian zones to bicycle paths and from the traffic control center to informing citizens via SMS. As Aktif Bank, we will be happy to provide the financing and credit support needed to implement these projects."

About E-Kent…

With its strong and dynamic team of 300 people and the high technology it offers together with leading brands in Türkiye and the world, E-Kent stands out today as the company in its sector that allocates the most resources to R&D. The E-Kent system, which offers an integrated system managing light rail and buses together and also provides access to social venues such as zoos and museums with a transportation card, makes life easier in every area. In addition, with its pass and fare systems integrated with parking meter and vending machine solutions, transportation portal, call center, mobile phone services and the magnetic paper ticket product it offers together with the transportation card, E-Kent completely eliminates the use of cash in transportation.

With its strong capital and partnership structure, E-Kent is the pioneering and leading service provider in Türkiye's electronic fare collection (EÜTS) sector, offering reportable and auditable consultancy services that turn field experience into added value.

Important note: You can instantly access the most accurate information on all matters related to E-Kent, including general and detailed information, the services provided, how the system works and the latest updates, at www.E-Kent.com.tr .