SmartBus

SmartBus
Transdev Melbourne Custom Coaches bodied MAN 18.310 on Lonsdale Street in August 2013
Overview
Locale	Melbourne
Transit type	Bus
Number of lines	9[1] (including 3 Orbital and 4 DART)
Website	SmartBus at PTV
Operation
Operator(s)	CDC Melbourne Kinetic Melbourne Ventura Bus Lines
System map SmartBus map and routes at Public Transport Victoria

SmartBus is a network of bus services in the city of Melbourne, Australia. Overseen by Public Transport Victoria, the network comprises nine key cross-town and orbital bus routes around Melbourne. Key aspects of the service include more frequent services, extended hours of operation to include late evening and Sunday services, improved timetable information at bus stops, roadspace priority along certain routes and priority at particular traffic lights.^[2] Busses on SmartBus routes are shared among three operators, with route 900 being operated by both Ventura Bus Lines and CDC Melbourne.

SmartBus originally was a policy proposed by the Victoria State Government in the late 1990s, but was only implemented in the early 2000s.^[3] In 2003, the first trial program began with routes 703 and 888/889 (now 902) being upgraded to SmartBus status.^[3] The program was deemed successful and as a result new SmartBus routes began service with the most recent addition of routes being the introduction of the four Doncaster Area Rapid Transit routes in 2010.^[4]