Kapsch TrafficCom Smart Signals and Transit Priority Pilot Gets Vitoria Moving
In a bold move to modernise its urban mobility landscape, the city of Vitoria in Spain has partnered with intelligent transport systems heavyweight Kapsch TrafficCom to trial a connected vehicle solution that gives municipal buses priority at traffic lights. While the pilot may seem modest at first glance, its implications for smarter public transport systems across Europe are far-reaching.
The pilot project, which concluded in April 2025, introduced Kapsch’s state-of-the-art transit signal priority (TSP) system to one of the city’s busiest bus routes, Line 5. At a key intersection, this technology seamlessly integrated with the city’s existing traffic management tools, granting buses automatic green-light preference without any manual intervention from drivers.
“This pilot program represents a significant step towards smarter, more efficient urban mobility,” said Carolin Treichl, EVP EMEA at Kapsch TrafficCom. “By reducing delays for public buses, we’re not only improving public transport efficiency but also enhancing the overall commuter experience.”
A Boost for Bus Reliability
With a population of roughly 250,000, Vitoria is the capital of the Basque Country’s Alava province and has long prioritised sustainable urban transport. This latest initiative underscores its commitment to delivering high-quality mobility options that are efficient, green, and fit for purpose.
The benefits are immediate and tangible. Faster journey times, fewer delays, and smoother traffic flow all contribute to a more dependable public transport service. The outcome? A better experience for both local commuters and tourists relying on buses to navigate the city.
But this isn’t just about commuter comfort. By speeding up bus journeys, the system indirectly reduces emissions, lowers fuel consumption, and enhances overall urban air quality. In short, fewer buses sitting in traffic means a healthier environment for all.
Behind the Wheel, Without the Worry
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Kapsch’s innovation is how unobtrusive it is. The TSP technology runs quietly in the background, requiring zero input from drivers. That means no distracting buttons, no need to signal for priority, and no split-second decisions that could compromise road safety.
Instead, buses are equipped with connected vehicle technology that communicates wirelessly with traffic lights. As the vehicle approaches an intersection, the system calculates timing, speed, and priority level to subtly adjust the signal phase. It’s all done automatically, allowing drivers to concentrate on the road and passengers.
This kind of invisible innovation is the hallmark of the smart city movement: solving urban challenges with intelligent tech that works quietly behind the scenes.
Scalable by Design
While the pilot focused on a single intersection and bus route, its design is anything but limited. Kapsch’s system is built with scalability in mind. City planners can extend it across other intersections, add more bus routes, and even layer in other public services—like emergency vehicles or trams—with minimal infrastructure upgrades.
This low-disruption model is a major selling point. Municipalities typically shy away from traffic system overhauls due to high costs and the chaos they can unleash on city streets. Kapsch’s technology sidesteps these pitfalls by leveraging the existing traffic infrastructure and layering in smart functionality.
That makes this solution particularly appealing to mid-sized cities looking to digitise their transport systems without blowing their budgets.
A Global Mobility Leader
Kapsch TrafficCom, based in Vienna, Austria, is no stranger to revolutionising transport networks. With a presence in over 50 countries and projects ranging from tolling systems to intelligent traffic management and demand management solutions, the firm is a seasoned global player in the smart mobility arena.
In the 2023/24 financial year, Kapsch employed nearly 4,000 people and generated revenues of €539 million. Their comprehensive approach covers the entire transport technology value chain—from design and components through to installation and operations.
They’ve made a name for themselves with projects that enhance sustainability and fight congestion. This Vitoria pilot is simply the latest in a long line of innovations aimed at making mobility cleaner, faster, and more intelligent.
Building a Blueprint for the Future
Urban mobility is at a turning point. With rising concerns about climate change, energy use, and city congestion, solutions like TSP are becoming essential tools in every city planner’s arsenal.
The Kapsch-Vitoria pilot demonstrates how even a single, well-executed deployment can have ripple effects across a transport ecosystem. It proves that smart upgrades don’t need to be costly, disruptive, or limited in scale. Instead, they can be modular, adaptive, and built to grow with a city’s needs.
As urban areas worldwide face mounting pressure to improve mobility and reduce emissions, this kind of plug-and-play traffic tech could well become the gold standard for forward-thinking municipalities.
A Promising Step Towards Greener, Smarter Cities
Although still in its early days, the Vitoria pilot is a shining example of what can happen when cities and tech companies work hand in hand to tackle mobility challenges. The ability to give public buses an edge on the road not only helps keep schedules tight and commuters happy—it paves the way for a broader transformation in how we move through urban spaces.
If scaled citywide, and then exported to other municipalities, the humble traffic light could become one of the most powerful tools in the smart mobility toolbox.
