In Irkutsk, a new concept for city passenger transport until 2013 was presented, promising to significantly change the usual transport system. Minibuses are planned to be replaced by larger buses, the number of routes will increase after the opening of the new bridge over the Angara, and unified rules for carriers will be introduced. Among the most interesting innovations are a central dispatch service, cashless fare payment, and a review of tariff policy taking into account the interests of passengers and drivers.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the highest administrative committee, specialists presented a new concept for the city public passenger transport system through 2013.
Major changes are planned for the convenience of passengers.
Thus, route taxis, according to the concept developers, should be replaced by buses with greater capacity. For this purpose, about 300 vehicles will need to be purchased. As a result, the number of seats will increase, while the number of vehicles will decrease. This will make boarding safer and also reduce traffic congestion on the roads.
As soon as the new bridge across the Angara opens, the number of public transport routes will increase. How their flows will be distributed is still difficult to say. Main and auxiliary routes are expected to appear, with the main ones linking the city center and residential districts.
According to the concept developer Alexander Kolganov, there should be a single carrier on the main routes, operating on a unified schedule. This will eliminate the races that sometimes occur. The carrier is expected to be selected through a municipal tender.
At present, the regulations "Conditions for admitting carriers to the city's bus routes" are being developed, which will set out requirements for carriers: professional competence, a good reputation, discipline, financial stability, and the availability of rolling stock that meets existing standards. An essential requirement is also the presence of a production base equipped with everything necessary for the maintenance and repair of vehicles and for conducting medical examinations of drivers.
The concept provides for a central municipal dispatch service, which will be responsible for drawing up public transport schedules, taking into account changes in passenger flows depending on the days of the week and the time of day.
Fare policy will also be changed. The developers proposed increasing drivers' wages in the evening and at night, and introducing concessionary travel for the socially vulnerable part of the population not only on state-run but also on commercial transport. It will become possible to pay fares cashlessly, for example, using electronic travel passes.
Also, but in the more distant future, bus pull-in bays will be made longer and deeper, and specific places for parking one route or another will be designated. It is even possible that a separate lane for public transport will be allocated.
In the near future, the city's mayor Vladimir Yakubovsky will sign a document that will define specific measures and deadlines.