Dartmouth is to become part of a £600,000 county- wide transport initiative to provide bus passengers with 'gateway' television-style screen information displays. Part of the cash is going on the Bus Real Time Information system, or RTI, which will enable bus passengers to access accurate arrival and departure times via a website, which will be accessible by smartphones. But the rest will go towards setting up the screens at 45 sites across Devon, including one in Dartmouth in the area of the south embankment pontoon. A county council spokesman explained that the RTI website, accessible with smartphones and other mobile devices, will deliver accurate information on the arrival and departure times of buses, including if they are running late and when the next one is due. He said: 'For those with smartphones, the app will be one of the easiest ways of accessing the information on the move. 'For those who do not have direct access to a computer or smartphone, but they do have a standard mobile phone, they can text a bus stop code to Traveline South West and receive up-to-date, real-time bus information for that stop. 'It's anticipated that the information stream from the system will come online in stages from autumn 2014.' The 'gateway' displays will be high-quality 38-inch or 46-inch screens, similar in quality and appearance to televisions, but designed for outdoor public locations. Depending on the location, some will be within existing bus shelters, while others will be freestanding. These should be in place by spring 2015. The county council aims to encourage town and parish councils to work with local businesses and chambers of commerce to provide displays within public and private buildings, particularly those near bus stops. The cost of the installation of the RTI displays is £465,375 and the bus priority equipment £190,000. Devon's roads spokesman Stuart Hughes said: 'This scheme is all about a new real-time bus information and management system across Devon, which also has the capability of giving buses priority at traffic signal junctions. 'We're working closely with Torbay Council, which has also made a real-time solution for buses. 'We see this as an important tool to encourage bus usage across Devon and Torbay in the future – it will enable passengers to understand how long they should expect to wait for their service and to be informed of any delays. 'Not everyone owns a car and they might be very dependent on the bus services to get them to work or to shopping areas, so we feel that the scheme is essential in improving the network and continuing the upward trend in bus patronage across Devon.'