A Review of Smart Public Transport Systems: Challenges, Technological Innovations, and Future Directions

Urbanization has created greater demand for effective and sustainable public transport systems in smart cities. Yet, overcrowding, congestion, and old infrastructure remain the main challenges to the effectiveness of these systems. This literature review discusses the major issues affecting smart public transport, such as reliability issues, environmental sustainability, and improved integration and coordination between modes of transport. Technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and big data analytics are being applied to enhance public transportation efficiency, alleviate congestion, and improve passenger experience. Qualitative research methods were used, relying on secondary data from academic journals, government reports, and case studies. The PRISMA methodology was used to systematically choose appropriate literature, narrowing the scope to 18 high-quality articles that give detailed information on smart transport systems. Through thematic analysis, the main patterns were identified in the themes of efficiency, congestion alleviation, and sustainability. In spite of technology advances, challenges still exist, such as regulatory obstacles, finance limitations, and system fragmentation. The results indicate that the integration of cutting-edge technology, strategic planning, and policy reforms is necessary for the effective deployment of smart public transport systems, resulting in more efficient, reliable, and sustainable urban mobility solutions.