ACT government seeks legal advice as contractor misses MyWay+ deadline
The rollout of public transport ticketing system MyWay+ has been plagued with problems. (Facebook: Transport Canberra)
In short:
The ACT government is seeking legal advice over the botched MyWay+ public transport system roll out.
NEC's penultimate project milestone for the ticketing system upgrade was to be completed by November, but "not all components" have been achieved.
What's next?
NEC says it's working closely with the ACT government and will cooperate fully with its review processes.
The ACT government is seeking legal advice over the botched MyWay+ transport system, as the company tasked with rolling it out missed the deadline to complete the project.
Technology company NEC Australia was obligated to have completed "Milestone 29" of the 30-stage ticketing upgrade by November 1 this year.
But "not all components" of the milestone have been achieved, the ACT government has confirmed.
"Payment for this milestone has not been made by the territory,"a government spokesperson said.
"Transport Canberra are currently working with NEC to resolve outstanding tasks associated with the practical completion."
The ACT government and NEC did not disclose the exact amount owed for the milestone.
From the first day of its rollout, the MyWay+ system has experienced hiccups. (ABC News: Courtney Barrett Peters)
Lawyers consulted over $64m project
The government is seeking legal advice to assess the compliance with the terms of the NEC contract, which was worth $64 million when it was signed in February 2023 and has since been varied twice.
Officials will also seek independent assurance about the project over the coming months.
"This will allow the government to better understand the completion of Milestone 29, as well as provide assurances on the broad usability of the platform," the spokesperson said.
NEC said it continues to work closely with the ACT government to deliver the project.
"NEC and Transport Canberra maintain a strong and collaborative working relationship, and NEC will continue to cooperate fully and constructively through ongoing governance, review and assurance processes," NEC said in a statement.
"The project has progressed through key stages of delivery, supported by ongoing assurance and validation processes.
"As with any large and complex digital transformation project, these processes are a normal part of delivery and acceptance to confirm performance and ensure quality outcomes for the community."
Project plagued with problems
While specific details of "Milestone 29" remain commercial in confidence, its elements include the final functionality, usability, and administrative operations of the project.
MyWay+ was meant to provide cashless fare payment, next-generation ticketing devices, and real-time passenger information when it launched in November 2024.
But the rollout was plagued with problems, which led to ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel being censured by the Legislative Assembly last month after the release of a scathing report detailing MyWay+ failures.
Chris Steel was censured for overseeing a failed $64 million public transport project. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Nearly a year after the rollout, customers continue to report ongoing problems with broken ticket readers and blank digital displays, forcing the government to forego valuable revenue raising.
The government also confirmed four custom buses still do not have the MyWay+ hardware installed, which Mr Steel said should be completed by the end of 2025.
Another 22 buses due to be retired within months are also without the new hardware.
Two officials depart
The ABC can also reveal two senior officials in charge of the MyWay+ rollout no longer work for the ACT public service.
The government spokesperson said they left voluntarily during machinery of government changes this year.
"The ACT government does not comment on the specifics of individual employment arrangements, including contract decisions or reasons for individual departures," the spokesperson said.