Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

10 September 2001

Southern Test Valley Quality Bus Partnership

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 10

ITEM 10

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

SOUTHERN TEST VALLEY QUALITY PARTNERSHIP

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2001

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2004

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2001/02

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Jul 01

(at Jul 01

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

143

143

Fees

7

7

150

150

Less developers/

other contributions

150

150

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

(b) Other

150

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

150

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Nil

Nil

Capital charges

18

0.03

TOTAL net expenditure

18

0.03

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The County Council, Test Valley Borough Council, Southampton City Council and Solent Blue Line share a common objective to encourage greater use of public transport in Hampshire to address traffic congestion problems. The provision of high quality, reliable and accessible bus services can help to address these issues. All parties are committed to working closely together to deliver a high quality public transport system. To this end the County Council signed a Quality Bus Partnership agreement with Solent Blue Line in September 2000. The proposal to enhance the Service 15 bus corridor from Romsey to Southampton is being progressed as a scheme under the `umbrella' partnership agreement.

The measures proposed in this Project Appraisal are included in the 2001-06 capital programme for the Southampton Area Transport Strategy (SATS) area. The programme was agreed by the SATS Panel on 20 February 2001.

The proposed corridor improvements will be progressed alongside the Quality Bus Partnership for the Eastleigh to Southampton corridor. These partnerships demonstrate the County Council's commitment to providing real travel choice in the SATS area.

A number of areas have been identified as barriers to increasing public transport use. Information at bus stops, waiting facilities, access to bus stops and route branding are areas requiring improvements in order to attract more people to public transport. Through the Quality Bus Partnership agreements, the County Council will implement improvements to these aspects of the service.

Solent Blue Line is seeking to:

(i) introduce accessible vehicles to the route later this year where funding permits;

(ii) introduce a programme of driver training to NVQ standards;

(iii) develop ticket schemes such as electronic ticketing and zone cards; and

(iv) ensure a high standard of vehicle cleanliness of buses operating on the Quality Bus Partnership routes.

All partners will work together to improve passenger information, publicity and promotion. A further important feature of the partnership will be to regularly monitor and review the effectiveness of the improvements in terms of passenger growth and customer satisfaction.

Initial meetings have taken place comprising officers of the County Council, Test Valley Borough Council and Southampton City Council, plus managers from Solent Blue Line and representatives of Romsey Town Council. The County Council will manage the roadside infrastructure part of the project in consultation with the other groups.

Further proposals for this Quality Bus Partnership include the implementation of bus priority measures at several busy road junctions along the corridor, which have been identified by the bus operator as causing significant delays to journey times. The County Council's term consultant, WS Atkins, is likely to develop and implement these proposals. These specific proposals will be reported separately at a later date when plans are more fully developed.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The proposals are consistent with the SATS objectives of providing greater travel choice and improved public transport systems. The development of Quality Bus Partnerships is a key component of the County Council's policy of improving public transport by working in partnership with public transport operators. The County Council aims to encourage modal shift from private car to public transport and this scheme will help to achieve this by working with public transport operators to provide a realistic alternative to the private car.

Details of scheme and design standards

The project has been allocated £350,000 over the next three financial years from the Local Transport Plan settlement for the SATS area. This report deals only with the roadside infrastructure proposals, which will be allocated a total of £150,000. Proposals for bus priority measures at busy traffic junctions will be reported at a later date.

Specific works will include:

(i) a programme of replacing approximately 50 bus stop poles with high visibility, colour coded aluminium units incorporating large integral display cases and comprehensive publicity;

(ii) liaison with Adshel for the provision of new bus shelters where possible; worn out shelters will also be replaced as necessary;

(iii) a programme of raised kerbs to provide level access to low-floor buses for people with limited mobility or with prams. This will include safer crossing points, dropped kerbs and tactile paving to provide safer access to bus stops;

(iv) improvements to lighting and footways on approaches to bus stops, to promote safety for bus passengers; and

(v) an initial publicity programme to launch the Quality Bus Partnership.

W S Atkins is able to administer and supervise the highway works. Officers are in discussion with Southampton City Council with a view to allocating funds to extend the Southern Test Valley Quality Bus Partnership beyond the Southampton City boundary.

Environmental impact

Through the Quality Bus Partnership agreement public transport in the Southern Test Valley area will be substantially improved. The local environment will be aesthetically improved by new bus shelters, bus stop poles, better lighting and access works.

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory procedures

No statutory procedures are involved.

Public consultation

Initial consultation with Members in the Southern Test Valley area has been carried out.

As part of the Passenger Transport Group Best Value Review, Miller Associates carried out extensive market research and convened focus groups with Hampshire residents. The results show a very positive response to measures to improve bus services, ie improved information, new vehicles, better accessibility, new bus shelters and more frequent buses. These are all important elements of the Southern Test Valley Quality Bus Partnership.

As a result of surveys and feedback from its passengers, Solent Blue Line has identified the Romsey to Southampton corridor as a main strategic route which would attract more passengers as a result of improved roadside infrastructure and information, and new accessible vehicles. A Quality Bus Partnership would deliver these improvements.

Facilities for the disabled

Solent Blue Line is aiming to introduce low-floor easy access buses on route 15 towards the end of this year. The infrastructure improvements funded by the County Council will provide level access to these buses at bus stops in the Southern Test Valley area. Tactile paving and dropped kerbs provide safer crossing points for the mobility impaired.

Maintenance implications

New bus stop poles, information cases and bus shelters will require ongoing maintenance. New bus shelters not maintained by an advertising company will be administered by the Borough Council in line with existing arrangements.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Successful public transport can help to reduce the sense of isolation of families that do not have access to a car. With a reliable public transport system and the resulting reduction in congestion, urban areas can become healthier and more attractive places to live, work and shop. Improved lighting at bus stops and shelters can help to improve perceived personal safety and discourage anti-social behaviour.

Sustainability

This scheme will encourage people to use public transport and help to change some people's travel behaviour. Improvements to the public transport system can reduce dependence on the private car, leading to more sustainable communities. In the long term this can reduce environmental damage and improve social inclusion.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Not applicable.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

Scheme Working File

County Surveyor's Department

Passenger Transport Strategy Team