Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

23 July 2003

Project Appraisal: Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport - Real Time Passenger Information

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 9

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

BASINGSTOKE ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY FOR TRANSPORT - REAL-TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

AUGUST 2004

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at July 03

(at July 03

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

Fees

170

170

170

170

Less developers/

other contributions

170

170

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

170

(b) Other

170

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

170

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £ nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

26

0.032

Capital charges

23

0.025

TOTAL net expenditure

49

0.057

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

This Project Appraisal proposes the installation of a Real-Time Passenger Information System (RTPI) in Basingstoke linked to and controlled by a central core system located at the County Council's Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) in Winchester. The work is to be funded from the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport capital programme allocation and will form part of the county-wide contract for the provision of real-time information.

The County Council is committed to promoting public transport as a viable alternative to the private car. RTPI can play a significant role in this process by providing accurate information on bus arrival times to passengers waiting at bus stops.

Since the original STOPWATCH RTPI system was installed in Winchester in 1995, advances in technology have improved the operating characteristics of these systems. Information on bus arrival times are now not only displayed on electronic variable message signs within bus shelters, but can also be accessed whilst on the move, through the mobile telephone in the form of SMS text messaging or prior to travel, eg in the home or office, through the internet and/or intranets of large employers - especially those developing Green Travel Plans. This 'off-street' RTPI dissemination reaches a much wider audience of users and 'advertises' the service to potential users.

For RTPI to now be implemented effectively and efficiently throughout Hampshire a central county-wide RTPI system is being established. This will allow for the incremental implementation of RTPI schemes as defined by the allocation of funds from the transport strategy areas, Bus Quality Partnerships, developer contributions and European Commission programmes.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The proposals are consistent with the County Council's transportation strategy of using network management tools to utilise the full potential of the existing transport infrastructure and promote public transport.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The proposal is to build on the central county-wide RTPI system for Hampshire and supplement developer contributions to install automatic vehicle location equipment, using satellite technology, onto all of the Stagecoach bus fleet operating in Basingstoke, 60 vehicles in total. This will enable all buses operating in the Basingstoke area to be tracked to identify where they are on the road network, a prediction of the bus arrival time at each bus stop will then be calculated by the central core system and, in turn, bus arrival times will be displayed to waiting passengers. Automatic vehicle location technology is designed to last for at least 10 years. As in the case of the Winchester RTPI system, if a designated Basingstoke vehicle were to be removed or allocated to another depot, the automatic vehicle location technology would be removed and reinstalled into a new vehicle operating within the Basingstoke area. Although with the development of the county-wide RTI system, buses fitted with equipment could be transferred elsewhere in Hampshire and still be fully functional.

Two key routes in Basingstoke will have `at stop' electronic variable message signs installed within bus shelters. These are Route 1 Basingstoke- Tadley where 20 electronic variable message signs will be installed at key fare stages, and Route 6 Basingstoke-Winklebury where a further 20 electronic variable message signs will be installed at key fare stages. Location plans are attached.

This proposal will also assist with the implementation of information access through the mobile phone (SMS and WAP) and internet website. With all the Stagecoach buses in Basingstoke being tracked by automatic vehicle location technology, real-time information on bus arrivals, at selected stops, can be accessed whilst on the move through the mobile telephone or at home or in the office through the internet. All scheme details will comply with all relevant United Kingdom/European standards together with Hampshire County Council's standards as appropriate.

Environmental Impact

The systems are housed internally within bus shelters where minimal visual intrusion may occur with the signs but every effort will be made to reduce the impact.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

All necessary statutory requirements will be satisfied in the development of this proposal as necessary, including all regulatory electrical safety testing of on-street equipment.

Public Consultation

None undertaken.

Local Members' View

The local Members, Councillors Allen, Gurden, Glen and Jo Kelly, have been informed as the proposal was considered by both the Highways Management Advisory Panel and the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport Panel at which no objections or concerns were raised. However, detailed consultation on RTPI works will take place with local Members following conclusion of contract negotiations for the county-wide RTPI supplier.

Facilities for the Disabled

All electronic variable message signs will have a key fob audio speech facility for the visually impaired to make audio announcements of next bus departures.

Maintenance Implications

There will be revenue implications associated with this proposal and they will need to be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget. A one year warranty period is included and will commence from Site Acceptance Testing. ITS equipment is designed to operate over a period of 10-15 years with only routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer. Beyond this period equipment may require upgrades or replacement. In addition they consume electricity and require connection to an appropriate telecommunication system, incurring call charges and rental.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

Sustainability

Installation of the system supports the County Council's policies to make best use of the existing transport network and ensure a sustainable transport facility for future generations of people in Hampshire.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No other options were considered appropriate for delivery of the scheme objectives.

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

Various files

Environment Department

ITS Group

Monument House