Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Spatial Strategy

15 June 2004

Project Appraisal: A325/A30 Route 1 Corridor Bus Infrastructure - Phase III

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 2

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - SPATIAL STRATEGY

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A325/A30 ROUTE 1 CORRIDOR BUS INFRASTRUCTURE

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2004

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2005

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2004/05

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Apr 04

(at Apr 04

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

82

82

Fees

18

18

100

100

Less developers/

other contributions

100

100

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

100

(b) Other

100

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

100

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

10

0.011

TOTAL net expenditure

10

0.011

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Stagecoach Bus Company share a common objective to encourage greater use of public transport 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.

A Quality Bus Partnership (QBP) was signed between the County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Stagecoach in October 2001. The proposals to further improve the infrastructure are a continuation of the works which took place between the financial years 2002/04.

Phase I was completed in September 2003 and included the introduction of bus lanes and infrastructure improvements along the A325 in Farnborough. These works have already contributed to an approximate 10% increase in passenger journeys (January 2003 to January 2004) a reduction in the average journey time and an improvement to the reliability. Stagecoach is considering a new timetable to further reduce the journey time.

Low floor buses, bus lanes, 15-minutes frequency, an improved marketing campaign and the Phase I infrastructure improvements have all contributed to the growth in patronage for this service.

Phase II is due to be completed in June 2004 and these works are being carried out by Surrey County Council along the A30 in Camberley. This phase will include the installation of new bus lanes to further improve the running time and the reliability for buses on Service 1.

It is intended that Phase III will include bus stop infrastructure improvements to those stops between Farnborough College of Technology and Aldershot town centre as a scheme under this QBP agreement.

The County Council is committed to promoting public transport as a viable alternative to the private car.

A project to install Real-Time Passenger Information (RTPI) is a separate agenda item and will include the introduction of electronic variable message signs located within the bus shelters along route 1. This system will predict the bus arrival time at each bus stop and relay this information to waiting passengers via the electronic variable message signs, which display the route number, final destination and minutes to arrival for each bus.

Information at bus stops, waiting facilities and access to bus stops have been identified as barriers to increasing public transport use. Through the QBP, improvements to these aspects of the service will be delivered along the remaining Hampshire section of Service 1.

The infrastructure work will be supported by the Personalised Marketing Programme which is being funded through the Public Service Agreement pump-priming grant. This programme will target individual households in the Rushmoor area along route 1 and will run for three months from September 2004. Initiatives will be used to encourage these households to use the local buses more frequently.

It is expected that the proposals will result in a further 3% growth in patronage along this route over the coming year adding approximately 2,600 extra passenger journeys a month. These works will complete the infrastructure improvements for route 1 which started in 2002/03 with the construction of the bus lanes in the Farnborough area.

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.

A Steering Group is guiding the project, comprising officers from Hampshire County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Managers from Stagecoach.

Stagecoach has provided the County Council with a list of the busiest stops for Service 1 which will guide investment for the new bus shelters and poles.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The proposals are consistent with the objectives of providing greater travel choice and improved public transport systems. The development of QBPs 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.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The project has been allocated £100,000 from the Capital Programme 2004/05. This report proposes to complete Phase III of the Route 1 bus stop infrastructure improvements between Farnborough college and Aldershot.

Specific works will include:

(i) providing new `free' bus shelters where possible by Adshel and replacing worn out bus shelters as necessary;

(ii) installing 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;

(iii) introducing clearways at bus stops; and

(iv) replacing existing bus stop poles with high visibility, colour coded aluminium units incorporating large integral display cases and comprehensive publicity.

All scheme details will comply with all relevant United Kingdom/European standards together with Hampshire County Councils standards as appropriate.

Environmental Impact

Through the QBP agreement, public transport in the Aldershot and Farnborough areas is being substantially improved. The local environment will be aesthetically improved by new bus shelters, bus stop poles, access works and RTPI at most bus stops.

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.

Public Consultation

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 aimed at improving bus services, ie improved information, newer vehicles, better accessibility, new bus shelters and more frequent buses. These are all important elements for the bus service in and around the Rushmoor area and will be developed through the QBP.

Local Members' View

The local Members (Councillors Baulk, Mrs Devereux, Kimber, Roberts and Sheehan) have been advised and all but Councillor Roberts, who wants a list of the busiest stops, have no comments.

Equalities

Stagecoach has invested in low floor, easy access buses. The infrastructure improvements funded by the County Council will provide level access for these buses at the bus stops along this route.

Maintenance Implications

Maintenance of new bus shelters, that are not maintained free of charge by an advertising company, will be administered by Rushmoor 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 timetable information at bus stops and shelters can help to improve perceived personal safety.

Sustainability

Installation of new bus stop infrastructure 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)

Taking no action.

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.

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LOCATION

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