Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Spatial Strategy

15 June 2004

Project Appraisal: North Hampshire Transport Strategy Bus Infrastructure and Information

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 4

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - SPATIAL STRATEGY

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

NORTH HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY BUS INFRASTRUCTURE AND INFORMATION

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

AUGUST 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

2

0.002

Capital charges

10

0.011

TOTAL net expenditure

12

0.013

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Service 6 has been selected for an upgrade to the bus infrastructure and information because it is a short, self-contained circular route with a 15 minute frequency, two dedicated vehicles and inadequate existing bus stop infrastructure.

This route will be the first service in the Blackwater Valley area to benefit from the Umbrella Blackwater Valley Quality Bus Partnership (QBP). This QBP will be signed late June 2004 and involves officers from Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council, Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Wokingham District Council and bus operators Stagecoach, First and Arriva. The umbrella QBP is one of the first agreements in England to involve three of the major UK bus operators and will be used to guide future investment in public transport for the Blackwater Valley region.

This project deals with the improvements to the bus infrastructure and the information displayed at the bus stops. Stagecoach will replace its high step buses with newly refurbished low floor vehicles in the next few months and they will conduct a targeted marketing campaign. Proposals are also being discussed to increase their current frequency to a bus every 10 minutes as a part of these proposed works through the umbrella QBP agreement.

This project will also benefit from the introduction of Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) at selected stops along this short, self-contained, circular route.

Background

The County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and Stagecoach Bus Company 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 working closely together to deliver a high quality public transport system.

Service 6 serves the Kingsmead shopping centre, Farnborough Main Railway Station and the housing estates in West Heath and Mayfield which are situated within the Farnborough area.

The proposed bus infrastructure improvement works will include the installation of raised kerbs, bus stop clearway markings, new bus shelters, new bus stops poles with integrated timetable information displays and the provision of RTPI at key bus stop locations.

A recent Attitudinal Survey Following, which was undertaken by the Symonds Group Limited in May 2002, identified a number of areas as barriers to increasing the use of public transport. These areas include poor timetable information, lack of adequate waiting facilities and inadequate access to bus stops. The proposed works will improve all these highlighted areas to generate more passenger journeys.

It is anticipated that these proposals will result in at least a 15% growth in patronage for Service 6 which amounts to an approximate increase of 1,800 extra passenger journeys per month.

All partners will work together to improve passenger information, bus stop infrastructure, publicity and promotion.

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

A Steering Group has been formed to guide the project, comprising officers from Hampshire County Council, Rushmoor Borough Council and managers from Stagecoach.

Stagecoach has provided the County Council with a list of the busiest stops for Service 6 which will guide investment for the new bus shelters and poles and will assist with the installation of the RTPI display screens.

The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Group from Hampshire County Council will administer and supervise the installation of the RTPI equipment also on a fees basis. The civils works on the highway will go out to tender.

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 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 deals with the roadside infrastructure proposals and the proposal to build on the central county-wide RTPI system for Hampshire.

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 and for parents with prams;

(iii) installing `at stop' electronic variable message signs along the route at the busiest locations;

(iv) assisting with the implementation of mobile phone (SMS and WAP) technology to ensure bus information can be received through text messages and via the internet; and

(iv) introducing clearways at bus stops.

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

Environmental Impact

The local environment will be aesthetically improved by new bus shelters, bus stop poles, better lighting and access works. The RTPI systems are housed internally so there will be no environmental impact from this new technology.

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 important elements will be addressed with this scheme.

Local Members' View

The local Members (Councillors Baulk and Mrs Devereux) have been advised and have no comments.

Equalities

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. Stagecoach will introduce 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

ITS equipment is designed to operate over a period of 10 to 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.

The County Council has entered into an agreement with Orange to secure GPRS communications for the RTPI system at a competitive rate of £2 per SIM card (each vehicle) per month.

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 the RTPI system and the upgrade to the 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.

TITLE

LOCATION

None.