Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

FAREHAM-GOSPORT QUALITY BUS PARTNERSHIP

PUBLIC TRANSPORT INFORMATION SYSTEMS

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 Sept 04

(at Sept 04

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

294

294

Fees

6

6

300

300

Less developers/

50

50

other contributions

250

250

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

250

(b) Other

250

2.

From other resources

(a) Developers

50

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

300

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

11.2

0.013

Capital charges

40.5

0.036

TOTAL net expenditure

51.7

0.049

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The funding for measures proposed in this Project Appraisal are included in the 2004/05 Capital Programme as part of the Fareham-Gosport Quality Bus Partnership (QBP). Work will consist of:

(i) installing a Bus Departure Information System (BDIS) at Gosport Bus Station, linked to and controlled by a central system located at the County Council's Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC), Monument House, Winchester; and

(ii) installing a Real-Time Passenger Information System (RTPI) along the A32 Fareham-Gosport peninsula as part of the county-wide RTPI contract and building upon Portsmouth's On-line Real Time Integrated Traveller Information system (PORTAL) installed by Portsmouth City Council.

The County Council is committed to promoting public transport as a viable alternative to the private car. A QBP has been signed between Hampshire County Council and First Bus with the common objective of providing a high quality, reliable and accessible bus service for the Fareham-Gosport peninsula.

During 2002 works took place as part of the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy to enhance the waiting facilities at both Fareham and Gosport Bus Stations. The works focused on improvements to passenger waiting facilities, accessibility, safety and security, directional signing and ticketing. To complement these measures it is proposed to install a BDIS within Gosport Bus Station.

Since 2002 the county-wide BDIS contract has seen the steady deployment of BDIS throughout the county at bus stations and public transport interchanges. The proposal for BDIS at Gosport Bus Station will form part of phase three of the county-wide contract, and will complement the recent system installed at Fareham Bus Station by improving the quality of timetable and service information for passengers.

BDIS is one of many Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) applications that contribute towards reducing the barriers of access to information for public transport users. RTPI can also play a significant role in this process by providing accurate information on bus arrival times to passengers not only waiting at bus stops but also through the web, Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and Short Message Service (SMS).

Investment in these public transport information systems in Gosport and Fareham would not be undermined following the recent decision by the Government decision on Light Rapid Transit (LRT). Whatever decisions are taken regarding LRT in the future, the ITS strategy and technology will accommodate both tram and bus based facilities and no abortive costs will be incurred. RTPI signs could be readily redeployed or serve a role for revamped bus services. Similarly, BDIS can be relocated to new public transport termini or used elsewhere.

It is expected that the proposals in this report, as part of the broader QBP measures, should result in patronage growth of up to 10%.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The proposals are consistent with the County Council's policies and objectives of providing greater travel choice and improved public transport systems.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

To meet the County Council's objectives of promoting and providing public transport as a viable alternative to the private car, it is intended that a BDIS be installed at Gosport Bus Station to further enhance the refurbishment works that have taken place and improve the quality of passenger transport information. Prices have been confirmed with Tandata Limited, the BDIS supplier.

Specific works will include:

(i) install electronic semi graphic LCD boards at every bus departure bay - seven in total; and

(ii) install a BDIS workstation at First Bus Depot, Hoeford - this will allow the bus operator to disseminate `live' information on bus services.

BDIS is a system of electronic display screens that display next bus departures from the bus station, including the time of departure, destination and departure stand. A bus station control PC also allows the bus operator to make 'live' announcements to inform passengers of any service disruptions, eg late running services and service cancellations.

In developing RTPI for the A32 corridor it is intended to fit electronic signs within new bus shelters. The ITS Group and First Bus have already prioritised stops on the A32 corridor and discussions have taken place regarding the integration of Hampshire's RTPI system with Portsmouth. The initiative forms part of the Solent Transport measures. The extent of the scheme will be tailored to the budget, depending on the final display design choice and integration costs.

Specific works will include:

(i) install up to 16 `at-stop' electronic variable message displays;

(ii) install new bus shelters to accommodate the new displays; and

(iii) integrate with Portsmouth City Council's RTPI system to assist with the implementation of mobile phone (SMS and WAP) and internet website information for all bus services using the A32 corridor.

Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) technology will enable buses to be tracked to identify where they are on the road network. A prediction of the bus arrival time at each bus stop is then calculated and relayed to waiting passengers via the electronic variable message signs, which display the route number, final destination and minutes to arrival for each bus.

Since AVL equipment has already been installed on all First Bus services operating along the A32 corridor as part of Portsmouth City Council's PORTAL RTPI, the proposal will be to 'piggy-back' on the Portsmouth RTPI system that already tracks the vehicles enabling predictions to be passed to Hampshire's variable message signs installed within bus shelters.

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

Environmental Impact

Through the QBP agreement, public transport in the A32 Fareham-Gosport peninsula is being substantially improved. The local environment will be aesthetically improved, with new signage at the bus station and new shelters with RTPI along the A32 corridor. Both BDIS and RTPI are housed within the bus station and shelters so there will be no environmental impact from this 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

The proposals have been developed in consultation with First Bus and both Fareham and Gosport Borough Councils.

Local Member's View

The local Members are in the process of being consulted on this proposal and their views will be available for the final draft of this report.

Equalities

Both BDIS and RTPI signs can be enabled with a key fob audio speech facility for the visually impaired, to make audio announcements of next bus departures.

Maintenance Implications

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. A maintenance agreement is now in place for county-wide BDIS and a spares holding list has been included in this proposal.

For RTPI the County Council has entered into an agreement with Orange to secure General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) communications at a competitive rate of £2 per SIM card per month for the county-wide RTPI system. Each RTPI display requires a SIM card and there will be revenue implications for the operation of the A32 RTPI system with regard to communications between Portsmouth City Council's and Hampshire County Council's systems. This will be taken into account in the setting of the annual budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

Sustainability

The installation of the systems support the County Council's policies on improving economic efficiency through better transport management, making better use of the existing transport network and promoting sustainable transport facilities.

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

F5304

Gosport Quality Bus Partnership

Environment Department

ITS Group

Monument House