Contact: Andy Berncastle, ext 6389 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the position on local bus service support this year, describes the evolving Passenger Transport Strategy for the future and provides updates on bus contract retendering, and infrastructure improvements through three Quality Bus Partnership schemes.

2. Local Bus Service Support - Action in 2005/06

2.1 The County Council set its budget for the support of subsidised bus services for 2005/06 at the same level as 2004/05, adjusted for inflation. Regrettably, despite continued increases in funding in recent years, this budget remains under pressure due to sharp cost increases in the bus industry. The amount of funding available is not sufficient to meet the costs of all supported local bus services in the county. This means that financial support for some bus services or parts of services is being withdrawn.

2.2 In order to maximise value for money for the county's taxpayers, the routes which have been nominated for withdrawal are those which are used least or those which cost the most per passenger to support.

3. Passenger Transport Strategy

3.1 The Passenger Transport Strategy will form an integral part of the second Local Transport Plan (LTP), to be submitted to Government in March 2006. The proposed LTP needs to be realistic and so recognise that the car will be the dominant mode of travel for the foreseeable future and that modal shift will only come when congestion increases significantly.

3.2 A balanced set of measures are proposed to improve transport and so enhance quality of life by:

(i) improving accessibility to services;

(ii) tackling congestion;

(iii) improving transport-related air quality; and

(iv) improving road safety.

Accessibility

3.3 The LTP is also realistic about accessibility. The Government has provided an accessibility auditing database, known as Accession. This aims to model theoretical journey times to key services by a combination of walking and public transport. However initial results must be viewed with caution due to problems with unreliable data and software faults. Some areas that are theoretically inaccessible by public transport may have limited problems due to high levels of car ownership. Equally, some areas may have worse accessibility than suggested by Accession, because of timetabling problems, cost, or lack of information.

3.4 The LTP approach takes a more holistic and realistic approach to accessibility than required by the Government. In particular, the LTP:

(i) considers accessibility to a wider range of services;

(ii) investigates actual rather than theoretical accessibility; and

(iii) considers non-transport measures to improve accessibility, such as bringing services to people.

3.5 The role of scheduled or demand-responsive bus services needs to be carefully judged as these can be very expensive to provide to remote locations or for infrequently used services such as hospital visits.

3.6 The passenger transport strategy is therefore evolving as more information becomes available. It is intended that the results of pilot studies will be available to inform the development of the full LTP.

New Approach to Service Provision

3.7 To best match service provision to passenger needs, work is progressing with consultants on an access and demand model which enables the best mix of conventional, flexible and community-based transport to be delivered. The model is initially being developed as a pilot in the Basingstoke and Alton areas. The model will assist in answering some fundamental questions including:

(i) Are travel needs being met?

(ii) Is the current allocation of funds correct?

(iii) Does it provide best value for money?

3.8 The model will also enable the assessment of proposals aimed at modal shift and offer solutions to the accessibility problems identified by Accession. It will help optimise service provision and help offset rising cost pressures whilst providing a framework for strategic network development in the future.

4. Re-tendering of Contracts for Subsidised Services

4.1 Contracts for subsidised services in the Andover area were renewed in May 2005. The opportunity was taken to review the network provided and almost all existing services were maintained.

5. Romsey Area Cango Services

5.1 Cango services were introduced on selected routes around Romsey at the end of August 2005, funded by the Department for Transport's Rural Bus Challenge Fund.

5.2 The changes provide additional shopping opportunities for Braishfield and enable residents in the Dun Valley villages to catch buses closer to home. An experimental new off-peak service has been introduced between Romsey and Stockbridge, restoring a missing link in the bus network. At peak times, the Cango bus is used to provide home to school transport, replacing a contract operation.

5.3 The new services have generally been welcomed by the communities concerned and initial results are encouraging.

6. Andover Quality Bus Partnership

6.1 Improvement works will commence shortly on bus stops along Weyhill Road in Andover and at the railway station. The £100,000 cost is funded through the Local Transport Plan. Works include raised kerbs to ease access to buses, new bus stop poles with integrated information displays and new shelters. This route is served by the services to Salisbury via Tidworth, where Wiltshire County Council are undertaking similar works under the joint QBP.

6.2 On 13 September 2005 the Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy was asked to approve a £100,000 scheme to improve the infrastructure on the more frequent Andover town bus routes, Services A, B and C. As well as raised kerbs, new poles and new shelters, real time information displays will be provided, to advise passengers when the next bus will arrive. Subject to approval, work will start in early 2006.

7. Romsey-Southampton Quality Bus Partnership

7.1 Work was completed in July on £150,000 worth of new bus stop infrastructure on this route, following improvements to the bus service introduced at the end of May. The service improvements included re-branding the service as Bluestar 4, offering a more regular evening service and a commercial Sunday service, together with a late-night service at the weekends. The infrastructure works included new high quality bus stop poles with integrated information displays, raised kerbs to assist boarding, bus stop clearways and refurbished or replacement bus shelters. Strong patronage growth is anticipated.

8. Impact Assessments

8.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment, in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, has not been undertaken.

Recommendation

That this report be noted

521/AB