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BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2006

REPORT OF ACTING HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

PARKSTONE AND ROSSMORE FLYER – Bus Route 8

1. Purpose of Report

1.1 To consider a programme of providing raising kerbs at bus stops on the Parkstone and Rossmore Flyer bus route, for improved disabled access.

2. Recommendations

It is recommended that :

2.1  Approval be given to undertake a programme to raise bus stops on the Parkstone and Rossmore Flyer bus route, as detailed in the Report.A

3. Background

3.1  Transportation Services retendered the “Rossmore Flyer” bus service earlier this year with a revised and extended route. The bus provides a direct link to Upper Parkstone for residents in both Alderney East and Bourne Estate. It also remains the only service along the hilly Albert Road.

3.2  Since April the route has also been extended to serve Lower Parkstone after requests from residents in Sandecotes Road and Penn Hill for a direct service to their local shops and amenities on the Ashley Road.

3.3  Roadliner Passenger Transport were awarded the five year contract and a fully wheelchair accessible vehicle was specified. The relaunched service has been actively marketed and is a great success with passenger growth in excess of 60% since April. Approximately 60,000 journeys are expected on the Flyer in its first year and Roadliner recently picked up a National award as Best Small Bus Operator for the project.

3.4  A majority of the users on the service are Connect Card holders and many have mobility problems so the bus provides a “socially necessary” service. In addition the provision of a fully accessible bus has enabled regular use by wheelchair users and has also proved popular with parents with buggies.

3.5  In order to gain the maximum benefit from a low floor bus, however, the kerbs at the bus stops should be raised. This then permits flat, level and step free entrance into the vehicle. In view of the long term nature of the service it is proposed that as many stops as practical are raised on the route.

3.6  There are 43 No. stops on the route and it is proposed that a programme for raising them all be commenced. The cost for undertaking this work is estimated at £70,000.

3.7  It is possible to use contributions from Developer funded schemes to cover the cost of this work. There are a number of development sites that are either on, or very close to, this route. All the contributions are for “other modes”, which would be appropriate for improved bus facilities. The sites, which collectively would provide sufficient funding, are as follows,

·  166/168 Albert Road

·  Land at Marie Close

·  Rossmore Parade

·  157 Herbert Ave/ 1 Arne Avenue

·  4-6A Alton Road

·  11 Alton Road

·  11 Durrant Road

·  7 Kingsbridge Road

·  2 Kings Avenue

·  12-14 Penn Hill Avenue

·  44 Penn Hill Avenue

·  86-88 Penn Hill Avenue

STEVE TITE

Acting Head of Transportation Services

Name and telephone number of Officer contact :

Graham Spicer (01202) 262072

TAG301106H

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