Rural Bus Service Initiative Consultation Result

RURAL BUS SERVICE INITIATIVE – CONSULTATION RESULT

1.Purpose of Report

To seek the Panel’s view following consultation with Local Members and Parish Councils on a proposed rural bus demand responsive project.

2.Background

At the meeting on 16 June 2004 the Panel considered proposals for developing an urban and rural bus initiative. The rural bus initiative offered two options for development of a demand responsive service, and the Panel recommended proceeding with the first option – ‘to operate to a schedule with some fixed timetable points as now, but allow demand responsive diversions within defined areas’. The proposal covered a large area of North and East Hertfordshire.

Following further discussions, Officers were asked to formally consult with local Members, Parish Councils, and Joint Member Panels on an agreed range of options, and to ensure that the consultation document was available to the public on HertsDirect. The consultation details are in Appendix A, but the options offered were as follows:

Option A - We could keep things exactly as they are with services operating to a fixed schedule.

Option B - We could operate to a broad schedule which has fixed destinations and some fixed pick up points but allows diversions off this route to pre-determined points if requested.

Option C - We could keep school routes fixed and run the remaining service entirely to demand with one bus covering a particular set of villages around one or more towns. This could be available daily.

3.Results of Consultation

The responses are summarised in Appendix B.

The majority of responses received were in favour of Option A – to retain a scheduled service with no demand responsive element. The second highest response was for Option B – a core scheduled element with deviations from these routes on demand.

4.Issues for the Panel to consider

The consultation response was to retain the service in the existing format, with no demand responsive element. The contracts in these rural areas expire at the end of March 2005, and to ensure continuity of provision in line with Option A, the Passenger Transport Unit has tendered these services on the existing basis. This takes account of the time scales for tender assessment and award of contracts.

It could still be possible to introduce demand responsive elements into these contracts at a later date but decisions would need to be taken on booking systems.

5.Financial Implications

The demand responsive option that Panel had recommended assumed that we would use 2004/5 LTP funding to acquire vehicles, but as a result of the consultation process no allocation of the estimated funding has been made.

Until tenders for the new contracts have been assessed, it is not possible to confirm whether the County Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, East Hertfordshire District Council, and for some services Essex and Cambridgeshire County Councils, can fund their contributions to the present arrangements from 2005/06 onwards.

6.Recommendations

It is not recommended that Option C is progressed. No Parish Council supported the option. Option A should be progressed, but it may be possible to introduce some demand responsive elements into a scheduled core service (Option B) to meet aspirations for greater flexibility in new contract awards.

The Panel is asked to consider whether officers should continue to proceed with Option A, and introduce additional flexibility on an incremental basis.

Appendix A

RURAL BUS SERVICES – WHICH WAY FORWARD?

Traditionally, bus services have been provided on the basis of a fixed timetable. Where usage is high, enabling a reasonable frequency of service, this works well. However, in rural areas this is not generally the case. If buses are too infrequent they are not seen as a viable way of meeting residents’ needs.

In some parts of the country local councils have introduced a demand responsive service. This attempts to allow residents to book a bus journey to one or more local towns at a time and on a day which meets their needs. Once there they can then use the main bus or rail network to access other towns and cities.

Not every journey can be accommodated at precisely the time required, but the intention is to meet as many needs as possible as close to the time as practicable. It is a little like a shared community taxi with a fixed fare for passengers.

The network of bus services in part of North and East Hertfordshire is being re-planned for new contracts with bus operators next Spring. This is your chance to shape that future.

Which services?

These are the services which currently run in the area:

Service

Which villages?

The villages and communities which will have the opportunity to shape their bus services are:

Allens Green, Anstey, Albury, Ardeley, Barkway, Barley, Berden, Braughing, Brent Pelham, Buckland, Buntingford, Bury Green, Chipping, Chrishall, Clavering, Cottered, Cromer, Dassels, Duddenhoe End, Elmdon, Furneux Pelham, Great Chishill, Great Hormead, Green End, Green Tye, Halls Green, Hare Street, Hay Green (Therfield), Hay Street, Hazel End, High Wych, Heydon, Kelshall, Langley Upper Green, Little Hadham, Little Hormead, Little London, Luffenhall, Manuden, Meesden, Mill End, Newsells, Nuthampstead,

Perry Green, Puckeridge, Reed, Reed End, Redhill, Roe Green, Rushden, Southern Green (Rushden), Sandon, Standon, Stickling Green, Stocking Pelham, Therfield, Throcking, Wallington, Wellpond Green, Weston

Which towns?

Services go to Baldock, Bishops Stortford, Buntingford, Cambridge, Hitchin, Letchworth, Royston.

What are the options?

A – We could keep things exactly as they are with services operating to a fixed schedule.

B – We could operate to a broad schedule which has fixed destinations and some fixed pick up and set down points but allows diversions off this route to pre-determined points if requested.

C – We could keep school routes fixed and run the remaining service entirely to demand with one bus covering a particular set of villages around one or more towns. This could be available daily.

Where would services go?

Under options A and B the general pattern of services would be similar to the present but under option B some sections would only be met on demand.

Under option C services would operate within a smaller geographical area on demand. In general there would be a higher frequency but less choice of destination. The level of demand would determine the areas served although it may not be possible to meet all requests.

Differences between A and B

New sections served on demand under option B but not served at all under option A –

Wallington, Southern Green, Mill End, Green End – to Royston on Wednesdays; to Buntingford on Mondays

Nuthampstead – to Royston on Wednesdays

Bury Green – to Bishops Stortford on Thursdays

Sections served on a scheduled basis under option A but on demand under option B –

To Royston – Hare Street, Great Hormead, Little Hormead, Throcking

To Hitchin and Letchworth – Rushden, Redhill, Throcking, Ardeley

To Bishops Stortford – Hare Street, Great Hormead, Little Hormead, Wellpond Green, Standon village, Barley

To Cambridge – all locations Fridays

To Buntingford (except schools) – all locations Mondays

Areas for option C

You will be asked to state where you live and the areas you would like to travel to, giving three options in priority order. This will give us the opportunity to determine the routes that will be included. For example, people living in Sandon might wish to travel to Hitchin, Royston or Buntingford and would need to let us know the order of importance for these journeys.

To Cambridge – not provided direct.

Essex villages to be determined with Essex CC.

For an on demand service, how would I book?

You will need to register in advance and contact a booking office to request a trip.

Will I know whether my request has been successful?

Under option B the booking office will be able to confirm that a diversion will be possible on the journey selected at the time the request is made.

Under option C it will depend on other trips requested and the booking office will be able to confirm about 24 hours in advance, when the scheduling of services is undertaken.

Will I be able to just turn up?

Under options A and B you will if it is a fixed part of the route. Under option C there are no published timetables or routes. The booking office will make reasonable efforts to contact the vehicle and driver to see if late requests can be accommodated as it is intended to have a real time communications link with each vehicle.

Will fares change?

Fares will be similar whichever option is chosen.

What types of vehicle will be used?

It is expected that low floor accessible buses with 20-25 seats will be used.

QUESTIONS

Which option do you prefer?

A B C

If C please state where you live and where you want to travel to (up to three destinations in priority order):

Where you live: ………………………………………………………………….

Priority 1 : ………………………………………………………………………..

Priority 2 : ………………………………………………………………………..

Priority 3 : ………………………………………………………………………..

Which THREE elements of the service are MOST important ?

i)Reliable timekeeping?………………………………………………….

ii)Frequency of service?…………………………………………………

iii) Choice of destinations?……………………………………………….

iv)Being able to request a journey at short notice?……………………

v)Being able to plan well in advance?………………………………….

vi)Value for money fares?………………………………………………..

vii)Accessible type of vehicle?……………………………………………

viii)Direct journey taking as little time as possible?…………………….

ix)Another factor? – state………………………………………………..

Any other comments?

Name:

Address:

Transport Panel 14 December 2004 Item 8 Page 1

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RURAL BUS SERVICES CONSULTATION – Summary of ResponsesAppendix B

Option

Option

Option

Option

Option

Transport Panel 14 December 2004 Item 8 Page 1

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