AGENDA ITEM 9
BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2012
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
UPGRADE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES ACROSS SE DORSET
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN:
1.
1.1
1.2
MATTER FOR CONSIDERATION AND POLICY CONTEXT
The Borough of Poole has worked in partnership with Bournemouth Borough
Council and Dorset County Council to submit successful bids for the following
additional funding streams:
Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF)

Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF)
The bids are complementary and are designed to provide a step change in
the provision of public transport across the conurbation. Principal objectives
include:


1.3
2.
Improving Real Time Information
Bus priority at signalised junctions through the Real Time System
Higher quality, safe and secure waiting/interchange facilities
These three aspects are intrinsically linked. The services of a specialist
technical consultant has been secured to act as advisor to the councils and
assist with the retender of the system.
DECISIONS REQUIRED
It is recommended that the Council approves:-
2.1
The re-procurement of the current Real Time Information (RTI) / Bus Priority
system / Bus Shelter contracts as described in this report.
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3.
BACKGROUND
3.1
The South East Dorset Real Time Information and Bus Priority Project
3.2
The Real Time Information (RTI) system originated in 2001, following the
securing of initial funding from the Department for Transport. The contract
was awarded to Action Information Management (AIM) in November of that
year. It was based initially on the main Poole- Canford Heath and Poole Bournemouth urban corridors. After a programme of delivery and testing the
project was finally signed off on 1st November 2006. A maintenance contract
was tendered and was subsequently won by system supplier AIM (now
acquired by Trapeze).
3.3
Coverage of the RTI system has increased dramatically over the last decade,
with the success of the system attracting significant private and public sector
investment. It has been developed in close partnership with the three Local
Authorities and the two major operators, Wilts & Dorset and Yellow Buses. In
2009 the latter completed fitment of tracking to their fleet, bringing the total to
259 buses overall.
3.4
Real Time Information now extends across the South East Dorset conurbation
from Swanage/Wimborne to Christchurch/Highcliffe. Over 260 electronic
displays are in use at the busiest bus shelters, with additional signs in key
Hospitals, Civic Buildings, Supermarkets and University campuses.
3.5
The system was the first to launch the real time text messaging service for
Traveline South West in 2007, with demand far exceeding all expectations. In
2011 this has been further expanded by the development of Near Field
Communication technology at over 150 bus stops, allowing easy access for
smartphone users.
4.
Existing Communications Network
4.1
The current RTI system uses Private Mobile Radio (PMR) to communicate
information between buses and shelter displays. Two radio masts are used to
ensure sufficient coverage.
4.2
However both the geographical expansion of the system and the local
topography has stretched the capacity of the system, well beyond the original
project brief. As a result communication problems can therefore occur,
particularly in remote, hilly areas as well as in densely built up town centre
locations.
4.3
For the customer this may result in a temporary loss of “Real Time
Information” at the bus stop. It also fundamentally impacts upon the bus
operators who use the system on a daily basis to actively manage services.
Bus supervisors are able to see and track all active buses using a “Command
and Control” viewer to ensure remedial action is taken if delays occur.
Operators also use the system’s “Schedule Adherence” software package as
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an invaluable tool to monitor the running of their services to ensure
compliance. The functionality of the system is therefore compromised by the
intermittent tracking of buses in these problem areas.
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Upgrade of Communications - Better Bus Area Funding
5.1
A solution is proposed to migrate to a General Packet Radio Services (GPRS)
based solution, which will resolve the intermittent problems with the existing
PMR system. This will require an upgrade of the existing shelter and bus
equipment, plus a reconfiguration of the supporting back office
communications network.
5.2
An estimated cost has been sought from the existing Real Time supplier
which was used as a basis to successfully secure Better Bus Area Funding
from the Department for Transport.
5.3
With all three authorities working jointly together a specialist technical
consultant has been engaged to retender the existing contract (through the
OJEU process) in order to gain Best Value. In particular improving advances
in technology will greatly assist. The use of Electronic Ticket Machines to
pinpoint vehicle location may negate the need to provide separate in-bus
equipment in the future, reducing ongoing maintenance costs.
5.4
The upgrade to GPRS provides significant benefits. Fundamentally the
problems of “communications blackspots” will significantly reduce, together
with an increased volume of real time data presented on the signs. This will
greatly assist the bus companies who use the system to manage and monitor
the daily running of their fleets.
5.5
The upgrade of the system will also permit interoperability between
neighbouring Real Time systems, benefitting services such as the X53 from
Exeter- Poole.
5.6
Better Bus Funding has also been secured to provide on-bus audible
announcements within the 259 vehicles. This will supplement the existing
visual LED displays and will prove invaluable for passengers with a visual
impairment.
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Bus Priority
6.1
The system is linked to both Poole and Bournemouth’s Urban Traffic Control
(UTC) systems, in order to provide traffic light priority for buses at key
junctions when running behind schedule. Problems have also occurred with a
latency of messaging being received from the buses, although testing at three
key junctions in Bournemouth have recently shown positive results. GPRS will
increase both the speed of these messages and the number of actively
tracked buses thus enabling the delivery of this key function across the
conurbation.
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6.2
The delivery of Advanced Bus Priority at 38 signalised junctions is a key
component of the successful LSTF bid. In addition there are a further 30
locations on key corridors across the conurbation where priority should be
delivered.
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Higher quality, safe and secure waiting/interchange facilities
7.1
The LSTF package includes the upgrade of 130 bus shelters / stops on the
A35 corridor. High quality branded shelters to a common design across the
area are to be delivered, with RTI and Near Field Communication (NFC) tags.
A series of “Super Stops” will also provide CCTV, WiFi etc at key
interchanges.
7.2
The Better Bus Fund includes a further 12 high specification shelters across
the three authorities plus 250 solar powered stops with lighting and
illuminated timetable cases. Fundamentally it provides funding for replacing
the oldest 100 RTI shelter signs, plus the provision of a further 40 solar
powered signs. The former are approaching a ten year life and require
increasing levels of maintenance.
7.3
The new displays will benefit from the ability to provide an instant variable
message facility to inform the public of delays/cancelled services when they
occur. In addition an effective audible announcement facility for blind/visually
impaired users will be provided. Whilst the current on street signage has this
functionality this is limited at present and is difficult to update as service
destinations change.
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Current and future service delivery of bus infrastructure at the roadside
8.1
At present the three local authorities have individual separate bus shelter
contracts. This results in a varied mix of styles and standards of maintenance.
It has also created problems when fitting RTI equipment, which is supplied
and maintained by a further system supplier. This creates duplication in
electrical testing, inspections, and cleansing. Having separate maintenance
agreements within one item of street furniture also results in potential
difficulties when responding to complaints from members of the public and
isolating the cause of faults when problems occur.
8.2
The opportunity is therefore being undertaken to combine and retender the
three existing bus shelter contracts in order to provide a commonality of street
furniture across the conurbation. In addition the preferred option of the shelter
supplier providing and maintaining the RTI signs within their infrastructure as
part of this contract should be actively pursued. This would provide a single,
turn key solution at the roadside and assist with the reduction in the ongoing
revenue costs of the project, which is of fundamental importance.
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Financial Implications
9.1
The Local Authorities have received Better Bus Area Funding to deliver the
following key aspects of the project across the conurbation:
Improving Real Time Information ( base communication system )
£915k (12/13 and 13/14)

Higher Quality, Safe and secure waiting
facilities ( replacement of existing RTI signs, bus shelters, etc )
£1,325k (12/13 and 13/14)

In bus audible announcements
9.2
£259k (12/13 and 13/14)
The following funding has been allocated to Poole from the LSTF and Capital
Programme:
Superstops including CCTV
£120k (12/13,13/14 and 14/15)

Upgrade stops (civils)
£200k (12/13,13/14 and 14/15)

Upgrade shelters
£430k (12/13,13/14 and 14/15)
9.3
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10.1
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The majority of the above funding is Capital with a smaller amount of
Revenue.
Legal Implications
The new RTI and the Bus shelter contracts are being re-tendered through the
OJEU process to ensure that Best Value is obtained.
Risk Management
11.1
The three local authorities are well placed to deliver this package of
improvement measures, having a proven track record of working in
partnership with public transport operators. The established South East
Dorset Quality Bus Partnership is being used to deliver the improvements,
with a steering group consisting of senior representatives of the Councils,
Wilts & Dorset (Go South Coast Ltd) and Yellow Buses (Bournemouth
Transport Ltd).
11.2
A specific Project Manager has been appointed by the partnership to oversee
the programme including financial management and monitoring. The Steering
Group meets six times a year to monitor progress.
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11.3
The LSTF funding in particular has strict conditions from the DfT regarding
spending over the three year period. The Better Bus Area Funding must be
spent over a two year period. However it is considered that there is the
appropriate level of project management arrangements in place to ensure the
project is delivered within the agreed timescales.
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Equalities Implications
12.1
Many elderly residents and people with disabilities rely on the bus to make
essential journeys.
12.2
The needs of people with disabilities has been embedded into the
specification for the project and this includes:



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13.1
Raised kerbs at stops to permit flat, level access onto the bus
DDA Seating and lighting at stops
Clear, easy to read Real Time Information displays
Visual and audible “next stop” displays on the vehicles themselves
Conclusion
This package of improvements will enhance public transport facilities across
the conurbation and will greatly assist with improving the bus journey
experience for all users.
Julian McLaughlin
Head of Transportation Services
Officer Contact: Nick Phillips (01202 262051)
TAG200912T3A
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