Buses – Draft Action Plan
1
Appendix 1
Areas of
Interest
Summary Scrutiny
Recommendations
Timescales
Indicative Lead and Action
PH = Portfolio Holder
Working Party Actions
and information
Costs
Routes
1.1 Park and Ride sites need
to be investigated;
6 months
To be taken forward with
officers as part of Integrated
Transport Strategy
Report to WP, as part of
route options, on
available sites etc
£20k
1.2 Need to consider options
on bus priority measures at
appropriate locations;
6 months
Operators to work with
officers and PH to identify
“pinch points” and future
scheme details
Update WP - All
schemes are assessed
for bus priority measures
and impact on services –
this can be formalised
and a process developed
Ongoing/
Planned
3 months
Officers will use the software
programme “Accession” to
investigate route changes
and measures that would
allow a review of the network
Update to WP on
outcome relating to
population, service
upgrades, re-routing
proposals etc
This can be taken forward by
the work of the Enterprise
and Community Environment
Partnership (ECEP) sub
group for Transport which
has been created to support
the work of the Local Area
Agreement.
Update WP on monitoring Ongoing/
of bus passenger
Planned
journeys (NI 177
annually)
1.3 In dialogue with the
operators, to undertake a
thorough review of the
route network and also
frequencies in Southend;
1.4 The Council, in its
community leadership role,
to encourage partnership
with operators, and also to
take forward residents’
views concerning the need
for good public transport
links as part of the
regeneration of the town
Ongoing as
part of LAA
-1-
£20k
Buses – Draft Action Plan
2
Accessibility
3
Telematics
and real
time
1
2.1 Continue to improve
passenger waiting areas
and accessibility at bus
stops1. Advertising
shelters are provided as
part of a contract to
provide and maintain
shelters at no cost to the
Council (revenue comes
from the advertising
panel), this is being re
tendered to seek
maximum benefit to
customers in the form of
new shelters in
appropriate locations
Appendix 1
Over the next
3 years LTP
IT
contributions
Officers to provide list of sites
and updates on bus shelter
advertising contract progress
Update WP on LTP
funded programme to
take forward raised
boarders and new bus
shelters and advertising
contract.
LTP
Funded/
ongoing
2.2 Bus operators to be
encouraged to provide low
floor buses and better
facilities
Ongoing as
part of
Operators
replacement
programme
Through existing liaison
meetings with operators
understand proposals for
modernising bus fleet and low
floor buses linking with the
Quality Bus Partnership
requirements and conditions
Update to WP on
outcome of meetings and
intentions of operators,
link with QBP
Ongoing/
Planned
3.1 Both the Council and the
operators to use their best
endeavors to move
As part of the
LTP
Integrated
Officers and bus operators
currently work with Essex CC
as part of
Provide regular updates
to WP on progress,
including status of
Planned
e.g. signposting, toilets, cycle racks/ parking, advertising.
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Buses – Draft Action Plan
systems
forward on the use of the
information systems, to
help achieve better service
reliability.
3.2 To help develop a better
understanding of issues
regarding use of
technology etc, visit CCTV
control room and also the
Essex control centre;
4
Appendix 1
Transport
programme
over next 3
years
Essex/Southend/Thurrock
real time information and
telematics systems
12 – 18
months
Customer
4.1 In dialogue with the
12 -36
satisfaction
operators, to explore the
months
‘branding’ of Southend bus
services;
4.2 There is a need for all
Ongoing
partners to continue to be
‘customer focussed’ and to
understand how important
public transport is in terms
of equalities, accessibility
to jobs and housing, social
inclusion and economic
regeneration.
telematics systems and
improvements
WP to consider standards
and introduce improved
monitoring of
performance in
conjunction with
operators if appropriate
Consider better real time
information to be
available at SBC offices
and manage as part of
the Traffic Management
Act
£60k
PH regularly meets with
officers and bus operators as
part of liaison role.
Appropriate to consider this
as part of these meetings
Refer to the WP for
discussion in respect of
the development of the
QBP (including branding)
Planned
PH regularly meets with
officers and bus operators as
part of liaison role.
Appropriate to consider this
as part of these meetings
QBP to include
measurement of
customer satisfaction and
set standards in respect
of monitoring and
assessment of
complaints received
Planned
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Buses – Draft Action Plan
Appendix 1
4.3 The Council, in its
Ongoing
community leadership role,
to encourage partnership
with operators, and also to
take forward residents’
views concerning the need
for good public transport
links as part of the
regeneration of the town.
5
Cost, fares
and
ticketing
arrangeme
nts
5.1 Issue of when/ how child
bus fares are applied;
Planned
Covered by ECEP Group as
set out in 1.4 above
6-12 months
To be considered by Working
Party
This is generally subject to
Competition Act requirements
5.2 Impact of concessionary
passes
12 months
5.3 Integrated ticketing and
smartcards
12 – 24
months
Concessionary fares have a
large influence on this and
could be considered as part
of an integrated Smartcard
approach linking with
libraries, schools etc
Covered by ECEP Group
as set out in 1.4 above
WP to receive update
reports
WP to consider discount
options available that
could be managed in
partnership as part of
QBP. WP to understand
why operators decide the
policy of child fares and
comment
Planned/
10k
Update WP on
concessionary fares
Included
in
revenue
budgets
WP to be kept informed
of progress on integrated
ticketing
-4-
Up to
£40K
with EU
match
funding
Buses – Draft Action Plan
Appendix 1
available
6
Funding &
Investment
6.1 That continued planned
investment is crucial in
infrastructure, vehicles,
publicity etc, which has
been proven in other areas
to encourage greater public
transport patronage;
Ongoing
6.2 The possibility of offering
the bus operators some
form of ‘incentive’ to
encourage them to use
alternative fuels needs to
be explored further;
Ongoing
6.3 In discussion with relevant
officers, need to explore the
community transport role
across the borough and the
further work identified. To
explore the potential of a
fully integrated fleet
managed via Passenger
Transport, so as to help fill
gaps in existing Community
Transport provision
-5-
Work is undertaken with
agencies, organisations and
EU to develop match funding
proposals and collaborate on
projects and also explore
“kickstart” funding (guidance
awaited late 2008)
Continue to identify
funding sources for
projects especially those
that focus on public
transport and updates to
WP.
Planned
but may
need
short
term
funding
for bid
preparati
Consider innovative
on ( kickfunding and bid for pump- start
priming and kick start
funding
funding – use this action
costs not
plan as evidence of
included)
partnership working and
innovative approach
To be taken forward as a
project of strategic
significance for the council
with an all department project
board set up
Update to WP
Ongoing/
planned
Buses – Draft Action Plan
7
8
Information 7.1 Communications and
information to be provided to
customers in partnership with
SBC and operators;
Crime &
safety
Appendix 1
12-24 months Officers and operators to
consider advertising and
branding of routes eg A13
Public Transport Corridor
WP to consider
establishing standards for
information provision and
maintenance and work
with operators
£10k to
upgrade
informatio
n
7.2 Better information using
new technology in shelters
and on street
12-24 months Officers to explore with ECC
and operators the benefits of
new technology and
information systems as part
of 3.1 and 3.2 above
Update WP on progress
LTP or
project
funded
7.3 Availability of timetables
Ongoing
Update WP on progress
Funded
8.1Work with the operators
and SBC and Police to design
out crime and link with CCTV
etc
Ongoing
Update WP on progress,
statistics and
enforcement benefits
£15k
Officers to ensure timetables
are widely available and
advertised
Officers to work with existing
community safety
partnerships to develop a coordinated approach
8.2There is a need for
3 months
appropriate traffic regulation
enforcement including enabling
parking attendants to travel on
some routes improving
reliability and frequency
-6-
Officers
working with parking
enforcement to consider
better ways of keeping bus
routes clear of illegal parking
TBA
Officers to consider CCTV
effectiveness in relation to
TBA
Buses – Draft Action Plan
Appendix 1
9
Frequency
Covered in above sections as
this specifically relates to
QBP and investigation of
routes
Ongoing
10
Legislation
To continue to explore, with
operators and neighbouring
authorities, opportunities
presented in the Transport Bill.
Ongoing
bus stops and whether future
provision is justified
Officers to develop
punctuality improvement
plans and monitor frequency
and reliabilities with operators
Officers and PH to lead on
QBP development and refer
to WP
-7-
Update WP on progress
and consider how
frequency and service
levels can be improved
using other resources
and opportunities
Planned
Report to WP to promote
greater dialogue and joint
working - e.g. a Quality
Bus Partnership /
Contract (this includes
issues of quality / service
/ standard numbers /
technology / information /
security / increasing
quality of service);
Planned