EHDCs Transport Initiative

1
EHDCs Transport Initiative

• Improving public and community
• transport services in East Hampshire
• Sarah Hobbs
• Community Access Officer

2
Introduction

• Background
• The Plan
• Your thoughts

3
Current bus services

• In decline, eg. since 2006
• 4 services removed or changed to taxi-share
• 6 services reduced (frequency or shorter days)
• Unreliable
• Not what people want

4
2007 Residents Survey

• 45 feel local public transport is poor.
• 19 of residents currently use public transport
  to shop within 2-10 miles
• This would rise to 43 if public transport was
  improved
• 26 would use it to shop within 2 miles if was
  improved.

5
Train journeys to/from East Hants stations
6
Car ownership

• 2001 census figures
• 12 of households have no access to a car across
  East Hampshire
• This rises to over 30 in wards in Alton,
  Petersfield and Bordon.

7
Young people

• Number of young people in Whitehill,
  Lindford, Headley, Grayshott and Bramshott
  Liphook in 2008

8
Three user groups

• Commuters
• Shoppers
• Young people

9
So how will we do it?

• Phase 1
• Rural Community Transport
• Cllr Ken Carter
• Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Country Towns

10
Where we are today?

• Concept has been agreed
• Funding has been identified
• The project has been announced to the media
• Consultants have been appointed

11
Press announcement

• The project was announced to the media on Tuesday
  25 November 2008
• Initial response was good with local radio
  interviews and media exposure
• Also a number of responses from local
  organisations ie Town Parish Councils etc.
• A relaunch was made in March 2009 with a similar
  response

12
Consultants brief

• Most effective implementation
• Integration with existing services
• Routing/ticketing
• Potential costs
• Fare/charging structure

13
Funding

• Funding for up to 5 years has been identified
• A total of about 1 million is available
• Funding will comprise developers transport
  contributions and residue from concessionary
  transport grant

14
We aim to provide for

• Commuters, shoppers youth
• Use of Park Ride where possible
• Connect villages and rural settlements with their
  local market towns
• Regular reliable service across the whole
  district
• 12 to 14 hours per day, 6 days per week

15
Connecting the hubs

• Community transport
• Town linking services
• Direct travel to major centres

16
What is not in the scope of this phase.

• Mainstream Bus Services
• Cross-Boundary Services
• Late Night Services.
• - However these issues will be looked at in the
  next phase.

17
The Plan

• Consultants start - May 2009
• Consultants report - end Jul 2009
• Issue Option to Tender Aug 2009
• Commence service - Spring 2010
• Small 16 or 18 seater vehicles
• Substantial PR and marketing required to ensure
  media is kept in touch with progress

18
Future plans to study

• Potential for smart ticketing
• ECO Buses
• Potential for joining up market towns
• Extending ZIP concept
• Identify stakeholders and set-up working parties
  to extend the initiative