NORTH SHEFFIELDSTATUTORY QUALITY PARTNERSHIP

SCHEME

Presentation by: David BrownTo: EMTADate: April 2007

AGENDA

• Background to SQPS• Why North Sheffield?• Consultation• The SQPS• Monitoring• Lessons learnt• Next steps• Questions/discussion

BACKGROUND TO THE SQPS

• Dundee introduced first in Scotland under Scottish legislation

• First in England and Wales – Sections 114 - 123 of the Transport Act 2000

• North Sheffield:– PTA/PTE/SCC “Made” Scheme – Jan 2007– Implementation date – July 2007

WHAT IS A SQPS?

An option to deliver the Bus Strategy….. where:1. Local Authorities provide new “facilities” e.g:

– improved bus stops – highway and priority measures– parking controls– improved information provision

2. Local Authorities “prescribe” minimum bus standards e.g:– low floor accessible vehicles – low emission engines – high standards of cleanliness and

maintenance– driver training

3. Bus Operators “undertake” to provide services to the prescribed standard in order to use these facilities

SQPS – CAN’T COVER….

• Fare levels• Frequencies• Network + routings

Quality

Fares

Frequency

Network

AREA OF BENEFIT

WHY NORTH SHEFFIELD?

• SY bus patronage falling by 2%pa – need to stop!

• High population density

• High levels of multiple deprivation

• Low car ownership

• High bus use and potential demand for growth

• 40,000 households within 400m of bus stops and services (1/6th of Sheffield)

• 78,000 households benefit from quality vehicles

• 14m journeys on buses running in the SQPS area

WHY NORTH SHEFFIELD?

• Major bus corridor

• Worsening congestion/journey predictability

• Area part of City Centre AQMA (issue = NOx + PM10)

• 73% Sheffield bus fleet below Euro 3 standard in 2006

• SQPS affects 100 buses = 25% of Sheffield bus fleet

• Passenger surveys show concerns about safety, punctuality, driver attitude

NORTH SHEFFIELD KEY ASSUMPTIONS…

• The SQPS will drive up bus patronage– Better stops and shelters = 3.5%– Bus priority = 1.3%– 60% reduction in journey variation– 1min 24s journey time saving (or 5½ passenger years p.a.)

• Increased patronage = bus investment affordable • Better buses = further (approx) 3% growth• Originated out of voluntary agreement with First

signed 22 January 2004• In place for 10 years - linked to DDA legislation

STATUTORY CONSULTATION

• Spring 2006 - Statutory consultation (3 months formal) with statutory bodies, stakeholders and operators

• Issues:- parking enforcement – commitment SCC- network stability – notification too restrictive- proportionality – cost v benefits- timescales to comply – requested longer- questioned benefits – sent for audit - review of benefits – annual reviews

• Autumn 2006 - PTA and SCC Cabinet approvals gained• January 2007 - Notification period for introduction min 3

months (North Sheffield gives 6 months)

SCHEME – £2.8M PUBLIC INVESTMENT

• 12km - A6135 corridor following main bus routes

• Inner Ring Road to Chapeltown

• Facilities (inc provision/maintenance/enforcement)

- 200m new inbound bus lane

- 97 upgraded stops (raised kerbs/TRO’s/shelters)

- Real-time detection at 16 traffic signals

- Better bus stop information

- 18 Real-time displays at selected bus stops

- Junction improvements and parking control

NORTH SHEFFIELD

AREA OF BENEFIT

WHAT DO WE WANT FROM THE SQPS?

quality not capacity…

NEVER MIND THE CLEANLINESS …..

EASY ACCESS LOW FLOOR BUS…….

With thanks to DfT – Putting Passengers First !!!!!

CUSTOMER CARE AND LOW EMISSION

MONITORING AND ENFORCEMENT

• How? – modified existing PTE surveys

• Data sharing agreement

• Agreement (almost) with Operators on protocols, with Appeal prior to going to Traffic Commissioner

• Sanctions – Traffic Commissioner can:– fine for non-compliance – withdraw operators licence

NEXT STEPS• Consulting on:

– Doncaster Interchange (June 2006)– Barnsley Interchange (May 2007)– A638 QBC (April 2008)– Other QBCs…

• Operators say:– Euro 2 challenging – Euro 3 impossible

(Supported services could cost PTE extra £1.8m)

THANKS AND QUESTIONS

LESSONS LEARNT - EXTERNAL• Operator pre-consultation not taken seriously• Operators didn’t plan their investment• Locally Operators may not control Group investment• Critical to match Operators’ Capex bidding round dates• Despite consultation…. still arguing about standards:

– CCTV provision - hours/minutes before PTA approved – Duration - Operators complained when 5 years due to

investment payback, we increased to 10 yrs, then they objected wanting 5 yrs!

• Operator poker (threats to divert/deregister)– Small local Operator withdrew from area (no problem)

• Need to have a survey regime (or cost it into the scheme)• Agree monitoring/enforcement process earlier• Risk fares go up to fund investment

LESSONS LEARNT – PROCESS/INTERNAL

• Why so detailed spec? … Time will tell…– Can’t use bus age as a proxy for quality (OfT)– Avoids misunderstanding and confusion – Consultation responses pushed us further this way

• Consultation – detail costs and benefits clearly, know who/how affected (e.g. right Euro engine, CCTV etc.)

• Infrastructure delivery – controlled timescales • By-pass routes need infrastructure too!• External road scheme further delayed• Lack of Traffic Commissioner engagement = risk• You have to pay for tendered service upgrades

(North Sheffield costs us £285,000 annually)