Agenda item

Information Report

To consider the attached report.

Minutes:

Bus Services Act

 

The committee was informed that the Bus Services Act received Royal Assent in April 2017. Draft regulations and secondary legislation have now been issued by the government for consultation.

 

Transport for the North Integrated and Smart Travel

 

The committee was informed that most major bus operators are aiming to enable their ticket machines to accept payments using contactless bank cards during 2018.

 

David Hill raised a concern regarding the number of different ticketing products currently on the market and that it is causing confusion for the public.

 

Neale Wallace informed the committee that Transport for the North are currently working on a scheme that will make it easier for passengers to travel seamlessly using their preferred payment method.

 

Bus Service Changes

 

The committee was informed that a number of service changes were implemented on the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd October. The changes involved the withdrawal of journeys which carried small numbers of passengers and fell below the subsidy per passenger criteria set by WYCA.

 

Gareth Logan asked what measures had been implemented to communicate the withdrawal of school bus services to those who use the services.

 

Neale Wallace informed the Committee that a letter and an email explaining changes was sent to Bradford Councillors and affected schools. (please note a letter was sent to school Heads prior to schools breaking up in July outlining the changes specific to each school) It was noted that a vast majority of children who used the services can use alternative services.

 

Andrew Noble asked what the current budget for supported bus services in 2017/18 is, and what the reduction was from the previous financial year.

 

Neale Wallace informed the Committee that the budget for supported services in the current financial year is 18.35m, a reduction of £650,000 from the previous financial year.

 

New CCTV contracts

 

The committee was informed that a new contract has been let to manage and replace all CCTV installations currently active in bus stations across West Yorkshire. The new system will be digital, rather than analogue, and will provide higher quality live camera feeds and improved evidence gathering facilities.

 

Bradford Interchange Access Improvements

 

The committee was informed that a programme is currently being developed in order to improve access, for both pedestrians and vehicles, at Bradford Interchange. Work is likely to commence during February 2018 and is planned to be completed by late March 2018.

 

Short term improvements to be implemented include the relocation of the drop off and pick up area and the creation of a dedicated taxi rank within the central area with its own access and waiting area.

 

Longer term improvements, including new layouts and redevelopment proposals, will published in the Bradford Stations Master Plan, which will be presented at a future meeting. 

 

Nasreen Khan raised concerns about the condition and cleanliness of the main pathway leading in to Bradford Interchange and asked if measures could be put in place to improve the situation.

 

Neale Wallace informed the Committee that work is ongoing to establish who owns the land before any further work to resolve the issues can take place.

 

Real Time Information

 

The committee was informed that the current real time information system, which has been in operation since October 2005, will be replaced following the completion of a procurement process. Two suppliers will deliver different aspects of the upgrade, which includes the introduction of a new back-office system and the upgrade of real time information screens.

 

Andrew Jewsbury asked if bus stops with a large number of stopping services could implement a scrolling display on the screen. The current format shows the next three services that are due to arrive at the bus stop, which in the case of busy stops would only be a couple of minutes into the future, which is not ideal for passengers.

 

Neale Wallace informed the Committee that he would liaise with colleagues in the real time information team in order to establish whether the software has the capability to implement the change to the system but there are issues with scrolling information for the partially sighted that should be taken into account.

 

Low Moor Station

 

The committee was informed that passenger numbers using Low Moor station have steadily grown since April 2017, and passenger surveys have recently been undertaken to seek feedback. The feedback is currently being analysed and further information will be provided at a future meeting.

 

Northern Stations Improvement Fund

 

The committee was informed that the Northern Stations Improvement Fund is aimed at middle and smaller sized stations and is focused on bringing facilities and standards up to a consistent level. Improvements include investment in areas such as seating, information, lighting and security, as well as additional ticket machines and improved accessibility where applicable. Phase 1 stations, including Baildon and Bradford Interchange, are due to be completed by the end of 2017.

 

DfT Accessibility Action Plan

 

The committee was informed that the Department for Transport is currently seeking feedback on a draft accessibility action plan which sets out proposals to improve the travel experience for people with disabilities. WYCA are planning to respond to the consultation, which closes on 15 November 2017.

 

Andrew Jewsbury informed the committee that he had received information that suggests that one of the major obstacles that people with disabilities face is connectivity between services.

 

AccessBus

 

The committee was informed that grant funding has been secured from the Department for Transport to refurbish AccessBus vehicles in Bradford, Leeds and Wakefield. Improvements include the installation of catalytic convertors, which will bring the bus emissions down to the equivalent of Euro 6 standards.

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