flexible transport a new generation of user friendly public transport for areas of low demand public...

Flexible TransportA new generation of user

friendly public transport for areas of low demand

Public transport in regional and rural areasTuesday 26th June 2007

Structure of Presentation

Flexible Transport Services (FTS) – the concept

European Experience Case Study: FTS in Tyne and Wear Providing FTS Other showcase research Monitoring performance -the role of

benchmarking in achieving quality/efficiency FTS - Where next?

Flexible Transport Services

The Concept

The concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

Flexible Transport Services (FTS)

FTS are public transport services which cover a broad range of mobility products - usually operated by moderate and/or small capacity vehicles.

Differentiating factor….One or more dimensions of the service can be adjusted to meet the actual needs of the user

Components of a public transport service

RouteVehicleOperatorPassengerPaymentSo the provision of a service is a complex activity

Increasing flexibility…

Fixed months in advance

Vehicle

Operator

Route Fixed up to 1 hour before trip

Increasing flexibility

Commercial Competitive tender Selected 1 hour before trip

Long periods of availabilityLimited periods of availability

1 type Many types

Payment Pay on vehicle Season ticket Smart card

Special transport servicesPassenger No restrictionsGeneral public only

DRT as the leading form of FTS

General use services Local and feeder services to trunk haul services Replacing low-frequency conventional services Replacing fixed routes in evening or weekends Dedicated/special services, restricted to certain

users Services in low-density rural areas Efficiencies in social mobility resources Niche urban markets Fuzzy line between small bus and big taxi

Evolution of FTS

One service providerOne Agency (TDC)

“Dial-a-ride” Manual booking and assignmentPrevious day (or earlier) booking most likely

One service providerOne Agency (TDC)

ITS supported servicesOn-day booking likely

Multiple service providersOne Agency (TDC)

ITS supported servicesOn-day booking likely

Multiple service providersMultiple Agencies optimise across modes & services

ITS supported services: On-day booking likely

BasicBasic

Expanded and Expanded and Mature AgencyMature Agency

StandaloneStandalone

Interacting Interacting AgenciesAgencies

Breakthrough in ITS technology

Breakthrough in B2B/B2C platform

Breakthrough in Business Model/transport organisation

Proven

Proven

Proven

Emerging

Multiple Agency – FAMS project

VEHICLE PROVIDERS,TRANSPORT OPERATORS

WWW

USER GROUPS / ASSOCIATIONS

DROP-OFFPOINT

SERVICE NETWORK

B2C Services B2B Services

Virtual Enterprise

• resource availability• trip orders• travel plans• payments• ...

REAL-TIME DATA EXCHANGE

(GSM / GPRS)

• booking & reservations• service information• ...

DRT Planning& Operation

Services

Flexible Agency for Intermediate Mobility

Services

PICK-UPPOINT

European Experience

The concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

European Experience

Throughout Europe, a wide range of FTS have now been established, including: Services for general use in rural areas. Services for general use in periurban and

suburban areas. Dedicated services for users who face

difficulties using regular public transport. Replacement of fixed-line services at low

demand periods.

Current practice in Europe by scale – mid 2006

Open DRT (for general public use)

DRT for people with special needs

Large scale DRT service providers (>1 M trips/yr)

Netherlands (1) – integrated with special needs, about 50/50

Finland (1), Netherlands (1)Sweden (4), UK (3)

Many ( >10 ) FTS schemes

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, UK

Denmark, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway Sweden, UK

Some individual FTS schemes

Austria, Ireland, Switzerland Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Italy

Little or no FTS Czech, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia

Austria, Czech, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta ,Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland

Only Finland has an emerging national framework for DRT

EU Sunrise project : demonstration sites

Car pooling

serving an area with low demand

serving people with disabilities

Serving rural area with low demand

Extending existing DRT

Integrate DRT into urban network

Other EU projects

SAMPO/SAMPLUS – early demonstrations of standalone services

E-drul – applying DRT principles to city logistics

EMIRES – linking job opportunities to public transport provision

Case Study

Flexible Transport Service Development in Tyne and Wear, UK

The concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

Tyne and Wear

An example of the evolution of multiple agencies working together in a single TDC

An example of integration of Flexible Services with Urban routes Other conventional or subsidised

services

Evolution: the example of Tyne and Wear

5 local authorities forming a connurbation of 540 square km

Socio-economic characteristics Population 1.07 m but declining Low levels of income/ Poor health Low but rapidly increasing car ownership

42% of households have no car in Tyne and Wear 27.5% of households have no car nationally

Heavy industry replaced by service industry Flexible shift patterns Out of town business parks

Tyne and Wear: transport provision

Role of Nexus: Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) Plan strategies and schemes/ Promote public

transport Procure non commercial services Provide, manage and operate Metro and ferry Provide special transport services

Characteristics of transport provision Commercial operators on heavily used

corridors PTEs secure unprofitable services ….

evenings and weekends

Tyne and Wear: Development of FTS

Experience since 1960s of dial-a-ride (Care Service) transport services Residents who cannot use conventional

public transport/Multiple trip purposes permitted

Basic scheduling software Bus booked 24 hours in advance via

Call Centre Nexus owns and operates vehicles

Tyne and Wear: Development of FTS (cont)

U Call: Urban Bus Challenge Government Funding (from 2002) No user restrictions/ Semi-fixed routes Trapeze telematics-based booking and

scheduling system On-board Mobile Data Terminals Bus booked up to 30 minutes in

advance 4 dedicated low floor vehicles – owned

by Nexus, competitive tender for operation

Tyne and Wear: Development of FTS (cont)

Combined TDC and Traveline Call Centre Additional Nexus services

Dial-a-ride added to Call centre Rural Bus Challenge U Call … same provision

as Urban Link to business parks Taxibus service booked through transport

operator New clients

Scheduling services for other statutory authorities

Beginnings of Regional Call Centre?

NexusNexusCare Services: Tyne & Wear Fully flexible – Bus Disabled and Elderly

Northumberland Co CouncilNorthumberland Co CouncilShilbottle Taxibus Semi-fixed – TaxiNo restriction

NexusNexusU Call: Outer West Newcastle Semi-fixed – Bus No restriction

NexusNexusU Call: Western GatesheadSemi-fixed – Bus No restriction

NexusNexusU Call: Sunderland Semi-fixed – Bus No restriction

NexusNexusU Cab: South TynesideFully flexible – Taxi No restriction

Tyne and Wear: Development of FTS (cont)

Patient Transport ServicesPatient Transport ServicesSunderland HospitalFully flexible – BusRenal dialysis patients

North Tyneside Council North Tyneside Council Adult ServicesAdult ServicesNorth Tyneside Fully flexible – Bus Adult learning disability

Special Needs Education Special Needs Education Services Services Tyne and Wear (scheduling)Fully flexible – Bus Special needs education

Durham County CouncilDurham County CouncilCross border Semi-fixed – BusNo restriction

TDC at NexusTDC at Nexus

Nexus financed service Non Nexus financed service

Age ConcernAge ConcernNewcastle Fully flexible – BusElderly

Tyne and Wear – Route 19

Against a background of declining public transport use

Success of flexible service linking business park north of river to workers in south of river (via Ferry) Service started as FTS Patronage grew as part of aggressive

travel planning in business park Now a regular service

UK: Viability of DRT

Many DRT services require subsidy to meet gap between

Revenues – Costs Authorities need arguments to justify a

Cost and Benefit Comparison Many benefits not yet quantified:

User benefits (although this is progressing)

Non-user benefits

Providing Flexible Transport Services

User Needs

Technologies

Service Design

Marketing and Promotion – in particular awareness raising

Longer term strategies – multiple services and partnerships

The concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

A Flexible Transport Service

Is the provision of a public transport trip in the same way as a conventional public transport journey provides trips for its passengers

BUT Flexibility introduces elements that

May not be used in a conventional service

May have greater/less importance in the provision of a flexible transport service

User Needs

User Needs

Essential in the planning of the service

Works best as a ‘bottom up’ approach

Flexibility of booking method

Flexibility of route

Flexibility of pre-booking period

Methodologies for establishing user needs

Informal Historical knowledge Ad hoc feedback

Formal Semi-structured interviews Surveys (on-street, on-vehicles,

household) Public meetings / Focus Groups Web based information

Technologies

Use of technologies

Source: Brake et al (2006)

Implications of choice

Can have an implication for costs (eg IVRS can give staff cost savings at TDC)

Institutional factors may have implications for eg multiple agency working

Using technology in fare collection eg smart cards can provide for fairer distribution between operators and authorities (if involved)

Interoperability is improved when using compatible equipment eg ITSO compliant

Service Design

Service Route Concepts

Exa

mp

les

Source: Brake et al (2006)

Awareness Raising

Awareness Raising

The more flexible a service becomes the less visible it is to the end user.

Conventional marketing techniques need to be supplemented by aggressive marketing of the FTS product.

Who and how to inform

Most marketing at present is aimed at direct users. With FTS better to both: Target potential users directly Target organisations that can identify potential

direct users

Different approaches are needed at different stages in service development Before need to explain the character of the service After starting users need motivation to continue

whilst carefully targeting new ones

Examples of posters

Longer term solutions

Managing multiple services

andPartnerships

Decisions for long-term sustainability

Level of Level of telematics telematics

Level of Level of telematics telematics

Management

resources

Management

resourcesExit strategyExit strategyExit strategyExit strategy

Centralised or Dispersed management?

Centralised or Dispersed management?

Geographical aspects

Organisational aspects

Partnerships

Not all transport services are fully utilised

Sharing capacity can bring overall savings in many different elements Dispatching costs Purchasing and operation of vehicles

Revenues need not be affected so with lower costs services become more viable

Partnership: a Good but Impossible Idea?

Managing multiple services shows how resources can be shared

Sharing on a wider basis means Management sharing Sharing of dispatching Brokerage of vehicles

Establishing common pool of resources – not ‘mine’ or ‘yours’ but ‘ours’. Savings then belong to partnership not ‘my budget’ or ‘your budget’

Recognising that governance issues are all important and will need hard work to resolve

Benefits of Partnerships

Partnerships offer the opportunity to ‘share’ thus reducing both avoidable and non-avoidable costs

Partnerships offer real long run savings

Can be used to make better services

OR maintain more marginal services

1. CONNECT project – free access web based portal with information and training packages

2. UK Good Practice Guide

Other ResourcesThe concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

CONNECT Project www.flexibletransport.org

Main activities of CONNECT (CONcepts for NEw Collective Transport)

Web-based Knowledge Base / Virtual Library

Development of skills and training Guidelines and recommendations for

supporting business development User Communities Workshops Training modules available for

download and to be rolled out across UK

Connect Portal

Training Modules

Module A: Systems and operations for FCMS

Module B: Technologies for FCMS Module C: Vehicles and vehicle

technologies Module D: Impacts of FCMS Module E: Business development Module F: Best Practices

UK Good Practice Guide

Web downloadable from www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk/research/transport/projects/goodpractice.htm

Designed to assist in the provision of telematics based FTS

To demonstrate role of DRT to citizen mobility within budgetary constraints

Contains practical experience and a series of ‘Be aware of….’

A mixture of experience dissemination and innovation

UK: Good Practice Guide

Sections on: The concept Economic framework Technologies Service Design Managing multiple

services Marketing/Promotion Partnerships – the

future

UK: Good Practice Guide - innovations

Economic Framework Discussion of viability Introduction to economic decision making

based on avoidable cost – ‘those costs which can properly be attributed to a service and are outlays which are avoided if the service is withdrawn’

The relationship between revenues and fares

Issues about costs and how services are procured – including the role of risk

Monitoring Performance

The concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

Monitoring Performance and Quality/Efficiency

Travel Dispatch Performance Multiple services dispatched can

reduce unit cost but lack of local knowledge can be a problem

Driver performance Critical in achieving customer

satisfaction Passengers

Call Centre Staff

Drivers

Monitoring Performance and Quality/Efficiency

Vehicle performance ‘one size fits all’ OR Vehicle brokerage

Route performance Passengers carried, number of users

Approach to publicity

Monitoring Performance and Quality/Efficiency - cont

Customer attitudesHigh satisfaction but little modal shiftDifficulties in understanding FTS

BUTCustomer attitudes difficult to

measure as they are experienced in ‘bundles’ of quality

The role of benchmarking – the benchmarking cycle

ANALYSIS1. Data analysed2. Benchmark established3. Gap between practice and

benchmark identified4. Establish causal differences in

performance5. Set targets for improvement

ACTION1. Communicate need for

change2. Development of plan3. Implementation of

plan4. Review progress

PLANNING1. Select process and identify

potential partners2. Identify data3. Devise data collection

method

ANALYSIS1. Data analysed2. Benchmark established3. Gap between practice and

benchmark identified4. Establish causal differences in

performance5. Set targets for improvement

ACTION1. Communicate need for

change2. Development of plan3. Implementation of

plan4. Review progress

PLANNING1. Select process and identify

potential partners2. Identify data3. Devise data collection

method

Where next?

The concept

European Experience

Case Study

Providing FTS

Other resources

Monitoring performance

Where next?

FTS – the future

Vehicle brokerage between authorities and agencies to reap economies of scale Scheduling and booking system used to get most

appropriate vehicle for journey requested Find commercial niches

At employment shift changeover Evenings and weekends

Education Leisure and retail

Convert low demand fixed services to DRT – either by geographical area or by time of day

Dr Corinne Mulley

corinne.mulley@ncl.ac.uk

Identifying potential passengers

Who are they? How do they use transport now? Where is it difficult to reach? Why is it difficult to reach these

places/activities? Would they change to public transport if it

were more appropriate? Acceptance of new forms of public

transport Acceptance of public transport

constraints Safety and security

Service Design

Service Design is a critical stage ideally developed with stakeholders the travelling public bus (and other) operators the local authority, and the dispatch centre manager

There needs to be: A willingness for key actors to be flexible Comprehensive user requirements

undertaken Awareness of the constraints involved

(space, time, type of vehicle, payment method)

Sunrise: Florence and Bratislava

Firenze: feasibility study to extend current DRT service to the hotels of the metropolitan area of Florence to service an area where a major hospital of the area is located.

Bratislava: feasibility study to integrate DRT

in poor serviced urban areas with the traditional fixed network of public transport.