Restructuring the public transport network in times of financial crisis:

Solutions from Thessaloniki

Prof. Panos Papaioannou, Chairman

Konstantinidou Christiana, Transport Planner

Thessaloniki Public Transport Authority

Skopje 13.10.2011

Presentation Outline

• PT Legislative framework• Athens Urban Transport Organisation• Thessaloniki Public Transport Authority• Thessaloniki Urban Transportation Organisation• Thessaloniki – Transport Facts• Financial crisis consequences• Measures taken to tackle financial crisis• PT fare policy and State Subsidy• Other crisis effects• About the Future• Thessaloniki Master Plan

PT Legislative Framework [1/2]

Policy Level: Ministry of Infrastructure, Transportation and Networks

Organising Authorities:

– OASA in Athens Area– SASTH (THEPTA) in Thessaloniki Area– Regional Authorities and Municipalities in all other

areas

PT Legislative Framework [2/2]

Operations

– Athens Area: 6 Public operators (before restructuring)

• Suburban Rail

• Electric Rail

• Metro

• Tram

• Buses

• Trolley Buses

– Thessaloniki: 1 Private operator (buses)

– Regional Unities (ex Prefectures) all over Greece: Private bus operators

– Rhodos & Kos islands: Municipal operators (buses)

Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA)

OASA is a “private law legal entity”, responsible for Planning, Organising, Coordinating, Controlling and Contracting transport services for all modes of surface underground public transport means (buses, trolley-buses, metro, tram and suburban rail) in the greater Athens Area.OASA is also the holding company for all PT operators which are state owned.

During the recent crisis period (2011) the Central Government decided to restructure PT operators in Athens by merging them. As a result, two new companies established:

1) OSY=Road Transport which comes from Trolley Bus Operating Company (ILPAP) and Bus Operating Company (ETHEL) incorporation.

2) STASI = Railway Transport which comes from Athens-Piraues Electric Railways (ISAP), Attiko Metro Operation Company (AMEL) and TRAM S.A. + Proastiakos (Suburban Railaways S.A.) incorporation.

Athens Urban Transport Organisation (OASA)

COMPANY LINES TRIPS/DAY No of Vehicles

ETHEL 310 16.000 2150

ISAP   607 228

ILPAP 22 1943 366

AMEL 2 294 wagons

TRAM     35

PROASTIAKOS     14

Thessaloniki Public Transport Authority

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in Greece (1.000.000 residents)

The Public Transport Authority of Thessaloniki (acronym: THE.P.T.A.) is a public administration body of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki under the Central

Government Ministry for Infrastructure, Transport and Networks.

ΤΗΕ.P.Τ.Α. was established in 2001 to operate as an executive board for the Thessaloniki greater area. The Council of THEPTA consists of 11 members, representatives of various

government agencies and local authorities, educational organizations and workers associations. Its main responsibilities include transport policy formulation for the Greater Thessaloniki Area, strategic transport planning, programming of interventions, as well as supervision and quality control of all of Public Transport Operators at the Prefecture of Thessaloniki. The Chairman of the Council of Thessaloniki Public Transport Authority is appointed by the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Networks. The Board employs

several transport planning professionals.

Thessaloniki Public Transport Authority

THE.P.T.A. also has the functional supervision of O.A.S.Th., the sole private bus operator in Thessaloniki (operating under a contractual arrangement with the central Government). In the near future a Metro system which is currently

under construction will operate under the responsibility of THE.P.T.A.

Thessaloniki Urban Transport Organisation (OASTh)

OASTh is a “private law legal entity”, established in 1957. OASTh has exclusive PT service rights in Thessaloniki area under a direct award by the central government since 2009

Main OASTh facts:

622 buses and 78 bus lines and 180.000.000 passengers/year

A metro system is under construction phase

OASTh service contract ends 2 years after the completion of the first Metro line, provided that this will take place before 2019.

Thessaloniki area - Transport facts

Means of Transport

Daily trips in Thessaloniki (1999)

Estimation 2010

Car 44% 52-58%

Public Transport 27% 18-21%

Private Buses 3% 2-4%

Taxi 7% 3-6%

Motorcycles 6% 6-10%

Pedestrian 12% 9-10%

Thessaloniki area – 2009 Figures

Bus Passengers/year: 180.000.000Daily trips in Thessaloniki: ~2.400.000

Daily PT patronage: 450.000Public Transport Share: ~ 18,5%

Annual Operating Cost: 173.000.000 €Annual Revenues: 50.000.000 €

Average load factor: ~42%

Daily Trips by car

– Car ownership: 450 veh/1.000 residents– ~400.000 private cars use the city network

every day– ~140.000 vehicles during peak hour– Mean Speed per vehicle: 14 km/hour

Financial crisis consequences

• Fuel price increase (+50%)• Reduction of gross income (25%-40% so far)• Increase of direct taxes • Additional income and property taxes• Increase of Value Added Tax (~30%)• As a result severe reduction of disposable income

Consequences on Public Transport• Increase of PT operating cost• Reduction of state subsidy

Measures taken to tackle financial crisis in PT

Reduction of service hours (cutting early and late schedules)

Reduction of personnel (drivers) overtimes

Reduction and/or cancelling of night bus schedules

Bus frequency reductions to reduce required vehicles

Reduction of shareholders’ return on investment

Low cost efforts to Improve quality of bus services

Increase of fare levels in conjunction with changes in transfer rules

PT fare policy and State subsidy

Old fare New fare0,60 for many trips (70’) 0,80 for one trip (33,3%

increase)0,90 for more than one trips

(up to 90’ duration)

Ticket for 24 hours: 3 euros Ticket for 24 hours: 4 euros Concessions (50% discount for elderly >65 and children <18 as well as students)

Monthly card: 24 euros Monthly card: 30 euros

3 Months card: 65 euros 3 Months card: 86 euros

Annual card: 230 euros Annual card: 320 euros

PT fare policy is set by the Central Government

Due to operating cost increases and subsidy reduction (from 126.000.000 € to 105.000.000 €) fare increases were decided

Other Crisis Effects [1/2]

High fuel cost leads to less private car traffic - Decreases of 15%-20% in average daily traffic noticed in the greater area of Theesaloniki

Increase of 7% in PT patronage also noticed from 01.01.2011 to 30.09.2011

People’s mobility has been reduced

More use of cycling and mopeds

Other Crisis Effects [2/2]

Increased fare evasion and often organised refusal to pay

the increased fares!!!

Assertions and Occupancies on the buses and OASTh’s offices were a common phenomenon during the first months of the

new fare policy!!!

About the future!Institutional Reform of The.P.T.A.

ThePTA will undergo an institutional reform within the next 6-9 months

It will undertake additional responsibilities such as:

- Preparing the scene for the new era (according to EU regulation 1370)

– Public Transport Service contracting– PT fare policy (currently made by the Ministry)– Enhancing intermodality– Mobility Management– Passenger Information (currently offered by

OASTh)– E-ticketing – Visitors’ card

About the future!Priority areas for THEPTA

Redesigning PT network and improving services in order to reduce the operating cost

Availability of necessary data and Information to improve supervision and control of the operator

Provision of integrated information

Establishing a PT quality monitoring system

New services to citizens

Flexible Transport Systems

Performance and Financial indicators benchmarking

Developing the necessary transportation planning mechanisms

Intervening to change current legislation regarding transport and mobility

About the future!Transportation Master Plan

Preliminary Plan for Transport Infrastructure at the Greater Thessaloniki area for year 2020.

Emphasis on Public Transport and Mobility management.

Emphasis on Park & Ride facilities and integrated transport centres.

Sustainable Mobility is the new goal for both the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transportation and Networks and the Ministry for the Environment and Climate Change.