Consultation - Somerset Passenger Transport Strategy 2018-2026

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Taunton ... and Yeovil, Frome, Bridgwater, Minehead, Langport, Wellington, etc.

Consultation closes 23 Sep 2018

http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti/ptstrategy/consultationHome

Draft Passenger Transport Strategy 2018-2026
The current Passenger Transport strategy was completed in 2011 as part of Somerset’s Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 (named the Future Transport Plan). The strategy was developed to be live and it has recently been updated and redeveloped. We are now seeking your views on the new Passenger Transport strategy which sets more ambitious aims for bus and rail travel whilst still reflecting the current financial realities.

Somerset is a challenging area in which to provide viable and sustainable passenger transport services. Owing to its rural aspect it has high car ownership and usage, which leads to congestion ‘hot spots’ at peak hours. The diverse array of settlements, ranging from small rural villages to the densely populated urban areas of Bridgwater, Taunton and Yeovil; and the dispersed population mean that commercial public transport operation is extremely marginal or non-viable in many areas.

Somerset County Council strives to deliver an integrated quality bus, community transport and rail network by working with public service operators, community transport groups and other transport providers within the County and where possible to promote sustainable community solutions to enable improved access in rural areas.

Passenger transport is defined as all modes where passengers do not rely on their own transport. This includes bus, coach and rail services, and other forms of transport such as private coaches, school buses, taxis, Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) and Community Transport (CT).

Please ensure you read the draft Passenger Transport Strategy (in the document section below) before you answer the online questions.

You can respond to this consultation

[grahame]

And from Somerset Country Newsroom

Somerset residents are invited to have their say on a new strategy which shapes the future of public transport provision in the county.

Somerset County Council’s draft Passenger Transport Strategy sets out more ambitious aims for bus and rail travel. It strives to deliver an integrated quality bus, community transport and rail network by working with public service operators, transport groups and other providers within the county, and where possible promote sustainable community solutions to improve access in rural areas.

Passenger transport is defined as all modes where people do not rely on their own vehicle and includes bus, coach and rail services, along with private coaches, school buses, taxis, demand responsive transport (DRT) and community transport (CT).

The strategy has the following aims:

Bus: Maintain services that are most essential in meeting transport needs where the commercial market is unable to provide viable services. Work closely with communities, operators and the Government to change established models of rural bus service provision for the benefit of our communities.

Rail: Work closely with other local authorities and the rail industry to achieve greater resilience, faster journey times and more capacity and connectivity in the rail system.

Councillor John Woodman, Somerset County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said: “In a big rural county like Somerset it’s often not viable for commercial services to operate, so public transport is always a challenge.

“This document sets out these challenges but also highlights our ambitious aims to work with partners to find creative solutions and keep our communities connected.

“We very much value your feedback so please do read through the strategy and let us know what you think so we can take your views on board.”

The strategy will provide guidance for partners and help inform conversations with Government departments, operators and other key stakeholders about the issues faced in our area.

It will also help when it comes to applying for funding from Central Government and, most importantly, it will set out the strategic direction of public transport in Somerset for residents.

The consultation is now open and runs until Sunday 23 September. The strategy and consultation questions can be found at http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk.

Noting "Somerset residents are invited ..".    Shorthand, or do they really not want inputs from people who live in neighbouring authority areas (BaNES, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon and North Somerset) and travel to work or for other purposes into Somerset?   Surely it should be a 2 way thing with (for example) people who live in Weston-super-mare or Bristol and will be travelling to Hinckley Point to work, or from all over to Minehead for a holiday also important in the travel scene?

[JayMac]

The first part of the SCC^▸ (Signalling Control Centre, or Somerset County Council, depending on context) Conservative administration's 'strategy' is to consider closing Taunton's two Park and Ride sites. Excellent forward thinking there. 

http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk/news/16593916.somerset-county-council-investigates-closing-taunton-park-and-ride-sites/

[grahame]

The first part of the SCC^▸ (Signalling Control Centre, or Somerset County Council, depending on context) Conservative administration's 'strategy' is to consider closing Taunton's two Park and Ride sites. Excellent forward thinking there. 

With Park and Ride buses extended to nearly all residences that people start from in the first place to reach the park and ride sites - thereby also making frequent buses available to everyone (not just those who have the luxury of a car to get them to the park and ride), you could have a strategy there  . You could take that further and run trains to Wellington, Welland, and Cullompton, to Norton Fitzwarren, Williton, Watchet, Dunster and Minehead, to Cogload, Langport, Somerton, Caste Cary and Yeovil, and to North Petherton, Huntworth, Puriton and Uphill.

[grahame]

Everybody "Get On Board" Facebook group and petition:

https://www.facebook.com/Everybody-Get-On-Board-1219195848181594/

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1535214819913027&id=1219195848181594

[ChrisB]

On facebook?....many have no facebook presence/account....

[grahame]

On facebook?....many have no facebook presence/account....

I messenger.  Please don't shoot.

I did look for other links ... if you find one, please add.

[ChrisB]

Sorry - being unable to see such links, I couldn't tell who the poster was!

[JayMac]

Taunton's two Park and Ride sites have been given a stay of execution.

Following withdrawal of funding by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council have stepped in with financial support for 12 months until September 2019.

TDBC will also work with First Bus to establish a commercially viable service to continue beyond 2019.

[grahame]

Taunton's two Park and Ride sites have been given a stay of execution.

Following withdrawal of funding by Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council have stepped in with financial support for 12 months until September 2019.

TDBC will also work with First Bus to establish a commercially viable service to continue beyond 2019.

You have to wonder if there is a commercially viable solution from 2020 onwards why that hasn't been in place prior to 2018 ...

[JayMac]

The P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) services were originally supported so as not to extract revenue from parallel commercial services. Limited stops along parallel routes.

I suspect that TDBC and First will be looking at combining the P&R routes with town services. And also looking at reduced frequencies and consequently a lower PVR. The service currently runs on a 12 minute frequency during the peaks and 15 minutes off peak. I'd expect to see a reduction to 15min peak and 20min off peak.

[GBM]

The P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) services were originally supported so as not to extract revenue from parallel commercial services. Limited stops along parallel routes.

I suspect that TDBC and First will be looking at combining the P&R routes with town services. And also looking at reduced frequencies and consequently a lower PVR. The service currently runs on a 12 minute frequency during the peaks and 15 minutes off peak. I'd expect to see a reduction to 15min peak and 20min off peak.

Suspect that will happen to the Truro P&R operation

[SandTEngineer]

The P&R^▸ (Park and Ride) services were originally supported so as not to extract revenue from parallel commercial services. Limited stops along parallel routes.

I suspect that TDBC and First will be looking at combining the P&R routes with town services. And also looking at reduced frequencies and consequently a lower PVR. The service currently runs on a 12 minute frequency during the peaks and 15 minutes off peak. I'd expect to see a reduction to 15min peak and 20min off peak.

That happened last year with the Plymouth P&R services.  They just follow a slightly different route to the main bus flow in one odd place.