FEASIBILITY OF A COMMUNITY TRANSPORT SERVICE FOR CONTIN COMMUNITY COUNCIL Feasibility Report 19 August 2020 v1 7-9 North St David Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1AW Tel 0131 524 9610, email [email protected], web www.dhc1.co.uk Feasibility of a Community Transport Service for Contin Community Council Summary This report explains the outcome of the work to assess the feasibility of delivering better community led transport for Contin and the surrounding areas. The major current concern is the declining frequency of bus services between Contin, Garve and Strathpeffer and Dingwall, but other issues include aims to reduce carbon emissions from transport and to reduce the cost of travelling, particularly for those without a car. Across the world bus travel demand has fallen sharply as a result of the Covid pandemic. Where people are travelling to destinations such as leisure centres or educational premises, the risks at the destination are considered to be similar to the risks faced when using buses. For these activities, people with concerns or more vulnerable people may choose to limit their levels of risk by not participating in the activities in the short term. As a new normal emerges across Scotland the baseline bus patronage levels are expected to be at least 20% below pre-covid levels and around 50% in some city areas. What people say they will do (stated preference) and what they actually do in practice (revealed preference) are often very different. The demand assessment in this work has suggested that there could be scope for new scheduled bus services between Contin and Dingwall. Enabling people to sign up for a local community bus fund by authorising direct debit mandates of £10, £20 or £30 per month could help to gauge the level of support for three new services between 8am and 9am, 11:15am and 12:15pm and 13:15pm and 14:15pm. Committed income of between £2000 and £3000 per month will be needed before the viability of these services can be confirmed. Once the funding has been confirmed local community transport, private hire and bus operators can be invited to tender for operating these services including reporting and management of ticket sales, performance and accounting. Local residents live in locations scattered across a wide area and development of the Ross-shire Community Car Scheme (RCCS) will also be needed to ensure there are no important social or economic gaps in the transport system. There are good opportunities for new community bus services to use ultra-low carbon electric vehicles with renewable energy funding streams in Garve potentially being used to reduce the lease costs for bus operators for electric vehicles to the level they would currently pay for diesel vehicles. If RCCS can prioritise lifts from drivers who use electric cars then this will have the positive effect of encouraging people in the community to purchase electric cars so that users of the community car scheme can travel in zero emission vehicles. RCCS could also investigate opportunities to expand booking opportunities using app-based systems to offer more choice in the ways that drivers can connect more optimally with users. Looking forward, community transport will become more automated and efficient, so taking control of short term delivery will ensure that Contin, Garve, Marybank and Strathpeffer continue to be attractive places to live and work. ii Feasibility of a Community Transport Service for Contin Community Council Contents 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................... 1 2.0 Current Transport Services and Travel Needs ...................................... 2 Travel times and costs ....................................................................................... 2 Current Challenges ............................................................................................. 3 3.0 Demographics and Demand .................................................................. 6 Socio-demographic demand analysis ............................................................... 6 Covid and bus travel demand ............................................................................ 6 Community surveys and travel demand ........................................................... 7 Demand for other services ............................................................................... 10 4.0 A Range of Community Transport Service Options ............................. 11 Scheduled transport ......................................................................................... 11 Funding the scheduled services ...................................................................... 13 Ultra-Low Carbon Scheduled Services ........................................................... 14 Demand responsive transport ......................................................................... 14 Service design for safe and personalised needs ........................................... 16 5.0 Towards Implementation ..................................................................... 17 Action plan ......................................................................................................... 17 Longer term ....................................................................................................... 18 6.0 Appendix A – Survey Materials ........................................................... 19 Flyer for Consultation Meetings ....................................................................... 19 Survey Questionnaire ....................................................................................... 20 iii Feasibility of a Community Transport Service for Contin Community Council 1.0 Introduction 1.1 This study has sought to identify a viable approach to deliver better community led transport for Contin and the surrounding areas. The work was approached in four stages: Scoping and review Consultation Option appraisal Identification of feasible options 1.2 This report explains the outcome of the work and makes proposals to take forward potentially feasible approaches. 1.3 The report covers: Mapping travel times and costs by each mode of travel between the rural villages and main service towns (for retail, health, education, etc.) and employment location, showing observed demand, social needs and evidence of gaps in transport network coverage. Analysis of the population demographics to identify the level of travel demand that would be expected by car, public transport, and taxi in the area. Reviewing options for improvements identified as part of a community consultation. Appraising feasibility of delivery of each option based on further community consultation on possible approaches. Assessment of the feasibility of improvement options including recommendations for next steps. 1.4 This report has been prepared to help Contin, Garve, Marybank and Strathpeffer Community Councils plan the next steps towards implementation of a preferred solution. 1 Feasibility of a Community Transport Service for Contin Community Council 2.0 Current Transport Services and Travel Needs Travel times and costs 2.1 Contin is approximately a 30 minute drive from Inverness and Garve approximately a 40 minute drive from Inverness. Garve also has a railway service with four trains a day to Dingwall and Inverness. For people without a car available, Contin and Strathpeffer rely on bus and taxi services for travel to many essential services as shown in Figure 2.1. Figure 2.1 - Key Trip Attractors 2.2 There are rail services between Dingwall and Inverness at least every 2 hours throughout the day, and regular bus services at least every 30 minutes with more services in peak hours. 2.3 The major current concern is the declining frequency of bus services between Contin, Garve and Strathpeffer and Dingwall. Table 2.1 shows the regular weekday bus and rail travel opportunities from Contin, Garve and Strathpeffer to Dingwall and Inverness. There are other services that operate only on some days and a wide variety of fare options but for clarity the table shows only the regular Monday to Friday schedules and fares. 2 Feasibility of a Community Transport Service for Contin Community Council Table 2.1 – Current Timetables and Fares Bus & train times Bus/ train Taxi Community car Route Outbound Inbound Cost (£) – single (return) Garve- 09:39; 15:29 10:56; 17:50; 18:29 4:80 (6:90) 30 6:50 Dingwall Garve- 09:39; 15:29; 18:29 10:56; 16:10; 11.50 (14.40) 50 12 Inverness 17:20; 17:54 Contin- 07:15; 09:45; 06:50; 09:00; 2:80 (5:20) 19 3.50 Dingwall 10:46; 16:52 16:50; 17:58 Contin- 07:15; 09:45; 06:20; 08:30; 5:90 (6.20) 40 12 Inverness 10:46; 16:52; 18:38 15:55; 16:10; 17:20 Strathpeffer- 07:25; 09:58; 06:50; 09:00; 2:20 (4.00) 15 2:50 Dingwall 09:53; 12:58; 10:30; 12:30; 14:58; 17:14; 18:29 14:30; 16:30; 17:50 Strathpeffer- 07:25; 09:58; 06:20; 08:30; 5.90 (6.20) 40 12 Inverness 09:53; 12:58; 09:55; 11:55; 14:58; 17:14; 18:29 13:55; 15:55; 17:20 Current Challenges 2.4 Using social media, and existing social networks, local people were invited to input their views on transport needs and options. Over 40 people were interviewed by telephone including local people and businesses and transport providers. In addition, officers from Highland Council were contacted to understand how the local authority could best support the work. Three community discussion sessions were held in July (out of doors in compliance with covid lockdown restrictions) with the Contin session being particularly well attended,