1 Project Summary All proposals must include evidence of real commitment from at least one relevant bus operator which should be demonstrated throughout the proposal. Tick the box to show that you have completed this requirement. (please see letter of support from Stagecoach Oxfordshire) 9

Applicant Information

Local transport authority name(s)*: Oxfordshire County Council

Senior Responsible Owner name and position: Steve Howell, Deputy Director for Environment & Economy

Bid Manager name and position: David Taylor, Public Transport Development Team Leader

Contact telephone number: 01865 816519

Email address: [email protected]

Postal address: Environment & Economy, Speedwell House, Speedwell Street, , OX1 1NE.

Website address for published bid: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Section A. Overview

A1. Project name: and East Oxford Bus Growth Package

A2. The Geographical Area: Bicester is a rapidly expanding town which has grown substantially over the last 50 years and now has a population of 30,000. Oxford is a world famous university city of 150,000 permanent residents and 40,000 students. Further population growth in Bicester, to 40,000, is projected by 2026 and 60,000 by 2034. A total of 11,000 new jobs are planned.

Bicester is one of Oxfordshire's three strategic growth areas - defined by the Bicester - Oxford - Science Vale "Growth Arc". In addition Bicester's location, on the Oxford- arc and London-Birmingham corridor, makes it well located for economic and housing growth. The local economy is focused on the defence activities at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) site, storage / distribution, food processing, engineering and publishing. Bicester's proximity to, and close

2 relationship with, Oxford creates opportunities for economic development. However, it can also make it difficult to draw investment into the town and results in high levels of car-based out-commuting. Specific developments in Bicester include:

• Bicester Business Park: 60,000sqm of B1 employment space. • North West Bicester Eco Town - A new settlement, integrated into the existing urban area, creating 5,000 homes and 5,000 jobs; supported by education and community facilities. • Graven Hill - Mixed use development of 1,900 homes, community facilities, major retail unit, employment floor space comprising B1/B2 25,000sqm and B8 uses up to 67,000sqm (potentially creating 2,200 jobs). • Town centre - £70m re-development including seven screen digital cinema, a Sainsbury's supermarket, a range of new retail and restaurant units, a new bus interchange and improved town centre car parking. 600 new jobs will be created. • South West Bicester - 1,600 homes, health village, a primary and a secondary school. • Gavray Drive - 500 homes and primary school.

Whilst travel to the centre of Oxford is currently well catered for by bus, it is difficult to get to major employment sites, strategic health care facilities and higher educational establishments in the eastern part of Oxford - in particular the John Radcliffe, Nuffield and Churchill hospitals; Oxford Brookes University; and to employment areas on the Oxford "Eastern Arc" e.g. BMW (UK) Manufacturing at Cowley.

3 A3. Description of Growth and Carbon Emission Problem: Vision and Growth Proposals

The town of Bicester will make a significant contribution to economic and housing growth proposals (see Figure 2) that are being promoted by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). Over the next 22 years the town will effectively double in size; with significantly greater employment opportunities. The resulting trip generation linked with this expansion will put increased strain on the road transport network and make it difficult to deliver sustainable economic growth. This economic investment is dependent on having a transport network that provides efficient and reliable journey times; whilst reducing local air quality impacts and "global" carbon emissions. This is the specific objective of the North West Bicester eco town proposals; which aim to provide an exemplar of sustainable and economically vibrant urban living across the whole town.

Figure 1 - Proposed Future Development in Bicester

4 Both the local highway network and strategic links - the M40 and A34 in particular - will come under increasing pressure, from growth-related travel demand, unless targeted investment in public transport improvements are made in the near future. The rail network is already seeing significant investment with Evergreen 3 and East-West Rail. Both local and inter-urban bus services will need to be developed in order to cater for increases in travel demand and to reduce forecast levels of congestion.

Both Oxfordshire County Council and the developers (including Bicester Eco Town) are promoting a package of capital infrastructure and revenue funded measures. The aim of this Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF) is to provide a relatively modest up-front investment to support the wider package of measures to enable sustainable housing and economic growth to happen.

Current and Future Travel Demand Issues

Mode split for journey to work for residents from these areas: Bicester: Car = 56%; Bus = 3%. Oxford: Car = 47%; Bus = 17% East Oxford: Car = 53%; Bus 13%.

Self-containment: Only 27% of people travelling to work by car stay within Bicester, leaving the remaining 73% to travel elsewhere. In the peak hour journey to work there are 1,535 car trips to East Oxford from Cherwell District (which includes Bicester).

There are over 12,500 staff at major key destinations in East Oxford:

• John Radcliffe Hospital: 6,000 staff and 1,621 parking spaces. Car = 57%; Bus / Park & Ride = 17% (of trips made to the site). • Churchill Hospital: 838 staff and the same number of parking spaces. Car = 47%; Bus / Park & Ride = 13% (of trips made to the site). • Oxford Brookes University: 2,000 staff. 52% of trips made by car. • BMW Cowley: 3,700 staff. 75% of trips made by car. With the current growth plans generating additional travel demand, key congestion hot spots within Bicester and on the corridor to East Oxford are predicted to be:

• London Road / Buckingham Road corridor including town centre. • A41 and B4030 outside Bicester Village Retail Park at weekends / Bank Holidays (contributes to queuing on the M40 Junction 9). • A34 southbound and northbound approaches to M40 Junction 9.

5 A4. Description of Proposal: Output 1 - High frequency premium bus service from Bicester to East Oxford via Kidlington and Water Eaton (existing Park & Ride site and proposed new "parkway" railway station as part of the Evergreen 3 project). Addressing Issues Identified: Poor bus connectivity between Bicester, hospitals, non central university sites and East Oxford industrial areas leading to high car-based demand.

Output 2 - Bus Priority in Bicester town centre and on A41 corridor between Bicester and M40 Junction 9 (in both directions). Addressing Issues Identified: Circuitous and congested route for buses in town centre. Current and predicted congestion on A41 / B4100 between M40 junction 9 and Bicester Village.

Output 3 - New bus interchange / Park & Ride on A41 south west of town. Addressing Issues Identified: Need for a remote Park & Ride site where cars can be intercepted before they reach congested locations such as M40 Junction 9 and A40 / A44 Wolvercote Roundabout.

Output 4 - Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system. Addressing Issues Identified: Lack of customer confidence in buses adhering to the published timetable.

Output 5 - Web-based travel information portal displaying static timetables, real-time information and journey planner. Addressing Issues Identified: Lack of knowledge / awareness of service options particularly amongst occasional users and people new to living in Bicester.

Output 6 - Integrated Ticket Scheme for all town services and to key destinations - Oxford, , Brackley, Buckingham and Milton Keynes. Addressing Issues Identified: Removal of key barriers to greater bus usage amongst infrequent and non-users. Facilitates easier interchange between town and inter-urban services.

Output 7 - Travel marketing campaign based on travel plans for major employers, the railway stations and Bicester Village, including an "integrated travel shop" in the town centre and a mobile bus which will take information and marketing to locations around the town. Addressing Issues Identified: Tackling the reasons for low levels of bus usage, raising awareness of travel choices available and integrating services into people's journey patterns.

6 Output 8 - Purchase of two low emission buses for Bicester town services 22/23 which will be re-branded "Bicester Hopper". Addressing Issues Identified: Relatively poor image of local town bus services which is inconsistent with the need to promote "green" bus services as part of the "Eco Bicester" concept.

Output 9 - Enhanced pedestrian/cycle/bus access to rail interchanges at Bicester Town and Water Eaton Parkway Station to complement the Evergreen 3 and East-West Rail projects. Addressing Issues Identified: Integration of transport modes on Bicester - East Oxford corridor.

A5. Total package cost (£m): 9.450

A6. Total DfT funding contribution sought (£m): 1.710 (18% of total package cost).

A7. Source of local contribution: (1) Provision of high quality buses by Stagecoach; (2) Developer Funding from section 106 agreements from developments within Bicester; (3) Supporting contribution from Local Sustainable Transport Fund travel planning in Headington / East Oxford. Figure 2 - Package Proposals within Bicester

7

Figure 3 - Bicester to East Oxford Bus Service Proposals

Section B. Partnership arrangements

B1. Bus Market in the Local Area

There is a diverse local and inter-urban bus market in Bicester:

8 Table 1 - Summary of Service and Frequencies (Monday-Saturday)

Operator No. Key Destinations Frequency Stagecoach S5 Bicester - Oxford City Centre 4 per hour S5 Bicester - East Oxford - City Centre 3 per day (peaks) X5 Cambridge - Milton Keynes - 2 per hour Buckingham Bicester - Oxford 8 Bicester - Brackley - 5 per day Grayline 21 Town Circular 2 per hour Heyfordian 22 Town Circular 1 per hour 23 Town Circular 1 per hour 25 Bicester - Wendlebury - Woodstock 5 per day 25A Bicester - Upper Heyford - Oxford 1 per hour

As part of a section 106 agreement for the South West Bicester development, new route 26 is planned to commence in the summer of 2012, when 50 dwellings are complete. This will run half hourly from the development to the town centre and Bicester North railway station. After the 200th dwelling is completed, the frequency will be increased to every 15 minutes.

B2. Bus Operator Partnership Information Bus operator (s) committed to playing a substantive role in delivering the proposals:

1. Bus Operator: Stagecoach Oxfordshire Senior Manager acting as contact: Martin Sutton Contact telephone number: 01865 405502 Email address: [email protected]

2. Bus Operator: Grayline Senior Manager acting as contact: Paul Gray Contact telephone number: 01869 246461 Email address: [email protected]

3. Bus Operator: Heyfordian Senior Manager acting as contact: Jeremy Smith Contact telephone number: 01869 241500 Email address: [email protected]

B3. Bus Partnership Arrangements Stagecoach Oxfordshire will be providing two modern low emission double-deck buses which will be used for the proposed Bicester - East Oxford half-hourly service. This will supplement two existing vehicles to provide a pool of four buses.

All operators will:

9 • Participate in the smart card scheme whereby the existing Stagecoach "Mega Rider" bus pass will be accepted on all bus services; irrespective of operator, and work together to ensure that there is a fair and transparent system for splitting the revenue through the back office systems. • Participate in the Real Time Passenger Information system and interactive web portal. This will involve fitting equipment to the buses which will enable their positions to be tracked and the passenger information displays to be updated with the time of the next services. This information can also be sent to mobile phones and will be available on line and via mobile internet. • Ensure that their drivers are trained to the highest standards so that there is a very positive passenger experience.

Detailed Description of Proposal

Section C. Package Details and Rationale

C1. Description of outputs associated with each of the package elements Research by AECOM for the DfT has identified a number of "hard" and "soft" factors which are necessary to grow the bus market:

Table 2 - Factors for Growth of the Bus Market

Impact Measures Quality of in-vehicle Vehicle: age, ease of access, seating quality, experience cleanliness, entertainment, CCTV. Driver: training to achieve politeness and smooth ride. Increased awareness of Conventional and unconventional marketing service availability approaches Improved knowledge Real Time Passenger Information, public service whilst travelling announcements on vehicle Ease of use Smart cards, travel cards, ticket structure, low floor vehicles. Quality of waiting and Shelters, bus stations, ticket machines, seating, walking experience information provision, CCTV, staff presence, lighting Safety and security CCTV, staff presence, lighting etc Source: The Role of Soft Measures in Influencing Patronage Growth and Modal Split in the Bus Market in England, AECOM, October 2009.

10 The proposed package outputs are based on a combination of all of the measures in the above table:

Revenue Investment - Services, Ticketing, Information and Travel Planning

• Premium bus service - Bicester - Kidlington - Water Eaton (P&R and new Parkway railway station) - East Oxford serving hospitals and universities, running half hourly Monday to Saturday. Estimated Cost: £0.510m (for two-year revenue subsidy). • Smart card integrated ticketing system covering a total of 11 services across three operators - This will be delivered through extension of Stagecoach Mega Rider Smart Card to all Bicester services. Estimated Cost: £0.100m. • Interactive Bicester travel web portal - This will make travel more attractive for less frequent bus users who will be able to access both static and real time information through a range of internet applications including smart phone apps. Estimated Cost: £0.100m. • Travel Planning and Marketing Initiative - Establishment of an "integrated travel shop" in Bicester town centre that will sell smart card tickets and provide information on both existing new services for both residents and businesses in Bicester. A specialist member of staff will be recruited to deliver personalised travel planning / marketing (linked to the joint ticketing arrangements). Estimated Cost £0.300m. Capital Investment - Bus Priority, Park & Ride, New Buses, interchange facilities and Real Time Passenger Information

• St John's Street Bus Access to Town Centre - Widening of St John’s Street - to include a town centre-bound bus lane and reversal of the direction of flow along North Street - will reduce the distance travelled by 350 metres for the 10 buses per hour which will access the town centre, and new bus station, from the south west. Estimated Cost: £1.040m. • Southbound bus lane (700m length) on A41 between Bicester and approach to M40 junction 9 - Aims to improve journey times and improve reliability for buses travelling between Bicester and Oxford. Estimated Cost: £1.300m. • Northbound bus lane (630m length) on A41 from the proposed Park & Ride site to the A41 southern roundabout - Aims to improve journey times and improve reliability for buses travelling between Bicester and Oxford. Estimated Cost: £1.200m. • 500 space Park & Ride interchange site - On A41 south of the town for weekday Park & Ride trips into Oxford using existing Stagecoach services (S5 and X5); and the proposed new service from Bicester to 11 East Oxford (see above); will also cater for trips to Bicester Village and Bicester Business Park. Estimated Cost: £3.920m. • New Buses - Purchase of two new low emission buses to run on the subsidised Bicester town network (routes 22 and 23) which will promote bus travel through a high quality "Bicester Hopper" branded passenger experience. Estimated Cost: £0.200m. • Real Time Information (RTI) System - provision of RTI display units at 22 bus stops along core bus routes, as well as the provision of larger TFT RTI displays at key locations in Bicester and East Oxford: Sheep Street, Market Square, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Bicester Village, Bicester North Station, Bicester Community College & Sports Centre, Integrated Travel Shop, John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxford Brookes University Headington Campus. Estimated Cost: £0.300m. • Mobile Integrated Travel Information Bus/Point - Purchase of a mobile unit or bus to serve as a travel information point to visit residential & employment development sites and events within the area. Estimated Cost: £0.200m. • Measures to enhance pedestrian, cycle and bus access to rail station interchanges at Bicester Town and Water Eaton Parkway stations - To fund 3 pedestrian crossings, new bus stops and shelters with Real Time Information and cycle facilities. Estimated Cost: £0.180m.

C2. Rationale for the measures Bicester is one of Oxfordshire's three designated strategic priority growth areas, with significant economic and housing development proposed in the "Growth Arc". Economic and housing growth provides an opportunity to develop and expand the quality and offer of the strategic and local bus networks, to complement the investment planned for rail.

Bicester is already experiencing housing and employment growth pressure on what is a constrained highway network. There is currently no bus priority in the town and on the A41 corridor which links it to the A34 and on to Oxford.

The overall objective of the package is to increase the

12 mode share of the bus within the town and on the corridor between Bicester and East Oxford; as a means of reducing the forecast increase in the number of car trips and resulting congestion pressures at key locations (in particular the A34 corridor). The package will develop a fast and reliable bus service in conjunction with, and in advance of, proposed new development; so that people moving to Bicester can, from day one, travel within the town and to a wide range of Oxford destinations without the need for a car. In this way the additional bus capacity will enable growth to happen whilst helping to mitigate the adverse affects of car-based demand and traffic congestion.

The proposed Bicester-East Oxford bus service will build on a recently introduced peak hour route that is being trialled by Stagecoach. The operator believes that there is scope to make this a six day per week half hourly service (around 3,840 seats per day) using the "Stagecoach Gold" premium brand which includes leather seats and Wi-Fi.

The package will also encourage bus use for local trips within the town through the funding and promotion of two new "Bicester Hopper" branded buses that will significantly enhance the passenger experience and conform to latest EuroV standards. These buses will be fully equipped to use smart card ticketing and for the Real Time Passenger Information system.

The proposed infrastructure measures will support this service by addressing three key pinch points on the route (1) St John's Street Gyratory in Bicester town centre; (2) M40 Junction 9 (southbound); and (3) A41 south of Bicester. The service will also call at the new Interchange / Park & Ride site which will provide additional patronage from a wide rural hinterland to the south, east and west of Bicester. These are people who would have previously driven into Oxford or a Park & Ride site closer to the city. Real Time Passenger Information will link all the key stops along the route and link in with the existing system in Oxford; providing "whole corridor" coverage.

Marketing, information and travel planning is a key ingredient in the success of the overall package - which the Better Bus Area Fund will invest in. Our innovative proposals for an integrated travel shop in the revitalised town centre, along with the mobile bus which will visit all areas of the town as well as destinations in East Oxford, ensure that this initiative will be run locally for local people and businesses. Our approach will be based on a robust understanding of current and future demand for bus travel, the factors that people value in a bus service and an exciting brand that will be consistent with the "Eco Bicester" message - showing how bus travel contributes to sustainable urban living.

In summary, the approach is based on translating the success of Oxford's transport strategy and bus service offer: high quality premium routes, Park & Ride and bus priority linked to key growth and development areas such as Bicester.

13 Section D. Value for Money

D1. Baseline and Projections for Intermediate Measures Current Patronage Levels

• S5 - Bicester to Oxford City Centre: 856,000 (2011/12). 73% of passengers pay the full adult fare; very high indicating significant usage by commuters from Bicester to Oxford. • 21/22/23 - Bicester Town Services: 173,435 (2010/11). Evidence of Previous Success in Increasing Patronage Levels

There is clear evidence that when the frequency and quality of local bus services is improved, patronage increases significantly:

• S5 - Bicester to Oxford City Centre: increase of 51% in last 6 years. The January 2012 increase in capacity from 8 to 10 buses has resulted in 34% patronage increase compared with same period last year). • 66 Swindon - Faringdon - Oxford: 40% patronage increase since introduction of half hourly service in May 2010. Projections for Proposed Bicester - East Oxford Route

• Extent of operation: 12 hours, Monday - Saturday (300 days per year). • Annual cost of operation (per bus): £170,000 • Total round trip time: 120 minutes (6 round trips per day). • Target patronage after 2 years of operation: 340,000 passengers per annum (average load factor of 24 per bus). Projections for Bicester Town Services

Our short term target is 20% patronage growth on the "Bicester Hopper" Bus (routes 22/23) from the base year to the end of the BBAF period (2013/14) - equating to an additional 9,300 passengers per annum.

Our overall short term target is 40% patronage growth on all local bus services (within the Bicester area, including Arncott) by the end of the BBAF period (2013/14). This equates to an additional 111,800 passengers per annum. This would include the re-branded "Bicester Hopper" routes 22/23, route 21, the proposed new 26 service (serving the South West Bicester development) and the local Bicester passengers on route S5.

14 Our longer term aspiration is to achieve 1,000,000 passengers per annum on local bus services by 2026. This equates to an extra 721,000 passengers from the base year which is an annual growth of approximately 51,000 passengers. Much of this growth will be generated from the new developments, particularly the North West Eco Town, South West Bicester, Gavray Drive and Graven Hill.

Table 3 summarises the short term projections which we have made for overall impact of the proposed package (both inter-urban and local services).

Table 3 - Short Term Targets for Proposed Measures within Package

Indicator Target Number of car trips removed (per annum) 316,260 Reduction in car passenger kilometres (per annum) 5,667,380 Additional bus passenger journeys (per annum) 451,800 Increase in bus passenger kilometres (per annum) 10,120,320 Additional number of bus seats per year (per annum) 1,152,000 Projected journey time Bicester Centre to John Radcliffe 40 Hospital (minutes) Estimated carbon dioxide emission reduction (tonnes per 128 annum)

D2. Non-quantifiable benefits The following non-quantifiable benefits are likely to occur:

(1) Increased confidence of people wishing to invest in Bicester's future - all the way from major multi-national companies through to small businesses. Reducing congestion and the resulting better journey time reliability will be a key part of the Bicester "offer". (2) Bicester will become a more attractive place for people to come and live and work; also benefitting the local economy as a higher population will support local shops and businesses. (3) Increased passenger confidence in the public transport network.

Section E - Supporting Evidence

E1. Evidence for the predictions identified above Sources of evidence that have been used are as follows:

• Data provided by Stagecoach and Oxfordshire County Council; • 2001 Census data;

15 • Oxfordshire County Council Local Transport Plan; • Defra Guidelines on Green House Gas Conversion Factors for Company Reporting. • Real Time Passenger Information data; • Traffic counts; • Oxford Hospitals NHS Trust Travel Surveys 2011; • Patronage figures provided by the bus operators; and • Oxfordshire Saturn traffic model.

E2. Proposed monitoring

Table 4 - Key Performance Indicators

Key Performance Indicator Proposed Measurement Method Modal Split for Journey to Work Travel Plan surveys at key destinations. (% travel by bus) Bus Patronage (numbers of Ticket data from operators. people per service) Journey time reliability (variation Real Time Passenger Information and / or between free flow and peak on board surveys. services) Journey time (end to end between Real Time Passenger Information and / or key origins / destinations) on board surveys. Passenger satisfaction (scale from On board questionnaire surveys. 1 to 5) Vehicle kilometres Returns from bus operators. Web Site: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Section F. Delivery and Costs

F1. Package Costs Table 5 - Summary of Package Costs

Proposal Elements Detail 2012-13 2013-14 2014- Total (£000) (£000) 16 (£000) (£000) New Premium Bus Revenue 340 170 0 510 Service Local 0 0 0 0 Contribution Integrated Smart Revenue 50 50 0 100 Card Ticketing Local 0 0 0 0 System Contribution

16 Interactive Travel Revenue 100 0 0 100 Web Portal Local 0 0 0 0 Contribution Integrated Travel Revenue 150 150 0 300 Shop, Marketing and Local 0 0 0 0 Travel Planning Contribution St John's Street Bus Capital 0 0 0 0 Access to Town Local 0 0 1,040 1,040 Centre Contribution A41 Southbound Bus Capital 0 0 0 0 Lane Local 0 0 1,400 1,400 Contribution A41 Northbound Bus Capital 0 0 0 0 Lane Local 0 0 1,200 1,200 Contribution Park & Ride Capital 0 0 0 0 Interchange (A41, Local 0 0 3,920 3,920 South West Bicester) Contribution Mobile Integrated Capital 200 0 0 200 Travel Information / Local 0 0 0 0 Marketing Bus Contribution Low Emission Single Capital 0 200 0 200 Deck Buses for Local 0 0 0 0 Services 22 / 23 Contribution Real Time Passenger Capital 100 200 0 300 Information Local 0 0 0 0 Contribution Bicester - Oxford Capital 0 0 0 0 Complementary Rail Local 0 180 0 180 Interchange Contribution Measures Grand Total funding Revenue 640 370 0 1,010 sought Capital 300 600 0 700 Grand Total Revenue 640 370 0 1,010 including local Capital 300 780 7,560 8,440 contribution

17 Table 5 - Cost Breakdown for Elements Funded by the BBAF

Proposal Element Cost Breakdown Smart Card Ticketing 10 buses smart card enabled @ £3k per bus System Smart card purchase and back office administration: £35k per year. Interactive Web Portal £100k to cover software development, testing, information provision, marketing, revisions. Integrated Travel £140k to fund two staff for two years Shop, Marketing and £100k for shop rental and equipment Travel Planning £60k for marketing material and discounted ticketing Mobile Integrated £200k for bus purchase and equipment to enable Travel Information / demonstration / interactive journey planning. Marketing Bus Low Emission Single Purchase of 2 buses @ £100k per bus. Deck Buses for Services 22 / 23 Real Time Passenger 22 units - flag or shelter mounted @ circa £5.5k per Information unit 12 units - TFT large screen or indoor screen @ £15k per unit.

F2. Timetable for Delivery and Risks Proposal Element Planned Risks delivery date Premium Bus Service: Bicester September Service is not commercially to East Oxford 2012 viable after two years of pump priming. Integrated Travel Shop, September Identification of suitably Marketing and Travel Planning 2012 qualified staff to lead the work. Securing of suitable premises. Low Emission Double Deck January 2013 Procurement of buses to Buses for Bicester - East assumed 9 month timescale. Oxford service Integrated Smart Card April 2013 Agreement between Ticketing System operators for revenue apportionment. Interactive Travel Web Portal April 2013 Provision of up to date information from operators. Low Emission Single Deck June 2013 Procurement of buses to Buses for Services 22 / 23 assumed 12 month timescale. Real Time Passenger April 2013 Installation of equipment and Information testing; integration with existing system in Oxford.

18 Bicester - Oxford April 2014 Delay to the introduction of Complementary Rail the new service. Interchange Measures St John's Street Bus Access to 2015/16 Acquisition of land (private Town Centre service road) for bus lane. A41 Southbound Bus Lane 2015/16 Integration with Highways Agency scheme at M40 junction 9. A41 Northbound Bus Lane 2015/16 Integration with proposals for Bicester Business Park and Bicester Village. Park & Ride Interchange (A41, 2015/16 Securing planning permission South West Bicester) and section 106 funding.

F3. Management Arrangements The county council places great emphasis on efficient and effective delivery of projects. Therefore a robust project plan will include:

• A Project Board, headed by a Senior Responsible Owner, will provide strategic guidance to a dedicated Project Manager who will lead and co-ordinate all aspects of the delivery programme (capital and revenue funded measures). • A project programme with key milestones and dependencies will be established; along with a risk register and mitigation strategy based on the county council's corporate standards. • Establishment of a Bicester "Integrated Travel Shop" and mobile bus; which will provide a dedicated local presence for bus information, marketing, business / residential travel planning and receipt of passenger feedback (as a means of designing future service improvements around the needs of passengers as the town expands). Therefore travel planning activity will be based in Bicester and will be made relevant to the needs of town residents and businesses. • A key role for bus operators as partners in the overall project management and delivery. Revenue funded interventions will be delivered by a specialist county council officer who will co-ordinate the work of the bus operators and the travel planning. • The capital highway interventions will be designed by Oxfordshire Highways and tendered to suitably qualified contractors.

F4. Financial sustainability Premium Routes in Oxfordshire have shown sustained patronage growth over the last ten years as a result of investment in new buses and bus priority. Passenger numbers on the existing S5 service (Bicester to Oxford city centre) have increased 50% in six years.

19 F5. Financial Impact on Bus Operators Bus operator Stagecoach will be providing two additional vehicles to be used on the proposed Bicester - East Oxford service. Stagecoach has recently provided investment of £2.2 million in new "Gold" vehicles for the existing S5 route between Bicester and Oxford.

F6. Additionality BBAF support will enable the Bicester - East Oxford 30 minute headway inter- urban bus service to be pump primed for two years before it becomes a commercial operation. Currently this service runs for three peak hour journeys in the morning and three in the evening.

Services 21 and 22 (Bicester Town Services) are currently supported by the county council. The two new buses to be purchased for these services would be owned by the county council; thereby reducing the operating cost when the services are re-tendered in June 2013. These buses would be maintained by the bus operator who is awarded the new contract.

Section G. Fit with the Local Sustainable Transport Fund

G1. Fit with other bids, including the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and Green Bus Fund. This BBAF package links in with, and adds value to, the successful LSTF bid in East Oxford; which includes travel planning work and expansion of the Thornhill Park & Ride site on the A40 and new, dedicated Park & Ride bus services. The current timetable for this LSTF-funded work is:

• April 2012: Commence working with major employers in East Oxford to reduce car-based journeys to and from work. • April 2013: Commence personalised travel planning working in East Oxford. • January 2014 to March 2014: Undertake interim travel surveys. • January 2015 to March 2015: Undertake final evaluation surveys.

A number of other aspects will be ongoing throughout the timescales of the funding being available, e.g. car share promotion, community engagement, marketing of walking, cycling and public transport choices and mapping.

20 O Stagecoachin oxfordshire

HorspathRoad Cowley Oxford OX4 2RY

T 0 |865 40550 | Mr SteveHowell F 0r865405500

DeputyDirector of Environment& Economy stagecoachbus.com OxfordshireCounty Council SpeedwellHouse CustomerServices 0 | 865772250 SpeedwellStreet OXFORD OX11NE

Our ref: MS/SN Yourref:

23 February2012

DearMr Howell

Befter Bus Area Fund Application- Bicester Bus Growth Package

I am writingto expressmy supportfor OxfordshireCounty Council's Better Bus Area Fundapplication for the BicesterBus Growth Package.

The populationof Bicesterhas grownrapidly in recentyears and is plannedto increasesignificantly in the future. Stagecoachhas successfullydeveloped its networkof localbus servicesin recentyears to encouragehigh levels of patronage.

In January2012, 11 newhigh specification Stagecoach Gold branded double deck busesat a cost of 82.2mwere introducedon service55 betweenOxford and Bicester,with a 3oo/oincrease in busesbetween Oxford and Bicester,residential areasin Bicesterand surroundingvillages. New direct journeys were also introducedbetween Bicester and the JohnRadcliffe Hospital and otheremployment andeducation opportunities in the Headingtonarea.

Earlyindications from these enhanced services indicate significant growth in patronage,supporting our firmly held view that people will willingly use high quality busservices as an alternativeto the car wherethose services are convenient, dependable,frequent, fast and comfortable.

Stagecoachin Oxfordshire RegisteredOfflce: Thames Transit Ltd., Daw Bank,Stockport, Cheshire SK3 0DU (Registeredin EnglandNo. 2272 I l3) The BicesterBus GrovvthPackage will makea majorcontribution to bus operators' abilityto providean attractivebus services,will complementproposed rail enhancementsand providea real opportunityto achievemodal shift.

Stagecoachwhole heartedlysupports this bid and we are keento work with you to provideBicester with the best possiblerange of altemativesto the privatecar.

Yourssincere

artin Sutton

01865 405502 01865 405500 martin. sutton @staoecoachbus. com