National Bus Strategy
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Classification: Confidential National Bus Strategy HATF SIG 7 July 2021 – thoughts so far Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential How can Heathrow help? • Heathrow intends to reintroduce a number of measures in 2022 to encourage a greater shift to sustainable travel (the scale and scope will be dependent upon how the airport recovers). The National Bus Strategy is perfect timing to work together to deliver significant improvements. Heathrow is also an important hub for PT from all directions • Heathrow’s economic importance to the UK could generate a higher level of interest within Government for supporting BSIPs from neighbouring local authorities • It might be possible for Heathrow to secure additional funding from DfT to support collaboration between neighbouring local authorities. The airport is a major travel to work area for all the surrounding local authorities • The Heathrow Local Recovery Forum (chaired by Lord David Blunkett) could be a high- profile supporter of BSIPs, as buses are essential for many people to access jobs Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Key elements of Local Bus Service Improvement Plans 1. Timetables 2. Routes 3. Ticketing 4. Marketing/Branding 5. Bus Priority Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Timetables Services to Heathrow should feature the following: • First arrival at the airport before 04:15 every day • Last departure from the airport after 23:30 every day • Consistent first/last journeys on all days of the week Almost 90% of colleagues work non-standard shift patterns outside conventional hours (9-5) Buses can strategically support colleagues accessing the airport, offering valid PT alternatives to car usage Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Timetables Currently not early enough: Currently not late enough: • 4 • 4 • 7 (Britwell – Slough section) • 8 • 8 • 278 • 278 • 442 • 442 • 555 • 555 (Hersham – Sunbury) • 703 • 703 • 724 • 724 • RA2 • A10 • X70 • RA1 • RA2 • U3 • X26 • X70 Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Routes • How can bus services to Heathrow meet the airport’s requirements, whilst also delivering the Government’s aspirations for frequent turn-up-and-go timetables? • How can routes to Heathrow feel coordinated with local bus networks, when they often travel long distances across several local authority areas? • How can duplicated service numbers be avoided, especially on the long distance services? Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Limited stop network • Longer distance routes (green lines on the map) could be overlayed on to local bus networks • These could complement local bus networks, whilst providing more appropriate airport-style services (e.g. air- conditioning and more space for luggage) • They could operate at more realistic frequencies, thus saving significant cost compared with turn-up-and-go times. • Ability to number in a separate series, reducing the risk of clashing with route numbers across all local bus networks. • Different fares to support higher costs. Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Local networks • For the areas closest to Heathrow, the local network could be designed around a high frequency service to the airport • Other services could feed in to this high frequency service at key interchanges • These high frequency services could form the basis of future BRT schemes, operated with electric vehicles and using opportunity charging Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Ticketing • Multi-operator ticketing – to increase choice • SMART zones? Interlink sectors? Acorn areas? Use a series of zones to keep day/week caps lower for those remaining in just one zone. • Contactless on all buses (with financial incentives to switch) • Easy to understand zonal boundaries, or different fares depending on the type of service (e.g. £4 daily cap on a local bus network, but this rises to £5.50 once a journey on a long distance service is made). • Good value for money season/multi-buy tickets • Significantly discounted ‘season’ ticketing for Heathrow colleagues. We know from experience that this can be self-financing through increased sales. Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Marketing / Branding Use the Green Line brand for the limited stop network to Heathrow? Green Line routes could be the first ones to receive investment across all local authorities, and therefore show a coordinated start. For example: • Improved waiting facilities including bus shelters, comprehensive information, RTPI displays and cycle storage • Increased frequency • Earlier and later journeys • large luggage racks on board and possibly cycle storage • First to receive zero-emission vehicles Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Marketing / Branding • Standardise on e-Paper displays at stops across all local authorities, to enable real time information including disruptions (e.g. “stop closed – please wait at point x) • Heathrow can look at matching this at the airport, by working with TfL (who have also experimented with this technology) Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Bus priority measures Boris Johnson Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Taplow • Space for a new westbound bus lane approaching Maidenhead Bridge. Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Ashford Hospital Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Maidenhead New eastbound bus lane on Bridge Road, approaching the lane merge. Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Slough Ban right turn in to Lynwood Avenue. Remove chevrons and extend bus lane. Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Staines Classification: Confidential Classification: Confidential Langley Eastbound bus priority approaching M4 Junction 5 Classification: Confidential Classification: Internal July 2021 Heathrow Sustainable Travel Zone – Initial Proposals Classification: Internal What outcomes does Heathrow want to achieve? 1. To reduce the number of colleagues driving to, and around, the airport and encourage colleagues to travel by public transport and active travel (cycling and walking) realising congestion and air quality benefits 2. The STZ also provides an opportunity to provide better travel options to our local communities, many of whom are Team Heathrow colleagues, for journeys to work or for leisure, providing wider sustainability benefits Classification: Internal Built using five design principles With input from stakeholders we identified five key design principles which have been considered in the development of these initial proposals: 1 Data Led 2 Effective in delivering mode shift and resulting environmental benefits 3 Scalable 4 Easy to use 5 Equitable These have informed a set of initial proposals which we will share with relevant stakeholders in July, and ask for feedback. These initial proposals are subject to budget being made available and negotiations with partner organisations. Classification: Internal Start with “Quick Wins” With limited investment for 2022 our priority is to focus initially on areas where most colleagues live, providing a range of support to encourage colleagues to use public transport, walking and cycling. More than one third of colleagues live within 15 postcode areas close to the airport and these will form our initial focus: % of all TH colleagues Hounslow Area (TW3, TW4, TW5) 9% Hayes and Harlington (UB3, UB4) 7% Southall Area (UB1, UB2) 5% Slough, Cippenham and Langley (S1, S3) 4% We will also reintroduce the ability for Feltham and Hanworth (TW13, TW14) 4% colleagues to travel free around the airport West Drayton and Uxbridge (UB7, UB8) 3% campus to reduce the number of colleagues travelling by car during the working Ashford, Stanwell and Stanwell Moor (TW15, TW19) 3% day. Classification: Internal Prioritise based on mode of travel to work Postcode % of all Public Car Driver Car driver Car Bike Walk colleagues Transport alone Passenger TW15, TW19 3% 20% 56% 45% 10% 3% 2% SL1, SL3 4% 21% 56% 37% 13% 4% 1% TW13, TW14 4% 30% 37% 26% 9% 5% 3% UB7, UB8 3% 37% 37% 25% 10% 5% 4% UB1, UB2 5% 30% 39% 23% 13% 2% 2% UB3, UB4 7% 33% 38% 24% 12% 4% 3% TW3, TW4, TW5 9% 36% 33% 20% 14% 3% 2% Average 30% 42% 29% 11% 4% 2% Sustainable Travel Zone Interventions We will serve those colleagues using a prioritised list of interventions: • Priority 1 – ensure existing public transport operates at the times required by all colleagues • Priority 2 – improve active travel solutions for those living close enough to walk or cycle • Priority 3 – campus connectivity (to support travel during the working day and also for first mile / last mile) • Priority 4 – discounted travel • Priority 5 – new or significantly improved services Note – it is recognised that discounted travel could normally have a greater effect than some other measures, such as very early morning journeys. However, new users will soon identify these shortcomings if they are not delivered. Classification: Internal 1. Colleague Travel from Ashford, Stanwell and Stanwell Moor Current Travel to work patterns 3% of all colleagues working at Heathrow live in these TW15 and TW19 Public Car Car driver Car Postcode Transport Driver alone Passenger Bike Walk TW15, TW19 20% 56% 45% 10% 3% 2% How will the new Sustainable Travel Zone support colleagues from Ashford, Stanwell and Stanwell Moor? • Restore the frequency of route 8 • Reintroduce very early and