Nexus Strategic Intelligence Report 2012-13 Contents
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Nexus Strategic Intelligence Report 2012-13 Contents 1 Funding 2 Headlines 3 Socio-demographic overview 4 Bus Services 5 Elderly and Disabled Travel 6 Metro 7 Metro: All change 8 Ferry and Rail 9 Information and Infrastructure 10 Accessibility Introduction Welcome to Nexus’ Annual Intelligence Report. This report provides an overview of performance and a compilation of public transport and socio‐economic trends in Tyne and Wear in 2012/13. Nexus is the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) and administers funds on behalf of the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority (ITA). There are few people living in Tyne and Wear whose daily lives are not touched in some way by Nexus. Around 180 million public transport journeys are currently made in the region per year. It might be getting you to work, or taking the children to school. It might be treating yourself to a day out shopping or a family trip to the coast or a museum. It might be helping you enjoy a night out on the town without worrying who will be driving home. Our task is to improve the quality of life and fortunes of everyone in Tyne and Wear, creating better transport networks by; 'Building for tomorrow through better transport today' We provide, plan and promote public transport to improve the economic prosperity of Tyne and Wear, and the daily lives of its people. We also look to the future, creating the travel networks people will want to use in decades to come. This report is primarily focussed on public transport however it also considers the intrinsic links between public transport and the wider socio‐economic environment. This report consists of 10 sections; 1. Funding 2. 2012/13 headlines 3. Socio‐demographic monitoring 4. Plans for 2013/14 5. Bus services 6. Concessionary Travel 7. Metro 8. Metro: all change 9. Customer services 10. Sustainable travel For further information on any of the information contained in the report, please contact Nexus’ Business Intelligence section via email [email protected] or phone 0191 203 3467. Nexus Aims & Objectives Connecting communities We want public transport to connect the largest number of people with work and leisure opportunities and vital public services. We try to reach those communities and social groups who do not have access to private vehicles. This can mean providing bus or Metro to an area with poor transport links, or developing new forms of transport to meet the specialist needs of some passengers. Changing the way people travel We plan and provide transport options that encourage people to choose public transport over their own cars to reach work and leisure activities. This ‘modal shift’ is vital if we are to reduce congestion and pollution in our crowded urban environment today and in the future. Supporting economic regeneration We plan the development of public transport to match the exciting economic regeneration programmes in our region. We pay for bus services to run to growing business parks and cultural quarters. Many of the largest regeneration, retail and job creation areas planned for the future of Tyne and Wear stand close to Metro lines. Tackling climate change By promoting sustainable travel, including public transport, car sharing, walking and cycling, we help to reduce the impact our communities have on the environment. At the same time Nexus is committed to reducing the carbon impact of its own activities and those of its suppliers, by examining every part of our operation and finding ways to reduce waste and consumption. Nexus is pursuing four major programmes aimed at improving public transport in Tyne and Wear. The Bus Strategy, a programme to deliver the Integrated Transport Authority's aims of arresting the fall in bus passenger numbers, improving accessibility and providing greater value for public spending. Smart Ticketing, a programme to bring the whole of North East England a single smart technology for transport, education and other local services, in partnership with local councils and transport companies. Metro: all change modernisation, a £385m programme to secure the future of the light rail system for future decades, while improving the passenger experience. Go Smarter, a programme of schemes in Tyne and Wear delivered in partnership with local councils and other agencies, aimed at encouraging more people to choose sustainable transport, helping reduce congestion and meet environmental targets. 1 Funding 1.0 The ITA, which meets every two months, is made up of elected councillors delegated from the five local authorities that makes up Tyne and Wear. The ITA receives its money in the form of a levy on the five district councils. The amount each council gives is in proportion to its population. Revenue collected in fares and advertising on Metro are also ploughed back into the service, keeping its operating subsidy at a minimum. 1.1 Nexus Gross Revenue Expenditure 2012/13 Nexus’ Gross Revenue Expenditure during 2012/13 amounted to £168.6m. This enabled the provision of the services shown in chart below. 1.2 Nexus Grant Income 2012/13 Nexus’ grant income in 2012/13 amounted to £110.8m. The chart below shows the sources of this grant funding:‐ The largest source of grant funding received by Nexus during 2011/12 (around 62% of all grants) was from the ITA and this funding provides a direct link between the local taxpayer and the services that Nexus provides. This is discussed in more detail below. Other sources of grant funding in 2011/12 were provided for a specific purpose:‐ Metropolitan Rail Grant – from DfT to support the operating costs of the Tyne and Wear Metro Heavy Rail Grant – from DfT to support the operating costs of the Northern Rail franchise The ITA funding in 2011/12 included monies previously paid by the DfT to support the costs of administering the Concessionary Travel Scheme, but which is now paid through the Local Districts in Tyne & Wear. During 2010/11, this grant amounted to £5.7m. New analysis of Treasury public spending figures reveals that spending on transport in London has now risen to £644 per head compared with £223 per head for the North East. The gap has widened considerably since the previous years’ figures with spend in London rising from £642 per head to £644 per head, whilst the spend in the West Midlands and North of England fell from £269 per head to £243 per head. The analysis is entirely based on figures in the Treasury’s 2012 Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses which is published on HMT’s website. 1.3 The ITA Levy The ITA agrees a budget and then issues a levy for each financial year to the constituent councils within Tyne and Wear so as to meet a proportion of its liabilities/expenses. The apportionment of the levy is calculated by reference to the total resident population of each Council. This is done in accordance with Section 7(5) of the Transport Levying Bodies Regulations 1992 where, in Section 3(a), Passenger Transport Authorities established by s28 of the Local Government Act 1985 (now renamed ITA’s as a result of the Local Transport Act 2008), are identified as levying bodies. In the case of the Tyne and Wear ITA, it set a levy for the financial year 2012/13 of £70.2m, of which £66.93m, including grant previously paid direct to Nexus by the DfT to cover costs associated with the Concessionary Travel Scheme, was paid to Nexus in order to execute the policy decisions of the ITA. Nexus’ levy funded expenditure during 2012/13 amounted to £69.5m, exceeding the £66.9m income. The chart to the right shows how the levy was used by Nexus in providing the following services:‐ 2 Headlines 2.0 Headlines 2.1 Performance Metro patronage showed a ‐1.3% decrease from April 2012 to March 2013 compared with the same period in the previous year, partly because of further line closures for modernisation work and some severe weather conditions impacting upon availability and discouraging travel, and also due to a decline in Gold Card travel. Bus patronage showed a 1.1% increase from April 2012 to March 2013, compared with the same period in the previous year. However, Ferry patronage has fallen by ‐13% in the same periods, with the 2nd Tyne Tunnel, poor weather and a fall in shipyard activity impacting upon trips. Metro charter punctuality averaged 85.9% (target 87.2%) for April to March 2013. This compares to 88.45% in the previous year. Bus user satisfaction stands at 79.1% for the period April 2012 to March 2013, a very slight decrease on the same period in the previous year of 79.8%. Metro user satisfaction is rated as 7.93 out of 10 for the period April 2012 to March 2013, a very slight decrease on the same period in the previous year which was 7.99. 2.2 Delivering better public transport Nexus are progressing with the Bus Strategy Delivery Project which is exploring the idea of a Quality Contracts Scheme or Voluntary Partnership Agreement with bus operators in Tyne and Wear. A decision was made by the ITA in July 2013 to progress with public consultation on the QCS proposal. The Pride of the Tyne Ferry was refurbished for the summer season and was available for corporate hire by local business and charities. The Shields Ferry also now has its own Facebook page – part of efforts to market the service. Nexus reduced the charges at Metro car parks from 1 December 2012 to £1.00 flat fee, rather than £1.60 previously. This followed a ‘free parking’ offer from July to December 2012.