NORTH EAST SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP – 29 February 2016

8 Information Bulletin

 Purpose of Report

The purpose of this report is to provide information and updates for the Board on a number of matters not requiring decision.

 Low Carbon Travel and Transport Programme

In March 2015, Transport Scotland (TS) applied for funding under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020 programme. A Strategic Intervention has now been approved by the Scottish Government to deliver a Low Carbon Travel and Transport programme (LCTT) which consists of the following three operations:

 Active Travel Hubs will provide focal points for cycling and walking routes. The specifics of each Hub will be tailored to the location and based upon need, but will typically include bike library initiatives, safe and secure facilities for personal bikes, bike repair/maintenance facilities, improved links to public transport and travel information;

 Low Carbon Transport hubs to provide refuelling facilities for a range of alternative fuels and transport modes. It is intended that the locations and composition of these hubs will be determined by local circumstances and demand, but typically are likely to include a mixture of low carbon vehicle refuelling infrastructure, such as electric vehicle charging points, hydrogen refuelling stations and gas refuelling facilities; and

 National Smart Integrated Ticketing Scheme - the aim is to create a strategic and holistic approach to a National Smart Transport Card system acting as a catalyst for increased public transport use, reducing emissions and congestion from road transport as a result.

Transport Scotland will be setting up a dedicated webpage for the LCTT programme which will provide information on the operations and updates on the progress of the programme. For example it is their intention to design a Challenge Fund (CF) to facilitate the delivery of active and low carbon travel hubs and more information on the CF and its aim, objectives, scope, timescales and eligibility criteria will be provided as the programmes progress.

A webpage will also have a link to a central mailbox where questions and enquiries about the TS LCTT programme can be submitted.

It is also intended to invite interested stakeholders to information days to hear more about the plans and contribute ideas. It is anticipated that these events will take place in the first quarter of 2016.

 Smarter Choices, Smarter Places

The Scottish Government’s Indicative budget for 2016/17 includes further funding of £5million for Smarter Choices, Smarter Places (SCSP) in 2016-17. Although this still has to receive final parliamentary agreement, the Scottish Government have set out proposals for the distribution of the funds. The mechanism for distributing the funding will be in line with last year, i.e. an

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indicative allocation for each local authority, based on a formula of population, but with a minimum allocation of £50k. The proposed funding allocations for 2016-17 for the north east authorities totals just under £450,000. This represents 4.2% of the total funding for Aberdeen City and 4.8% for .

The policy intent of the funding is to achieve modal shift to active and sustainable travel, reducing driver only journeys. This is revenue funding which can be used for behaviour change or ‘soft measures’ to complement existing or new infrastructure e.g. promotion of a cycle route, a new bus route or a car club. The proposal includes a 50% match funding requirement, but part of this can be in-kind. Partnership working, e.g. with Regional Transport Partnerships and NHS Boards, will be required to deliver the projects.

As part of the programme, Transport Scotland has grant funded Paths for All to administer the programme and provide support for the projects, including the planning and implementation stages. As in the previous year, high-level proposals are required from each Local Authority on the programme of work they intend to take forward with this resource. Further information on this will follow in due course, however, authorities are recommended to start developing proposals so that when the funding is confirmed, they will be in a position to deliver projects.

Smarter Choices, Smarter Places Proposed Funding for 2016-17

Local Authority Indicative Allocation with a Minimum of £50k

Aberdeen City £210,391

Aberdeenshire £239,341

 Sustrans’ Community Links Funding Bids

Nestrans’ Cycling Development Officer has been working with Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council and Sustrans to develop bids for the 2016/17 Community Links programme. Submission of bids was required by 16 February 2016 and it is likely that Councils will be informed if they are successful in early April.

Funding for this round of community links projects will be slightly different to previous years. Funding will be allocated to projects after the February deadline for submission, the Sustrans portal will then be re-opened to allow further submissions, which will be reviewed at periods throughout the year if additional funding becomes available.

Additional funding will be allocated to projects submitted via the portal and fitting the community links criteria. In previous years, Sustrans invited councils to put forward projects towards the end of the calendar year for funding through underspend and additional funding was made available.

Both Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council have applied for funding to the Community Links Programme as detailed below. All bids are for 50% of the total scheme cost as match funding is a requirement of the scheme – much of the match funding will come from Nestrans budgets and has been accounted for in pulling together a 2016/17 budget.

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Aberdeen City Council Sustrans Community Links Bids: Project Name Detail Sustrans Funding Bid A90 Parkway Complete design and delivery £165,000 Riverside Cycle Routes Detailed design and surveys £30,000 A90 Murcar North Detailed Design £30,000 A96 Aberdeen to Blackburn Detailed Design £30,000 Anderson Drive Phase 1 Delivery of shared path and toucans £32,500 Craigshaw Drive Delivery of shared path £45,000 Junction Improvements Preliminary design at 3 junctions £25,000 Seaton Park Path East Delivery of shared path £27,500 Seaton Park Entrances Upgrades £25,000 Grandhome South Ped Path Delivery of path £48,000 River Don paths Designs £20,000 Total £478,000

Aberdeenshire Council Sustrans Community Links Bids: Project Name Detail Sustrans Funding Bid Development of second round Masterplan & Procurement of Integrated Travel Towns of Pedestrian & Cycle £35,000 (ITT2 ) Counters Portlethen ITT Development of Feasibility and Design work £20,000 Huntly Development of Feasibility and Design work £20,000 Inverurie Development of Feasibility and Design work in £20,000 Ellon Development of Feasibility and Design work £20,000 Fraserburgh Development of Feasibility and Design work £20,000 Long Distance Cycle Routes Feasibility Study to Identify within Aberdeenshire. Opportunities and Benefits £50,000 Deeside Way missing link Aboyne £50,000 Total £235,000

 Forth Road Bridge

In response to discussion at the last Board meeting, it was agreed to write to Derek Mackay, Minister for Transport & Islands seeking that the Scottish Government consider compensating businesses who could demonstrate losses as a result of the Forth Road Bridge closure.

A letter was sent on 18 December 2015 and a reply was received from the Minister on 12 January 2016. A copy of the letter to the Minister is attached Appendix 1 to this report and a copy of his reply is at Appendix 2 for members’ information.

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 Real Time Passenger Information

Aberdeenshire Council has implemented a Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) system to allow bus users to access more accurate and reliable bus information. The system informs bus users the actual time the bus is due at their bus stop rather than the time it is scheduled to arrive. The implementation of a RTPI system is a key objective within the Council’s Bus Information Strategy.

The RTPI system is now operational within Aberdeenshire, with services across the whole area displaying countdown times for the majority of service departures. A formal launch of the system took place at Woodhill House on Monday 25 January 2016. RTPI departures are displayed on the Council’s electronic departure information screens at bus stops in Aberdeenshire’s larger settlements and at Peterhead Interchange, Fraserburgh Bus Station and Ellon Park and Ride as well as utilising the electronic displays in Union Square Bus Station. A full list of the locations of electronic departure screens is included as Appendix 3.

RTPI departures are also available through the internet (Council and Traveline Scotland websites), Traveline Scotland smart phone app and at all bus stops with a timetable case via smart phones utilising the Quick Response (QR) “tags”.

The Aberdeenshire RTPI system shares information with neighbouring RTPI systems. This allows real time departures for services that are operating on other RTPI systems to be displayed using shared information systems. This is most prominent with the Aberdeen City/First Aberdeen RTPI system where departures for services operating wholly within the City are shown as real time on Aberdeenshire Council information systems.

At present, real time departures for Stagecoach and other Aberdeenshire services are not being shown on the electronic information screens within Aberdeen City with the exception of the small number of screens as detailed in Appendix 3. A joint project funded by Nestrans involving Aberdeenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council, First Aberdeen and Stagecoach Bluebird will see the existing screens within Aberdeen replaced with more modern screens that will display departures for all operators. This should be implemented by spring.

Discussions are also ongoing with First Aberdeen to identify if any efficiencies can be made for both organisations with the implementation of the new Aberdeenshire RTPI system. To ensure that customers are able to access high quality real time bus information, Aberdeenshire will continue to work closely with partners at Aberdeen City, Nestrans, First Aberdeen and Stagecoach Bluebird through the Local Authority/Bus Operator Forum (LABOF).

 Nestrans Press Releases

Since the last meeting of the Board, Nestrans has issued the following press releases (please click on the heading to access the full press release and details from the Nestrans’ website).

30 November 2015 Grasshopper Pass sees more passengers than ever

Grasshopper, the multi-operator bus pass for the north east of Scotland, is now generating over 14,000 passenger trips per month.

10 December 2015 Vacancy at Nestrans for Transport Executive

Nestrans has a vacancy for someone to build on the travel planning and partnership work undertaken in the north east over recent years to promote active and sustainable transport.

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11 January 2016 On Track for Success: North east rail passenger figures top 6 million as region predicted to see further growth

Total passenger figures from stations across the north east have topped a record high for recent years, as new statistics for 2014/15 are announced by the Office of Rail Regulation.

 Marketing and Public Relations Update

Nestrans’ marketing and PR activities are attached in the form of an infographic as Appendix 4 to this report.

 Recommendation

It is recommended that the Board note the contents of this report.

RD/KMac/Danielle McKinlay/ Martin Hall 16 February 2016

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Appendix 1

18 December 2015 Our Ref RD/N1/10

Derek Mackay MSP Minister for Transport and Islands St. Andrew's House Regent Road Edinburgh EH1 3DG

Dear Mr Mackay

Forth Road Bridge Closure

At its meeting on 9 December 2015, the Nestrans Board asked me to write expressing our concerns regarding the impact of the closure of the Forth Road Bridge on north east businesses.

I am sure you are aware that the closure has necessitated significant detours for goods vehicles travelling between Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire and east Central Scotland and the north east of England. Since traffic from the north east is tending to reroute via Stirling to avoid the uncertainty around journey times and detours through Fife, this additional mileage amounts to around 60 to 80 additional miles per round trip and has added up to 2½ hours to a typical return working.

This equates to additional costs of around £100 for each return trip, at a time when north east business is feeling significant difficulties due to challenges in the global energy market, impacting on margins.

The Nestrans Board does not feel that this burden should be borne by local hauliers or passed on to customers at this time. We believe that the Scottish Government should give consideration to a scheme of compensation for businesses who can demonstrate that they have incurred additional costs due to the bridge closure.

I hope that you will give due consideration to the potential for a scheme of compensation and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Ramsay Milne Chair

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Appendix 2

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Appendix 3

Locations of Electronic Screens

Banff and Buchan Banff, Low Street at Town Hall Kiosk Banff, Low St opp Town Hall Shelter Screen Fraserburgh, Broad Street Kiosk Fraserburgh, Bus Station External Totem Macduff opp Town Hall Shelter Screen Macduff, Town Hall Kiosk (currently removed) Portsoy, Seafield Street Shelter Screen Portsoy, Seafield Street Shelter Screen

Buchan , at Braehead Dr Shelter Screen Cruden Bay, opp Braehead Dr Shelter Screen Mintlaw, Square External Totem Peterhead, Back Street Kiosk Peterhead, Chapel Street Kiosk Peterhead Interchange Internal Kiosk Peterhead Interchange 40” Screen Peterhead Interchange 3x Shelter Screens

Formartine , Eigie Road, southbound Shelter Screen Balmedie, Eigie Road, northbound Shelter Screen (to be installed) Ellon Park & Ride 40" Display Ellon Park & Ride Indoor Totem Ellon Market Street southbound External Totem Ellon Market Street northbound Shelter Screen Newburgh, opp Knockhal Rd Shelter Screen Oldmeldrum, Major Lane External Totem Turriff at Municipal Buildings External Totem

Garioch Blackburn, Fenchnie Brae eastbound Kiosk Blackburn, Fenchnie Brae westbound Shelter Screen (to be installed) Inverurie, Gordon House Internal Totem Inverurie, Town Hall External Totem Inverurie, Market Place Shelter Screen Kemnay, Kendall Road Shelter Screen Kemnay, Kendall Road Shelter Screen Kintore, The Square Shelter Screen Kintore, The Square Shelter Screen Newmachar, at Station Road Shelter Screen Newmachar, opp Station Road Shelter Screen Westhill, opp Shopping centre Shelter Screen Westhill, at Shopping Centre External Totem

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Marr Aboyne, Victory Hall westbound External Totem Aboyne, Victory Hall eastbound Shelter Screen Alford, Bank Brae eastbound External Totem Ballater, Golf Road Shelter Screen Banchory, Mount St eastbound External Totem Banchory, Mount St westbound Shelter Screen (to be installed) Huntly, Square External Totem Torphins, Square Shelter Screen

Kincardine and Mearns Inverbervie, Market Square Shelter Screen Inverbevie, Market Square Shelter Screen Laurencekirk, Farquhar St Kiosk Newtonhill, Skateraw Road Shelter Screen Newtonhill, opp Tesco Shelter Screen Portlethen, at Shopping Centre Kiosk Portlethen, opp Shopping Centre Shelter Screen Stonehaven, Barclay St External Totem

Aberdeen City Health Village, Frederick Street 40" Display and Kiosk (funded by NHS) Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Kiosk (funded by NHS) Woodhill House Indoor Totem Union Square bus station Kiosk (funded by Nestrans) Union Square bus station 3rd Party Displays on Stances (funded by Nestrans)

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Appendix 4 Nestrans Communications Report December 2015 – January 2016

 Social Media

Following ACSEF being replaced with Opportunity North East, the @ACSEF_Nestrans Twitter account was updated to @Nestrans in December 2015. As of the end of January 2016, the account has a total of 418 followers, up from 409 in November 2015. This marginal growth is due to the Christmas period falling within this time.

December-January - Tweeting and retweeting about topics including:  Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen Study  Aberdeen City Region Deal  AWPR progress, and Open Days held by Aberdeen Roads Ltd.  Transport Executive vacancy  Rail figures 2015 press release  Announcement of Aberdeen International Airport £20million terminal transformation  Health & Transport Action Plan Steering Group looking for members

 Nestrans Media Releases & Statements Issued Date Type Details North east rail passenger figures top 6 million as region predicted to 11/01/2016 Press Release see further growth

Statement issued to Evening Express about benefits/ knock-on effect 18/01/2016 Statement the AWPR will have on the local road network

Statement issued about the City Region Deal and Scottish 28/01/2016 Statement Government funding announcements and how this will benefit travel north of Aberdeen

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 News Coverage

Date Media Details

Nestrans welcomes suggestion of free travel for people struggling with substance abuse - People with alcohol and drug addictions 07/12/15 Evening Express could be given bus passes similar to those given to over-60s, an idea which has been welcomed by Nestrans. Transport Scotland will have the final say on the scheme.

Creation of more parking spaces at Ellon park and ride delayed - Councillors agreed last year to buy more land for the provision of 07/12/15 Evening Express extra parking, however work won't get underway until 2016/17. Councillor Owen quoted.

Community Council welcomes installation of new traffic lights at City 07/12/15 Evening Express crematorium - Nestrans will invest £125,000 to install traffic lights on B9119 Skene Road at Hazelhead.

Scheme uptake leads to increasing use: Grasshopper, the multi-use travel pass for the north-east, has shown a large increase in use 07/12/15 Inverurie Advertiser after the scheme’s expansion. The scheme is generating 14,000 trips per month.

Vice chair of Nestrans faces second power challenge – SNP councillors are trying to remove Councillor Peter Argyle as vice-chair 08/12/15 Press & Journal of Nestrans. They failed to remove him as chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority last week.

N-east could miss out on EU funding. Transport chiefs are ready to 08/12/15 Evening Express lobby to have the north-east included in a European network connecting the Mediterranean to the North Sea (Nestrans report).

Vice chair of Nestrans faces second power challenge. SNP councillors are trying to remove Councillor Peter Argyle as vice-chair 08/12/15 Press & Journal of Nestrans. They failed to remove him as chairman of the Aberdeen City and Shire Strategic Development Planning Authority last week.

Nestrans welcomes suggestion of free travel for people struggling with substance abuse. People with alcohol and drug addictions 09/12/15 Press & Journal could be given bus passes similar to those given to over-60s, an idea which has been welcomed by Nestrans. Transport Scotland will have the final say on the scheme.

Bid to oust long-standing councillor from Nestrans ends in compromise. An SNP bid to throw a long-standing Aberdeenshire Councillor from his senior post on a cross-council transport 10/12/15 Press & Journal partnership ended in compromise yesterday. Stonehaven and District SNP councillor Graeme Clark withdrew the motion to remove Mr. Argyle and chose to elect colleague David Aitchison to the role of vice-chairman.

Bridge work major step for bypass. Beams set to be put in place over busy road. Quote from Councillor Peter Argyle vice chairman of 14/12/15 Press & Journal Nestrans.

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Group backs runway plans. North-east businesses have weighed 16/12/15 Press & Journal into row over UK Government announcement to delay expanding runway capacity.

Dispute over north east transport development following Scottish Association for Public Transport’s suggestion of reintroducing Dyce- Ellon Times/ Press Ellon railway, Aberdeenshire councillor Gillian Owen says focus 17/12/15 & Journal should remain on dualling all of the A90. Fellow councillors have said that no-one involved in the pro-rail campaign is arguing that there shouldn’t also be improvements to our roads.

Plans to bring back the trains to Ellon have been given a mixed 18/12/15 Ellon Times response by local politicians in the town (plans by Scottish Association for Public Transport).

Residents disgusted over timescale for A90 blackspot. Local campaigner Jill Fotheringham has said she is disgusted that council, 23/12/15 Press & Journal Nestrans and Transport Scotland have not progressed work on proposed flyover at the Laurencekirk junction of the A90.

Mearns councillor George Carr has criticised Nestrans for ignoring 23/12/15 Press & Journal the needs of the community by not proposing to upgrade the north junction of A90 at Laurencekirk.

Scheme for repair work at viaduct. Network Rail have submitted a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council in order to undertake 23/12/15 Evening Express repairs on the Elsick Railway viaduct (mentions report by Nestrans indicating more people travelling by train in Aberdeenshire).

The Scottish Association for Passenger Transport’s backing for a rail link from Aberdeen to Ellon has been welcomed by Cllr Stephen 24/12/15 Buchan Observer Smith, Aberdeenshire Council’s Vice Chair of Infrastructure Services Committee and Cllr Rob Merson.

Residents have been left frustrated by the lack of details regarding 30/12/15 Mearns Leader the construction of a flyover at a notorious Laurencekirk junction.

Plans for a new cycle path connecting Kintore to Thainstone which is 12/01/16 Press & Journal being funded by Nestrans and Sustrans were submitted to committee for approval.

Press & Journal 12/01/16 Aberdeen Business Number of NE train journeys soared – coverage of Nestrans release News

A £200,000 plan for a new cycle path connecting Kintore to Inverurie 13/01/16 Press & Journal was approved by councillors.

How rural roads will fit along with AWPR making routes safer. The 19/01/16 Evening Express drive to “lock in” the benefits of Aberdeen’s bypass is set to power ahead.

Deeside residents driving into Aberdeen in the past few months may have been looking in wonder, and probably frustration, at the works being carried out north and south of the Dee at Milltimber, as 21/01/16 Piper & Herald massive machines churn up the land to construct Aberdeen’s long awaited four lane by pass, the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route, and its bridge over the River Dee.

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