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ITEM EX10

REAL TIME PASSENGER INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR OXFORDSHIRE

1. The purpose of this report is to present the progress made on the County Council’s commitment to introduce Real Time Passenger Information for bus services within the County. The report draws on the findings of a feasibility study undertaken by consultants, Halcrow, and presents a Detailed Project Appraisal for approval. There are some uncertainties in the cost estimates at the present time, but the Executive is recommended to proceed to invite tenders, which will enable all the financial implications to be fully understood. A further report will then be brought to the Executive in April to enable a final decision whether to proceed to be made. If agreed, the system could be operational on the first corridor by December 2003.

Background

2. Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) systems can provide accurate arrival times of buses through a range of media for intending passengers. A key component is a vehicle location system, which permits bus operators to run their services more effectively. The overall result for passengers is a more reliable service in addition to greater information provision. Further details of the system are provided in the Detailed Project Appraisal at Annex 1. The two main bus operators in the County have expressed support for a system and a willingness to contribute to the cost.
3. The County Council has made a commitment to the introduction of RTPI along Premium Routes (high frequency, high quality bus corridors). A full description of the policy context for this project is given in Annex 1. Central Government through its ‘Transport Direct’ initiative made £20 million available to accelerate such schemes. Unfortunately the County Council was not successful in securing any additional funding. Nevertheless, Halcrow were appointed to undertake a feasibility study into the introduction of such a system along the Oxford to Kidlington corridor and more widely across the County. The implementation of any future RTPI schemes will need to be funded from the Transport Capital and Revenue Programmes.
4. The Oxford to Kidlington corridor has been selected as the first phase for the following reasons:

1. The County’s two main operators provide a reasonably matched service in terms of frequency along Banbury Road.
2. The on-road competition along Banbury Road provides a challenging environment to test the system’s robustness.
3. There are no other significant bus operators along Banbury Road.
4. It provides the opportunity to improve bus service reliability in Kidlington.
5. The first phase can easily be extended to Bicester and/or London Road.
6. Early benefits of the system can be provided for the new Water Eaton Park and Ride service.
7. It will benefit a large number of bus users.
   
   
5. Pre-tender expressions of interest have been received from suppliers following advertisement through the Official Journal for the European Community.

Financial Implications

6. The financial implications as known at this stage are given in the Detailed Project Appraisal at Annex 1 and the Resource Appraisal (download as .rtf file) appended to it. The Detailed Project Appraisal also includes a discussion of potential risks attached to a project of this nature and scale. Consideration will need to be given at the appropriate time as to how this will fit in with existing commitments and competing proposals for both capital and revenue funding. The Appraisal assumes the system would be rolled out across many of the County’s main bus routes over the next 8 years. If the project proceeds, the Council will need to retain the ability to control the pace at which it is introduced across the county’s bus routes, for example to reflect variations in the Council’s capacity to bear capital and revenue expenditure.
7. By progressing to the tender stage the County Council will not be committed to taking the project forward but will have further detailed financial information with which to make a final decision. While negotiations with operators about their contributions will continue, it will not be possible to finalise this ahead of tenders being received. Tenders would be evaluated on a Best Value basis of 60% quality and 40% price.
8. Should the decision be taken later to proceed with the RTPI system, once the core system is in place, it can be expanded over time to other routes.

Staffing Implications

9. The implications are included in the Detailed Project Appraisal at Annex 1.
10. For the main bus operators who will want to take advantage of the Automatic Vehicle Location system, staff training and a reassignment of control centre staff will be required. Such a commitment will need to form part of a Quality Partnership with the County Council to ensure that the maximum benefits are brought to bus passengers.

Conclusions

11. Progressing this project to the tender stage will enable us to gauge likely costs with greater accuracy. At such time the precise contributions from the main operators can be ascertained and if necessary, a revised project appraisal presented. This would be included in a further report to be brought to the Executive in April when a final decision can be made in the light of decisions on the 2003/04 budget and capital programme. If a go ahead is then given, this should enable the first corridor to be operational by December 2003.

RECOMMENDATIONS

12. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:-

1. approve the Detailed Project Appraisal at Annex 1 to the report; and
2. authorise the invitation of tenders for provision of a Real Time Passenger Information system for the Oxford to Kidlington corridor and prices for extending it County-wide over time.

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Background papers: Citizens Panel Survey, on Oxfordshire County Council Webiste

Contact Officers: Victoria Sowter Tel: Oxford 815764, David Taylor Tel: Oxford 816519

18 November 2002

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