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Strathclyde Partnership for Transport Transport Outcomes Report: South Ayrshire 2012/13

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South Ayrshire Transport Outcomes Report 2012/13 1

Cover image: Dunure Castle Courtesy of South Ayrshire Council


1. Introduction Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) is the Regional Transport Partnership1 for the west of Scotland and is made up of twelve councils, of which South Ayrshire Council (SAC) is an integral partner. Within the SPT area there is a population of 2.16 million (41% of Scotland’s total) of which 5.2% (approx 111,000) live in South Ayrshire 2. SPT delivers transport solutions across the Strathclyde area and has a number of planning and operational responsibilities that deliver significant benefits to residents and businesses in South Ayrshire. These services include the management of socially necessary and demand responsive bus services; operation of the Subway; capital investment in regional transport projects for all modes; the operation of regional bus stations/interchanges; the administration of the regional ticketing scheme (ZoneCard); and acting as the secretariat to the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme. SPT’s planning and operational expertise is also utilised by the Council via agency arrangements for managing school transport contracts, and bus stop maintenance. All of SPT’s operational services and planning for the wider regional network are underpinned by SPT’s transport planning expertise which is an integral part of local planning and development processes in the SAC area. This includes responding to and influencing key transport consultations. SPT is a committed Community Planning partner and this report demonstrates how SPT will help the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership meet the Local Outcomes in the Single Outcome Agreement (SOA). This report provides further details about SPT’s activities in and for South Ayrshire and the benefits of these. The report is structured as follows: Section 2: provides a summary of the services delivered by SPT in 2011/12 and the

benefits of these services in the SAC area. Section 3: provides a look ahead to 2012/13 in terms of the transport projects and

operational priorities that SPT will deliver in the SAC area. Appendices: Appendix 1 contains additional supporting detail on the benefits and

services we provide together with the strategic fit with the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership’s SOA. Appendix 2 sets out how SPT activity is supporting the CPPs Local Outcomes.

Further information can be found on our website at www.spt.co.uk

1 See http://www.spt.co.uk/partnership/about for further information. 2 Source, National Records of Scotland, 2010 mid-year population estimates.

http://www.spt.co.uk/

http://www.spt.co.uk/partnership/about


2. Benefits of SPT Services in South Ayrshire - what has been delivered in 2011/12 The following table sets out the headline benefits of the services that SPT has delivered in the SAC area in 2011/12, (all figures quoted are approximate and are for 2011/12, unless otherwise stated.) Further detailed information is contained in Appendix 1. Capital investment (total 09/10 – 11/12)

Regional projects benefiting South Ayrshire residents - £32 million Projects within South Ayrshire – £2.5 million (including £1.8 million

investment on improved quality and journey times for bus services in Ayr and Prestwick, Monkton Park and Ride and A70 improvements.

Supported bus services – 10 contracts covering routes operated in the South Ayrshire area (8 of which crossed into neighbouring Council areas) at a cost of £730,000 pa MyBus – 22,000 trips, a 3% increase on 2010/11 – 2 contracts for MyBus services operated in South Ayrshire at a cost of £220,000 pa School contracts3 - Managed 212 school transport contracts with a budget of £2.1 million representing an approximate reduction of £50,000 on previous year costs Travel information - Maintained 4 ‘Travel Points’ in South Ayrshire. Mobile Travel Centre visited 50 times Integrated ticketing (ZoneCard) 4 – 3,000 tickets sold to South Ayrshire residents providing an estimated saving of £280,000 Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme 5 – Provided an estimated saving on rail and Subway travel of over £220,000 to South Ayrshire residents National Entitlement Card – Processed 1,500 disability card renewals and 4,200 calls answered Subway – Around 46,000 trips originated in South Ayrshire Buchanan bus station - 15,000 bus departures by 3 services served South Ayrshire Transport planning – Responded to over 40 consultations relating to transport

3 Delivered on behalf of the Council. Number of contracts managed includes renewals spanning two academic years. 4 Administered on behalf of participating operators. 5 Administered on behalf of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Joint Committee


3. Transport priorities for South Ayrshire 2012/13 - what we plan to deliver next A range of transport project and operational priorities have been identified which aim to enhance the regional transport network and deliver benefits to residents and businesses of the South Ayrshire area. Many of these support the Local Outcomes identified in the South Ayrshire SOA. Further information on the relationship between transport projects, operational priorities and South Ayrshire Local Outcomes can be found in Appendix 2.

3.1 Project priorities Six transport priorities to enhance the regional transport network in South Ayrshire have been identified and agreed with SAC. These are summarised below. Project title Brief Description Partners Year ahead and

timescales Continue to take forward the delivery of Monkton Park & Ride**

The provision of a bus based park and ride, with around 250 spaces, off the A77 near the Dutchhouse roundabout, to serve Ayr and Glasgow

SPT, SAC, bus operators

Complete land negotiations and begin physical implementation. Expected completion in 2013/14.

Deliver transport improvements in Ayr Town centre - including the development of a Statutory Quality Partnership and quality bus corridors**

A package of improvements to bus infrastructure, parking provision and traffic management in support of the intended development of a Statutory Quality Partnership (SQP) between SPT, SAC and bus operators. The SQP will seek to ensure a satisfactory public transport service is delivered across the local network. These projects will support the ongoing regeneration of the town centre

SPT, SAC, Ayr Renaissance Limited Liability Partnership, , and bus operators

Further extension to Real Time Passenger Information; enhancements to bus stop infrastructure to enable full compliance with DDA requirements; introduce traffic management measures at congestion points to improve bus journey times. Scheme to be implemented in stages through 2013/14. Ayr Town Centre Parking Study is a category 2 project in SPT’s 2012/13 capital programme.

Develop enhancements to the cycle network

South Ayrshire Council has been developing a core network of cycle routes to popular destinations for recreational purposes and to encourage more people to cycle to work and school. Improvements may include new routes and associated infrastructure such as signing, route lining and cycle facilities

SAC, SPT, Sustrans, Cycling Scotland.

This is a category 2 project within SPT’s capital programme. Implementation is dependent on funding becoming available and may build on the previous year’s works as detailed in section A1.1


Project title Brief Description Partners Year ahead and timescales

Support strategic road and rail improvements for freight, including the A77

The North Channel Partnership of Irish and Scottish public authorities seeks to support improvements to freight routes to and from Stranraer / Cairnryan. Freight Facilities Grants (FFG) provide support to move freight from road to rail. SPT’s Freight Quality Partnership is lobbying the Scottish Government for the continuation and simplification of the Grant scheme

SAC, SPT

This is a category 2 project in SPT’s 2012/13 capital programme. Take forward actions agreed by the North Channel Partnership including lobbying for road improvements such as Maybole bypass to reduce the impact of ferry traffic. Seek opportunities to support future application for FFG from South Ayrshire. SPT to work with SAC on demand and supply of lorry parking facilities in South Ayrshire

Consider Troon town centre traffic management

The construction of the Troon Harbour Link Road and a supermarket adjacent to the link road put pressure on town centre parking, goods loading and pedestrian and public transport access. In 2008/09 SPT funded a study to quantify the safety, accessibility, parking and public transport problems within Troon Town Centre and identified potential solutions. Implementation of these solutions will be undertaken as funding becomes available.

SAC, SPT This is a category 2 project within SPT’s 2012/13 capital programme. The project will build on the previous year’s works as detailed in section A1.1.

Support the development of M77 hard shoulder running

This project would enable buses to run on the hard shoulder of the northbound M77, in the AM peak, between Kilmarnock and Glasgow, with the potential to reduce bus journey times and improve journey time reliability for all users between South Ayrshire and Glasgow.

Transport Scotland, local authorities, bus operators

The scheme received Scottish Government funding in late 2011 to progress the pilot to a detailed design phase. Capital funding for construction has not yet been made available.

** SPT capital funding has been approved to take this forward in 2012/13


In addition, investment has been approved for a number of regional projects6 that will benefit residents of South Ayrshire, including: expanding real time bus information; upgrading bus shelters throughout the region; developing proposals for strategic park and ride; delivering Subway Modernisation developing smartcard integrated ticketing; and improving interchanges for access to healthcare

3.2 Ongoing operational priorities

SPT will continue to deliver benefits to South Ayrshire through investment and delivery of a number of key operational activities, including: working with bus operators and the council to develop a Statutory Quality Bus

Partnership, driving up standards of bus service provision in Ayr; the provision of socially necessary bus services; the provision of Demand Responsive Transport for those who are unable to access

mainstream transport; the delivery of effective school transport on behalf of SAC; improvements to bus service quality through enforcement of standards; improvements to bus infrastructure through the bus shelter upgrade programme managing and administering the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme5 for rail

and Subway users; managing and administering the ZoneCard4 multi-modal ticket; providing multi-modal ticketing options such as Daytripper and Roundabout tickets; developing smartcard integrated ticketing for seamless travel for all public transport

modes across the region; reviewing the existing transport network and developing plans, as appropriate, to

ensure continued effectiveness and efficiency including responding to local, regional, national and where appropriate European Union consultations which could impact on the transport network and service delivery in the west of Scotland;

working with SAC and others to promote and safeguard rail services south of Ayr; working with SAC and others to promote sustainable access to Prestwick Airport; engaging with SAC in the development of the South Ayrshire Local Development Plan

and the development management process; participating in the South Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership; and reviewing funding opportunities to facilitate the delivery of regional transport projects.

6 Approved at the Partnership meeting 30 March 2012. Projects are categorised as Category 1 within the SPT Capital

Programme

South Ayrshire Transport Outcomes Report 2012/13 (Appendices). A

Appendices

South Ayrshire Transport Outcomes Report 2012/13 (Appendices). A1

Appendix 1

Details of SPT’s Activities and Benefits Delivered in South Ayrshire This section provides an update and more detail on the transport priorities identified in 2011/12 and expands on the information provided in section 2 of this report. All figures quoted are approximate and are for the period 2011/12 unless otherwise stated. A1.1 Develop and deliver projects, across all modes

Progress on Priorities for 2011/12 SAC Transport Outcomes Report (TOR) for 2011/12 identified six transport priorities. The progress made towards achieving these is noted below. Priority / Project Progress Monkton Park & Ride (Project Ayr)**

Final design completed and planning permission granted. Working group established to progress land acquisition. Physical implementation expected in 2012/13 as detailed in section 3.1 above.

Transport improvements in Ayr Town centre to support Ayr Renaissance Vision - including the development of quality bus corridors **

Real Time Passenger Information installed along A79 corridor. Various bus stop improvements and puffin crossings installed. Bus lane extension at Prestwick Toll being progressed. Further works expected in 2012/13 as detailed in section 3.1 above.

Support strategic road and rail improvements for freight, including the A77

The North Channel Partnership continued lobbying for road improvements such as Maybole bypass to reduce the impact of ferry traffic. SPT provided input to the Girvan Town Centre charrette through the provision of public transport information. SPT is assisting SAC in support for the freight facilities grant application by Ailsa Horizons.

Troon town centre traffic management

Traffic data collection, modelling and design work completed for traffic signalling improvements to improve bus manoeuvring. Taxi ranks and new traffic signals installed. Further works planned for 2012/13, subject to available funding, as noted in section 3.1 above.

Local cycle network development

Design and installation of solar studs completed along Girvan Promenade and Lochside Road, Ayr to improve safety for cyclists.

Sustainable access to Prestwick Airport

SPT is supporting the hard shoulder running pilot on the M77 which will help facilitate bus access to Prestwick airport

*Project received SPT capital funding in 2011/12


Capital Investment in South Ayrshire Over the period 2009/10 - 2011/12 a total of £2.5 million has been invested in projects in South Ayrshire (either through grant funding to the Council or delivery by SPT) such as: improving A70 corridor; improving A70 Holmston Road; undertaking Ayr Town Centre Parking Study; undertaking Barassie Station park and ride design works; providing improvements to bus stops throughout South Ayrshire; delivering Carrick Street bus route improvements; delivering cycle route improvements; developing proposals for a park and ride at Monkton; developing quality bus corridors with real time passenger information; and undertaking Troon town centre traffic management study.

In this period £32 million has been invested in regional projects benefiting the residents of South Ayrshire such as: installing real time passenger information on two bus routes in Ayrshire; upgrading bus shelters throughout the region; improving travel information across the region through the provision of additional travel

information points, support to Traveline Scotland and investing in new bus stop poles, flags and information cases;

purchasing additional buses supporting DRT and subsidised services; developing smartcard integrated ticketing; developing strategic park and ride solutions; and delivering Subway Modernisation.

A1.2 Operating the Subway network

Approximately 46,000 Subway trips originated in South Ayrshire.

A1.3 Supporting bus services SPT managed 10 contracts7 supporting socially necessary bus services operating in the Council area at an annual cost of £730,000. This support was provided to operate services where it was not commercially viable to do so, and is often for the provision of services at weekends or evenings. Support may be provided for a full service or a part service, both in terms of route and hours of operation as market needs require.

Table 1: Socially necessary services in South Ayrshire

Service Number Route

48 Ayr - Cumnock **

110 Kilmarnock - Troon**

302 Hayhill – Moorfield - Forehill

343 Ayr – New Cumnock**

347 Rankinston - Ayr**

352 Ayr - Bellsbank**

358/360/362 Ayr - Girvan – Stranraer – Portpatrick**

361 Ayr – Straiton/Dunure

** Service covers multiple local authority areas

7 Contract and service numbers may not be consistent due to the varied nature of the contracting process for services.


A1.4 Providing Demand Responsive Transport – MyBus Services SPT managed 2 contracts7 for 2 MyBus services operating in South Ayrshire at an annual cost of £220,000. Annual patronage in 2011/12 was 22,000 trips, utilising our dedicated contact centre equipped with scheduling software.

Table 2: MyBus Services in South Ayrshire Service Number Route

700 Carrick Connector MyBus Rural M13 South Ayrshire MyBus

** Service covers multiple local authority areas

A1.5 Investing in new vehicles There are 3 adaptable buses purchased by SPT operating on MyBus contacts within South Ayrshire resulting in a saving in the cost of providing this service and improving the standard of vehicle available.

A1.6 Delivering school transport – (as an agent for SAC) SPT managed 212 school bus contracts in South Ayrshire with an annual budget of £2.1 million (the number of contracts spans two academic years, but fall within one financial year).

A1.7 Providing a “step change” for bus services and standards

SPT Service Compliance Officers SPT introduced Service Compliance Officers in South Ayrshire in October 2008. In 2011/12 the number of reported breaches of traffic regulations has dropped by 26% on the previous year to 20. There was one report made to the Traffic Commissioner in this period.

Statutory Quality Bus Partnership (sQBP) A proposal for a sQBP has been drafted and is currently being consulted on as part of the “Project Ayr” proposals for improving bus standards, quality, journey times and journey time reliability.

A1.8 Providing bus infrastructure SPT operates, manages and invests in bus stations and manages and maintains bus shelters and stops. Operating Buchanan bus station 15,000 annual bus departures by 3 services served South Ayrshire. Maintaining bus stops SPT currently has a 10 year agency agreement with South Ayrshire Council to maintain 696 marked, 47 custom and 39 hail and ride bus stops, until 2013. This agreement brings economies of scale in terms of contractor labour rates, work planning, and quick response time including emergency call outs out-with office hours and at weekends.

A1.9 Providing travel information to the public Providing a network of Travel Points SPT provides ‘Travel Points’ which stock a range of timetables and public transport information leaflets relating to the local area at the following locations: Ayr Tourist Information office Ayr Library University of the West of Scotland – Ayr campus Prestwick Airport


Operating a Mobile Travel Centre SPT’s Mobile Travel Centre visits South Ayrshire 50 times a year visiting Girvan, Maybole, Ayr Town Centre, Ayr Hospital and Troon. Providing and maintaining bus stop information panels SPT provides and maintains 855 bus stop pole mounted information cases at bus stops in South Ayrshire. Cases are owned by SPT and inspected and cleaned at least once per year.

A1.10 Supporting Community Transport SPT provides advice and development support to existing and new Community Transport organisations throughout the west of Scotland, including South Ayrshire. SPT has established a Community Transport Network to promote improved vehicle quality, support training and encourage best practice across the Community Transport sector in the west of Scotland.

A1.11 Addressing transport affordability As administrators of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme, SPT works with its local authority partners to sustain affordable travel for elderly and disabled residents across the west of Scotland.

National Entitlement Card Administration for SAC Take up of concession passes by elderly people 8 27,000 Percentage of eligible population9 86 Take up by disabled people8 4,200 Number of disabled card annual renewals 1,500 First time applications 300 Number of calls received annually from South Ayrshire residents 4,200

Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme10

Total value of rail travel being undertaken by residents of or visitors to South Ayrshire - £410,000

Annual saving to residents - £220,000

A1.12 Integrating transport, including transport and land-use planning SPT is a key agency in the Local Development Plan process and prepared a detailed Technical Report on transport and land use forecasting across the South Ayrshire area looking ahead to 2012-2027. This information and other SPT responses will be used to inform SAC’s Proposed Local Development Plan due in Winter 2012. SPT also engages with SAC through the development management process, and by providing responses to planning applications which potentially impact on the transport network.

A1.13 Administering integrated ticketing initiatives - ZoneCard SPT promotes and administers a range of integrated tickets covering the west of Scotland, including ZoneCard, the biggest multi-modal ticketing scheme outside London.

Number of cards (i.e tickets) sold to South Ayrshire residents 3,000 Estimated number of ZoneCard trips made 580,000 Estimated annual saving to residents using ZoneCard 11 £280,000

8 Source Scottish Government Bus and Coach Statistics, 2010. 9 Source Scottish Government Bus and Coach Statistics, 2010 and NRS mid year population estimates 2010. 10 Administered on behalf of the Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Joint Committee. Approximate figures from

value of rail concessions in Strathclyde region. 11 Saving: = (Composite Adult Single Fare - Average ZoneCard Single Fare) x Number of ZoneCard Journeys.


A1.14 Planning the regional transport network SPT has a key role to review the existing transport network and to develop plans, as appropriate, to ensure continued effectiveness and efficiency of the network including responding to local, regional, national and where appropriate European Union consultations which could impact on the transport network and service delivery in the west of Scotland. In 2011/12, SPT responded to over 40 transport and public policy consultations ranging from High Speed Rail, Network Rail Edinburgh Glasgow Route Utilisation Strategy, Rail 2014, the Scottish Government’s Ferries Review and the Competition Commission’s Review of Local Bus Market Inquiry to the Christie Commissions Review of Public Services in Scotland, Draft Core Path Plans and Main Issues Reports and Proposed Plans for Strategic and Local Development Plans.

A1.15 Promoting amendments to bus policy SPT is actively engaged in policy debates around the bus market, including responding to inquiries undertaken by the Competition Commission.

A1.16 Promoting developments on the rail network SPT has an important role in promoting improvements to the rail network across the west of Scotland in conjunction with local authority partners, Transport Scotland, Network Rail and First Scotrail.

A1.17 Promoting amendments to bus policy SPT is actively engaged in policy debates around the bus market, including responding to inquiries undertaken by the Competition Commission.

A1.18 Making journeys safer Planning and providing safety and security initiatives on the transport network, including on regional roads, such as the improvements to the A70.

A1.19 Promoting "Smarter Choices" and modal shift SPT has provided advice and support to SAC officers regarding travel planning for staff and modal shift initiatives such as European Mobility week and Bike week. SPT promotes SPT JourneyShare across the west of Scotland specifically targeting single occupancy vehicle commuters, providing them with the opportunity to leave their cars at home and instead get a lift with a registered SPT JourneyShare member. This helps to minimise the damaging environmental impacts of car travel. There are almost 3,500 SPT JourneyShare members across the west of Scotland in a combination of public and private schemes and SPT is working with its partner councils, including SAC to expand membership. SPT continues to provide the forum, through the SPT Sustainable Travel Group, for liaison between public and private sector organisations to support their employees in undertaking active travel. SAC and many other organisations are members of this group.

A1.20 Developing walking and cycling initiatives Encouraging active travel – SPT has provided support to SAC to undertake improvements to the cycle network in around Prestwick, Girvan and Ayr.


Appendix 2 - SPT and South Ayrshire’s SOA

A2.1 SPT as a Community Planning Partner Transport is critical to the delivery of the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes and South Ayrshire’s Local Outcomes. SPT’s investment programme and delivery of transport services supports the achievement of several South Ayrshire Local Outcomes. A summary of SPT activities and the Local Outcomes they support is found below.

Local Outcome: South Ayrshire is a safe place in which to live, work and visit

SPT contributes to this local outcome by investing in and supporting strategic road improvements, investing in improved walking, cycling and bus infrastructure, monitoring the condition of buses operating local services and school contracts and ensuring school children are able to travel safely to school by bus. Recent SPT projects, services and activities relevant to this outcome include:

Bus infrastructure improvements Pedestrian crossing improvements SPT Service Compliance Officers

Delivering school transport on behalf of SAC Investing in the strategic cycle network

Local Outcome: South Ayrshire has the right infrastructure to support business aspirations

Local Outcome: South Ayrshire has attractive built and natural environments, appreciated by its citizens and visitors

SPT contributes to these local outcomes by supporting measures to reduce congestion and improve journey times on strategic roads and town centres and investing in and delivering high-quality, modern transport infrastructure. Recent SPT projects, services and activities relevant to this outcome include:

Troon town centre traffic management Quality bus corridor development & bus infrastructure improvements / Project Ayr Ayr town centre parking study North Channel Partnership lobbying for road improvements such as Maybole bypass

Local Outcome: South Ayrshire has sustainable and accessible amenities and

services to meet the needs of all communities

Local Outcome: People in South Ayrshire have opportunities to participate fully in society

SPT contributes to these local outcomes by increasing access to work, education, healthcare, retail, social and leisure opportunities for disabled and elderly people, rural communities and for those dependent upon bus services and by reducing the cost of travel for people with disabilities and of pensionable age. Recent SPT projects, services and activities relevant to this outcome include:

MyBus Supported local bus services MyBus Rural Strathclyde Concessionary Travel Scheme Community Transport Cycle route improvements

National Entitlement Card administration

Local Outcome: South Ayrshire’s carbon emissions are substantially reduced.

SPT contributes to this local outcome by promoting and investing in sustainable travel measures including active travel, park and ride and public transport. Recent SPT projects, services and activities relevant to this outcome include:

Investing in the strategic cycle network

Bus infrastructure improvements SPT JourneyShare Park and ride upgrades

Investing in new, efficient buses for operation on MyBus and subsidised bus contracts

Sustainable Travel Group Meetings (biannual)

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport, Consort House, 12 West George Street, Glasgow G2 1HN

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