Rutland County Council Approves New Bus Project
Rutland County Council has approved a refreshed Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) to improve public transportation in the county.
Funding: The council secured £739,560 from the Department for Transport (DfT) to implement the plan.
Vision: To create a county where buses are a realistic transport option by building a convenient, seamless, and environmentally friendly network.
Challenges: Rutland's rural nature, low passenger numbers, and dispersed trip attractors make it difficult to provide frequent and reliable bus services.
Resident Feedback: Residents want more frequent services, reaching more places, operating on more days and for longer hours. They also desire better information, improved waiting facilities, cleaner buses, and more environmentally friendly options.
Proposed Improvements:
Countywide Digital Demand Responsive Transport (DDRT): This service will cater to residents with limited access to scheduled buses.
Decarbonization efforts: Piloting electric town centre "hopper" services and exploring community transport electric minibuses.
Travel incentives: Free or discounted travel periods to encourage ridership.
Improved information and marketing: Enhanced promotion, clearer timetables, and real-time bus information.
Simplifying ticketing and fares: Exploring youth travel ID cards and potentially simplifying ticketing options.
Upgrading bus stops and shelters: Improving comfort, accessibility, and safety for waiting passengers.
On-board enhancements: Audiovisual announcements, USB charging, and potentially Wi-Fi on buses.
Reviewing parking policies: Exploring ways to reduce car dependency and encourage bus use.
Monitoring Progress: The council will track performance against set targets, including journey times, reliability, passenger growth, and customer satisfaction.
This BSIP aims to transform Rutland's bus network, making it a more attractive and viable alternative to private cars. By addressing resident concerns and focusing on environmental sustainability, the council hopes to encourage a shift towards public transportation in the county.
At the meeting concerns were raised about reliability and it was confirmed Rutland County Council will be terminating the use of Call Connect, The council also had to be reminded that resident who travel to work often start work before 9.30am
