Days Out By Bus: Encouraging leisure travel to boost bus patronage

In Summer 2023, Agito created a "Days Out By Bus in Bedfordshire" campaign to generate increased patronage by encouraging passengers to use the bus to explore their local area.

One of the principal elements of this was a booklet promoting a number of diverse visitor attractions and how to reach them by local bus. This was widely distributed and very well-received. This was also supported by some Social Media promotion.

At a number of attractions we were able to negotiate contra-deals to offer discounted admission charges or money off food and drink, to visitors arriving by bus.

The campaign, was designed and produced by Agito Transport Planning on behalf of the 3 Bedfordshire Authorities, and their Enhanced Bus Partnerships, and funded through the Central Bedfordshire BSIP.

It is intended that an expanded campaign will be run in 2024, commencing in early Spring.

Central Bedfordshire Council Bus Service Improvement Plan and Enhanced Partnership

Since April 2021, Agito has been supporting Central Bedfordshire Council (CBC) through the preparation of their Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and the making of their Enhanced Partnership (EP). 

Agito was the primary author of the authority's BSIP, which secured a funding award of £3.7 million, and we have continued to support CBC in development of their Enhanced  Partnership Plan (EPP) and Enhanced Partnership Scheme(EPS).

Through an informal call-off arrangement, we are continuing to work closely with CBC officers, liaising with the DfT and carefully following published guidance to deliver the outputs. 

Many of the proposed EPS measures and work themes are bi-partite and tri-partite across the three authorities, which make up the former county of Bedfordshire. This liaison with the neighbouring unitary authorities aims to deliver a seamless approach to proposals for bus service improvements, fares and ticketing initiatives, publicity and promotion and infrastructure across the region, to maximise the benefit for passengers.

Access to Deeside Industrial Park & Garden City Hub, Local Transport Fund bid and North East Wales Bus Strategy 

Agito was commissioned by Flintshire County Council (FCC) to carry out a study to examine options for enhanced public transport links for the Deeside Industrial Park (D.I.P.). Shortly after commencing work on the study, Agito was additionally asked by FCC to provide short notice consultant support to develop a bid to the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund for 2017/18 & 2018/19 for funding the schemes proposed for improving access into D.I.P. Although the proposals were still at an early stage of development, scheme descriptions and outline costs were included in the LTF bid. This bid was submitted to Welsh Government in March 2017 and was successful in securing partial funding of nearly £1 million for 2017/18.

The overall study began with a review in the context of a whole journey to be undertaken by someone unfamiliar with the existing bus service provision to D.I.P. and needing to research their travel options, and identified a large number of deficiencies in the existing information and infrastructure. Recommendations were made for new and significantly enhanced infrastructure across D.I.P. and for a new, dedicated Travel Co-ordinator, and an online portal for service information.

In the context of the proposed North East Wales Metro scheme and a potential new Deeside Parkway railway station on the Wrexham – Bidston line, the study reviewed the network of publicly funded transport into D.I.P. to consider how the services integrated with the rest of the public transport network, and whether the bus services afforded the best access to employment opportunities for residents of Flintshire and beyond. As a result, the study proposed a number of revisions to the routes and timetables of existing services to create an even headway of journeys, following a common route through the D.I.P. and renumbering, rebranding and promotion to denote an integrated network.

To reduce journey times by bus travelling to and through D.I.P., and to signal a clear message that the bus has advantages over the private car within the Park, a number of opportunities for new bus-only links and/or enhanced bus priority were identified, taking account of the proposed Northern Gateway and Airfields development sites, along with a phased approach for implementation. The study also considered options for a bus-bus interchange hub at Garden City, before recommending the enhancement of on-highway passenger facilities at an existing local centre.

Finally, the study provided an overview of recent developments in Smart ticketing, and highlighted the need for an integrated, regional approach, noting parallel developments in the English regions and other Welsh Government aspirations.

During the course of the study, Agito was additionally requested to provide short-notice consultant support to draft a new, joint bus strategy for North East Wales (Flintshire, Denbighshire and Wrexham Borough Councils). This required research on previous strategies developed by each of the three authorities and Taith, and liaison with the Transport Officers of each authority on their priorities for inclusion in the new draft document. 

Drawing on our own knowledge of the bus industry, the current operating environment and constraints in North Wales and examples of good practice from elsewhere, Agito developed an initial draft of the bus strategy, for further development and refinement by the 3 authorities.

Connecting Ceredigion's Coastal Communities

In early summer 2022, Agito was tasked by Welsh Government with examining the operation of a supported rural bus service in Ceredigion, that served a number of purposes – a necessary social need and one of linking coastal paths and tourism hotspots. The route was further constrained by the width of the roads traversed which determined the size of the vehicle used and, in turn, the passenger capacity of the service.

Agito was asked to consider the future viability of the service, taking into account current passenger movements, the suitability of the vehicle, electronic ticket machine (ETM) data and the potential for patronage growth.

We carried out a series of on-bus surveys, gained the views of regular passengers, carried out a full publicity audit and consulted transport and tourism officers of the County Council, and the current and previous operators of the bus service to gain a rounded view.

Agito presented a full report with recommendations on suggested funding mechanisms, timetable improvements, newer vehicle and the types available, and a range of quick-win opportunities to improve publicity and promotion of the service in time for the next Summer season. 

A number of our proposed initiatives involved contra-deals with local businesses along line of the bus route and greater marketing of the service for linear walks with coastal path visitors. This not only strengthens the viability of the bus service but benefits the local economy too. Tourists visiting by bus will spend money in local businesses. 

Salford Bus Network Review 

Agito conducted an independent review of the existing bus network in the City of Salford, on behalf of Salford City Council. 

The review sought to identify the main issues that residents have with travel, and to suggest a modified bus network that would better meet their needs. The objective of the review was to produce a realistic “Vision” for a bus network in Salford that could address social deprivation and support sustainable economic growth and regeneration.

At SCC’s request, the review was conducted in three phases, in Spring 2015, 2016 and 2017, focusing, in turn, on each of the City’s 8 Neighbourhood areas.  Agito conducted a successful public consultation exercise within each of the neighbourhood areas to capture the opinions of local people on their bus services. To avoid any perceptions of impartiality or conflicts of interest, this consultation was deliberately pitched as being independent of the local council, TfGM and the bus operators, and was hosted, solely, by Agito’s experienced staff.

In the comprehensive final report, Agito’s experienced transport planning team used the feedback from the public consultation to suggest appropriate public transport services (bus services and some DRT schemes) that would enhance links to employment opportunities, and access to education, healthcare and leisure facilities. 

The final report was well received by members and officers and has been presented to both the City Region Mayor and TfGM for discussion on securing an enhanced bus network across the City.

The review has helped to shape Salford’s aspirations for the bus network across the City and will inform officers during discussions on future service changes. It will help the authority to influence the agreed bus network to be introduced under the franchised bus services scheme being introduced by the Greater Manchester City Region in September 2023. 

A55/A494/A550 Park& Share study

The study, for North Wales Trunk Road Agency and Flintshire Council, considered sites where informal Park & Share activity was already taking place, provided research on existing formal sites elsewhere in the UK and suggested an implementation strategy for the development of new P&S sites along the North Wales Expressway corridor. 

A framework analysis was carried out to determine site suitability and considered deliverability, cost, demand, suitability as rural transport hub, integration with bus services, safety and location as key parameters.

Connecting bus services: MediaCityUK

MediaCityUK, at Salford Quays in Greater Manchester, is rapidly developing as an internationally significant centre of employment in the digital and creative industries, including the BBC’s new headquarters in the North.  

This study, on behalf of Salford City Council and GMPTE, examined options for a new bus service connecting Salford Crescent station and Salford University with the new developments. 

The study assessed potential patronage and revenue for a number of different route options and recommended a preferred route. The study developed the proposal, on behalf of GMPTE, for a successful bid to the DfT’s Kickstart competition. The suggested new service - Quays Link 9 - was subsequently introduced, funded by GMPTE and Salford City Council, and proved to be so successful that it was commercialised after just over one year of operation.

Leigh – Salford - Manchester Busway operation bid

This project involved the provision of technical assistance and human resources to a leading bus operator for its bid to be the operator of choice for the Leigh – Salford - Manchester Busway (LSM) scheme. 

The promoter of the scheme, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), devised a three stage procurement process and this project focused on the Invitation to Submit and Outline Solution (ISOS) stage, which was the second stage of the process. 

Agito worked closely with senior staff at the bus company to draft and prepare detailed responses to the technical questions set by TfGM. 

The project culminated in a presentation and question and answer session to TfGM, with support from Agito consultants.