Issue - meetings

To consider and agree the Connected Mobility Strategy

Lead: Connected Mobility Manager

8.1          Members received the report of the Connected Mobility Manager who outlined the key elements of the report and his presentation.

8.2          Cllr Swarbrick welcomed the work being done and particularly the positive impact that this will have for rural areas. He stated that he was looking forward to moving from the strategy to activity.

8.3          Whilst welcoming the report, Mayor Burnham urged caution. He highlighted the previous attempt at integrated ticketing and explained that it stalled because it wasn’t linked to reform of public transport.  He stated that not “holding the fare box” for different modes can result in difficulty in achieving the ambition of integration.   

8.4          Cllr Mundry suggested that the ambition should be to buy one ticket to a destination where the price includes all modes of transport with the suggested best route.

8.5          Cllr Corcoran stated that as an area on the outskirts of Greater Manchester an integrated ticketing system would be valuable for his area. 

8.6          The Chair observed that a more substantive item on buses will be reported to the September Board meeting and will be integrated into the next TfN conference as well.

8.7          Mr Roy Newton explained that one of the major issues for businesses in his area is recruitment of employees and a key barrier is a lack of public transport as an alternative to the car for accessing employment opportunities. He would like to see some innovative thinking on self-sustaining models for public transport services.

Resolved:                    

That subject to any agreed amendments, the Board approves the publication of the Connected Mobility Strategy.

To consider the draft Connected Mobility Strategy.

Lead: Matt Smallwood

8.1          Members received the report and presentation from the Connected Mobility Manager who highlighted the key elements within the presentation.

8.2          The Chair stated that the approach needs to be more granular as people have different travel habits creating different outcomes.

The Connected Mobility Manager explained that there was an output from the former IST Programme where a set of consumer personas were created.  He suggested updating the personas from a post pandemic viewpoint and checking their relevance and then focusing research on them. He explained that from a user perspective, fare structures can’t be made on the basis that everyone has the same travel habits and he agreed that this needs to be included in the current work.

8.3          Cllr Kaushik questioned whether work would take place with the operators.

The Connected Mobility Manager explained that the approach would need to be tailored for geographical regions.  For a city region the default position needs to be a fully integrated network which takes away the challenge of multiple operators. 

With regard to areas outside of this there need to be governance and administration structures around the schemes that make it easier for operators working in multiple areas to engage with them. A standardised approach needs to be taken within these areas to assist operators but it will have passenger variation.  Ticketing arrangements will need to be looked at with standardised governance that ensures that operators will be involved from the outset.       

Cllr Kaushik then raised the issue with regards to generational differences in paying.

The Connected Mobility Manager confirmed that fares reform is currently a big issue.

8.4          The Chair expressed his concern that it costs three to four times more to use transport in the north of England than it does in London and asked to see numbers to illustrate benefits for people.

8.5          Cllr Davison opined that the former IST programme failed due to bus operators not being interested in being involved and asked what has changed now.

The Connected Mobility Manager explained that the previous programme was a capital heavy delivery programme.  The position has now changed, and the technical systems are a lot less complicated.  He explained that authorities and operators are aligned and revised emphasis is building up from existing work collaboratively across public and private sector. 

8.6          Cllr Salter described the Executive Summary as ‘dull’ and suggested that this be re-examined. 

He referred to the graph on page.48 of the pack and using London as an example where use increases as a result of investment,  suggested this could be used as an argument for increased spending on public transport in the North. 

The Connected Mobility Manager agreed that the Executive Summary will be refreshed.  On the point around the usage map he explained that the increase in usage was as a result of the Elizabeth Line opening and previous London Underground use now reporting with national rail. the report to Board will have a caveat included in it.

The Chair requested that further work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8