Decision details

Purpose of report: Follows on from a petition received from residents regarding the changes to routeing and timetables of route 13 and withdrawal of route 13A proposed by First Group. The report will provide the results of a review of the existing provision and present options for the future operation of bus routes in the affected areas

Members are asked to: Approve one of the options put forward for ongoing provision of bus services.

RESOLVED:      That the Executive Member for City Strategy agrees to:

i)                    Note the content of the petition;

ii)                  Support Option b to accept the commercially registered service 13 registered by First West and North Yorkshire, namely a daytime service no longer linked to the Monks Cross area of York;

iii)                Propose to First Group that route 13 should be operated in a bi-directional loop around Elmfield Avenue – Dodsworth Avenue;

iv)                Ask Officers to further investigate how best to offer a link between Dodsworth/Elmfield Avenue and Monks Cross as part of the ongoing review of the tendered bus network. Such a link to be established before access, via the number 13, is discontinued and to be subject to further discussions with businesses at Monks Cross, and elsewhere on the route, regarding revenue contributions towards the service (as described in para. 20 of the officer report);

v)                  Instruct Officers to arrange to move the No. 9 bus service stops on Malton Road to a point closer to the Laburnum Garth junction whilst ensuring that they are easily accessible from the Woodlands/Elmfield View residential area;

vi)                Ask Officers to ensure that alternative bus services, including dial and ride, are well publicised in the Woodlands/Elmfield View area before the 13A loop is discontinued;

vii)              Ask Officers to approach Coastliner to investigate whether Route 844 could be diverted via Woodlands Grove.

REASON:      The proposed, subsidised, extensions to the commercial route can be accommodated within the budget for this year. It is highly likely, however, that the public transport budget will require re-evaluation following the Government’s comprehensive spending review and would not be a priority area for expenditure when compared to other supported bus routes. The discontinued section of route (and hours of operation) can be accommodated in the review of subsidised bus services to be undertaken later this year. The bi-directional route is proposed as this is felt to best serve the needs of the Dodsworth Avenue/Elmfield Avenue residents and the commercial needs of First West and North Yorkshire.