Agenda item

This report provides details of the outcome of a study into integrated cross-city bus ticketing for York and seeks Members’ recommendation for progressing one of the options identified by the study.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the estimated cost implications and realistic timescales for the introduction of an integrated cross-city bus ticket be noted.

                        (ii)        That, in the short term, Officers be requested to pursue the idea of establishing a cross ticketing regime on key high usage corridors serving destinations such as the Hospital and the University.

                        (iii)       That the results of their investigations be reported back to a future Executive meeting, together with an update on the options for accelerating the roll out of the Yorcard into York.

REASON:      To provide an appropriate response to this issue, given that the lack of cross ticketing affects relatively few City of York residents and that the cost of introducing a separate system for York is beyond the financial resources currently available to the Council.

Members considered a report which provided details of the outcome of a study into integrated cross-city bus ticketing for York and sought approval to progress one of the options identified by the study.  It was noted that there were no funds set aside for this initiative, which had not been included in the 2008/09 budget proposals.

The study, prepared by Halcrow, had been undertaken in response to a motion approved by Full Council on 29 November 2007 (Minute 48 of that meeting refers).  The full version of the Halcrow report had been made available as a background paper.  It outlined five ticket types that could be covered by a block exemption from The Competition Act 1998 and The Transport Act 2008.  These formed the basis of the options available for development in the York area and comprised:

• Multi-operator Travelcards (MTCs)
• Through Tickets (TTs)
• Multi-operator Individual Tickets
• Short Distance Add-ons
• Long-Distance Add-ons

The Halcrow report concluded that, in the short term, and to confirm that latent demand for such a product existed, the Council should develop a paper-based MTC.

Members were asked to consider the following options:

Option A – to proceed with the introduction of a paper-based MTC, with a view to introducing a smartcard solution in the longer term.  Subject to the agreement of bus operators, this would result in a ticket acceptable on all bus services across the City.  A paper-based travelcard could be introduced more quickly and far more cheaply than a smartcard.  However, it would still involve set-up costs of £187k as well as ongoing running costs of £130k. 

Option B – to proceed with the immediate introduction of a smartcard product, for introduction in 2012.  Without financial support from regional or central government, the cost would be prohibitive, at an estimated £2.7m.

Option C – not to introduce a cross city bus ticket unless it formed part of the wider ‘Yorcard’ scheme currently being trialled in Sheffield.  There were currently no plans to introduce the scheme in York but when the opportunity arose (probably in 3-5 years), the estimated cost of £2m in the first year could be funded through the Regional Financial Allocation.

Supplementary information outlining work carried out to review the possibility of introducing a ‘through ticket’ product was circulated at the meeting.  [This has been made available on-line as an additional annex to the report on this item].

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the estimated cost implications and realistic timescales for the introduction of an integrated cross-city bus ticket be noted.

                        (ii)        That, in the short term, Officers be requested to pursue the idea of establishing a cross ticketing regime on key high usage corridors serving destinations such as the Hospital and the University.¹

                        (iii)       That the results of their investigations be reported back to a future Executive meeting, together with an update on the options for accelerating the roll out of the Yorcard into York.²

REASON:      To provide an appropriate response to this issue, given that the lack of cross ticketing affects relatively few City of York residents and that the cost of introducing a separate system for York is beyond the financial resources currently available to the Council.