Strengthening Public Transport Provision: A Snapshot from Europe

1. THE PEP Workshop: Green and Health-Friendly Sustainable Mobility Almaty 26-27 September 2013 Strengthening Public Transport Provision:A Snapshotfrom Europe Paul Curtis Polis

2. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Major reorganisation of bus network objectives: • To redefine the overall public transport network in order to improve the efficiency of the system in terms of accessibility and coverage • To set up a new traffic control system giving priority to public transport • To implement innovative access and transit scheme according to the Superblocks philosophy

3. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Major reorganisation of bus network • 29 October 2009 saw 17 bus services disappear overnight to be replaced with 9 lines. Changes included: • Major mapping exercise done to understand user need and bus route/stop priority • 146 bus stops relocated, redesigned improving access • Better frequencies for services • New bus lanes & priority traffic lights at busy junctions • ‘Superblocks’ ensure standardised resident proximity and maximum bus route efficiency

4. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain old network new network with ‘superblocks’ philosophy

5. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Bus Lane Priority Bus lane priority over other vehicles Queue jumping at 22 busy junctions

6. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain New traffic light regulations Light priority extended at 48 junctions between 2009-2012

7. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Bus stops - improved accessibility Higher platforms to minimise distance between bus and bus stop

8. Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain Results Number of users of Public Transport users has increased 80% in last 6 years More efficient public transport network in terms of speed, frequencies, coverage and accessibility New ranking of road user priority away from cars and towards public transport and bicycles & pedestrians Bus commercial speed has increased from 10,97 to 12,56 km/h Fuel consumption savings of 6,24% Lower Co2 emissions

9. Donastia-San Sebastian, Spain Bus service technological improvements Real time information by text & smart phone apps, security cameras, smart ticketing Puntuality of the bus corridors 98% Bio Diesel bus fleets better fuel efficiency Average bus speed increase by 2km

10. Donastia-San Sebastian, Spain

11. Tallinn, Estonia Free Public Transport for residents 2012 Rationale: mobility for all, especially for low wage workers for whom some jobs are inaccessible Free transport attracts workers, employers and customers to businesses, shops and restaurants Smart ticketing system introduced Public Transport budget €53 million Normally ticket revenue €17 million

12. Tallinn, Estonia Free Public Transport for residents 2012 • Results in 2013 • Public transport up 17% • Traffic congestion down 15% • Car use down 9% • €10 million tax revenue gained through extra 10,000 residents registering in Tallinn. • This mitigates the €17m revenue lost in ticket sales

13. Istanbul, Turkey • Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services offer fast and regular services. Prague, Budapest have signalled interest • Istanbul has one of the most famous and well-used BRTs • 42km long, 33 stops • Recent figures show: • 40 km/h average speed • reduction in journey time from 2.5 hours to 40 mins • 600,000 travellers per day, 144 buses per hour

14. Thank you for your attention Mr Paul Curtis Polis paul.curtis@lept-eu.org