Demand Responsive Transport DRT

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Demand Responsive Transport (DRT)

• European Conference on Sustainable Goods and
  Passenger Transport
• 31 May 01 June 2005

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Marion Mackay Principal Officer (Concessionary
Travel Community Transport) Public Transport
Unit Transportation Infrastructure Services
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Demand Responsive Transport (DRT)

• DRT overview
• A2B dial-a-bus project
• - overall aim of the pilot project
• - how the services operate
• - aims objectives
• - the future

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Demand Responsive Transport (DRT)

• Transport that is responsive to passenger needs
• Many types of DRT services
• A DRT trip will only operate when requested
• Cross between a bus and a taxi
• Can provide connections onto
• mainline bus services

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Examples of Types of DRT Service (1)
Semi-Fixed Route DRT Strathdon A2B dial-a-bus
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Examples of Types of DRT Service (2)
Area-Based DRT Central Buchan A2B dial-a-bus
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Demand Responsive Transport ( DRT)

• Benefits areas of low passenger demand
• - sparsely populated geographical areas
• - certain times of the day or week
• - where target users are dispersed among the
  general population

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A2B dial-a-bus pilot project

• The overall aim of the project is .
• to demonstrate how the practical
  co-ordination of rural transport services can be
  achieved through a managed approach to the
  development of DRT

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A2B comprises

• 5 A2B dial-a-bus services
• all door-to-door
• 8 wheelchair accessible vehicles
• TDC within Council offices in Aberdeen
• - 2 dedicated employees
• - Booking scheduling software
• - Bookings taken at least day before travel

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A2B dial-a-bus pilot project

• Testing different types of DRT
• what works where
• Variables
• - contrasting geographical areas
• - types of service
• - types of clients
• - vehicles drivers

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Aberdeenshire A2B Services
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Service Statistics

• 636 registered members
• - 77 of clients are women
  - most clients aged over 60
  yrs
• Approx 350 passenger trips per week
• 85 of trips for shopping

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Strathdon A2B (Donside)

• Semi-fixed route
• - 6 fixed timing points
• - plus demand responsive area
• 8 seat minibus
• Open to general public
• Operated by Stagecoach

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Strathdon A2B Coverage

• Mon-Sat, 0810 1400 hrs

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Alford A2B

• Mostly area-based, vehicles free to roam
• Fixed route section on Wednesdays
• Council minibus and driver
• Service open to those eligible for concessionary
  travel, and anyone who does not have access to
  private transport

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Alford A2BCoverage

• Mon-Fri, 0930 1430 hrs

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Fraserburgh A2B Peterhead A2B (Buchan)

• Open to those who cannot use conventional bus
  services
• Operates approx 1000 1400 hrs
• Monday - Friday
• Operated in partnership with Buchan DAB
• Area based, vehicles free to roam
• Education minibuses

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Peterhead A2BCoverage
Tie-in with Shopmobility in Peterhead
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Fraserburgh A2B Coverage
Additional vehicle - continuation of Social Work
dial-a-ride service
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Central Buchan A2B

• Replaced conventional local bus service
• Open to the general public
• Operated by Kininmonth Cabs
• Three 7-seat taxi-buses
• Area based, vehicles free to roam
• Operates 0830 1830 hrs
• Monday -Saturday

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Central Buchan A2B Coverage
Connections and through-tickets onto mainline bus
services
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A2B Dial-a-Bus Project Aims Objectives (1)

• to provide a better service for new and existing
  passengers through improved accessibility to
  local communities and services
• new services
• replacement services serve wider geographical
  area, and use better vehicles

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A2B Dial-a-Bus Project Aims Objectives (2)

• to maximise local vehicle resources owned by the
  Council and others
• using Council owned minibuses
• Education and Social Work
• using vehicles of other locally based bus and
  taxi operators ( C.T.)
• talks with Scottish Ambulance Service

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A2B Dial-a-Bus Project Aims Objectives (3)

• to investigate and demonstrate how DRT software
  can be used effectively in fleet management, and
  in particular real-time scheduling
• Trapeze booking/scheduling/despatch software
• direct communication with vehicles
• potential for booking via internet

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A2B Dial-a-Bus Project Aims Objectives (4)

• to understand how transport provision can be
  better targeted at need
• consulted with communities and operators
• by their nature the services provide trips when
  and where people want to travel (within
  operational restrictions)
• extensive monitoring

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A2B Dial-a-Bus Project Aims Objectives (5)

• to monitor the effectiveness of the system
  through changes in accessibility and modal shift
• consultants interim report confirms an increase
  in accessibility
• very limited modal shift to date

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The Future of A2B

• Same-day bookings of A2B trips
• Bookings for community transport provider
• Review existing A2B services
• Introduce new A2B services
• Pilot findings to inform the Scottish Executive
  and others on good practice in DRT

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A2B - Conclusion

• Pilot ongoing final report in Dec 05
• Services generally well-received by passengers
• More efficient use of vehicles
• Services enable people to continue to live in
  their communities
• Potential for modal shift

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Thanks for listening!

• Marion Mackay
• marion.mackay_at_aberdeenshire.gov.uk
• www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/publictransport