16 SURREY CONNECT DIGITAL DEMAND RESPONSIVE TRANSPORT SERVICE (DDRT) PDF 663 KB
Purpose of report:
To provide an update to the
Select Committee on the progress of the Surrey Connect Digital
Demand Responsive Transport service (DDRT).
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Witnesses:
Matt Furniss, Cabinet
Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth
Katie Stewart,
Executive Director for Environment, Growth, Land, Property and
Infrastructure
Lucy Monie, Director
for Highways and Transport
Paul Millin, Assistant
Director for Strategic Transport
Key points
raised during the discussion:
- The Chairman asked
what could be done to increase the number of registered users of
the Digital Demand Responsive Travel (DDRT) Service. The Assistant
Director for Strategic Transport explained that the number of
people using the service varied across the different DDRT zones,
primarily due to population differences. Every household and
business received publicity about the DDRT service before it
started. Ongoing promotion and publicity were needed, which was
part of the communication plan being developed. Local initiatives
were being looked at to try to encourage greater ridership, such as
through discounts and group travel offers.
- A Member asked how
successful the DDRT’s communication plan had been. The
Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that numbers
were rising in terms of people subscribing and using the scheme.
Work was being done with the communications team, and the
University of Surrey to see how to increase DDRT usage.
- A Member raised that
Mole valley’s DDRT service was set up as a door-to-door
service, rather than a stop-to-stop service, and asked if this
remained. The Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained
that this was part of the learning. DDRT was offering essential
door-to-door trips but was now only offering a stop-to-stop
service. If a new ‘stop’ was desired, it could be
assessed and made available to residents. The Stop-to-stop service
made services more available for residents.
- A Member raised that
between 10-15% of the cost of running DDRT services was recovered.
The Member asked what the realistic cost recovery ambition was once
the services were established, and if there was an indication of
how much, per journey, the Council was subsidizing for the Mole
Valley District. The Assistant Director
for Strategic Transport noted that DDRT was not introduced to
become a commercial offer. DDRT was successful in areas with
relatively low levels of public transport. As DDRT became more
established and optimised, it was reasonable to achieve between
20-25% of cost recovery in running the service.
- A Member asked what
proportion of the £4.85 million (m) budget for DDRT was being
funded through government funds, and if there was any further
Government Rural Mobility Funding available. The Assistant Director
for Strategic Transport explained that the Rural Mobility Fund
grant, allocated to Mole Valley’s DDRT service, was a 2-year
grant finishing in May 2024, and would be fully utilised. Bus
Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Phase 2 funding was the other
source of funding, where around £2.4m would be applied for
DDRT for the current and next financial year of
2025/26.
- The Member asked if
the DDRT funding was sustainable, and if the Council could continue
the service if there was no further government funding. The
Assistant Director for Strategic Transport explained that there had
been transparency over what the current costs ...
view the full minutes text for item 16