Milton Keynes Bus Service Improvement Plan
Annual review – October 2022
Introduction
It is a year since the Milton Keynes Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) was produced in response to the Government’s National Bus Strategy: Bus Back Better. It set out a vision for Milton Keynes to have an excellent, green and inclusive public transport system used by all, and had two main goals:
- To significantly increase the relevance of public transport in the lives of the people of Milton Keynes, reducing the dominance of the car, supporting growth, creating inclusivity of movement and helping to improve health and wellbeing for all.
- To see the public transport system in Milton Keynes acknowledged for excellence – used out of choice by all. Success will be driven by innovation and determination to achieve the best quality of service and lowest environmental impact.
The BSIP formed a bid to the Department for Transport (DfT) for £41m over 3 years, to introduce a host of network improvements to boost bus use by 20%. Unfortunately, the bid was not successful. However, Milton Keynes City Council and its partners have looked to continue making progress in supporting and developing bus services. The Council was successful in a bid to the DfT’s ZEBRA programme for funding to introduce a fleet of electric buses.
Overview of 2021-22
Highlights:
- Enhanced Partnership Group has continued to meet monthly (and now quarterly). Also, a number of sub-groups meet, covering specific matters – these are Communications; Bus network; Stakeholder; Ticketing.
- An EP Plan and Scheme were formulated, consulted upon and made during 2022.
- A Bus passenger charter was introduced, published and promoted.
- ZEBRA funding was awarded towards the provision of 50 electric buses.
Challenges:
- Patronage recovery post-pandemic, with current levels of use remaining well down on those in 2019.
Patronage in Milton Keynes has recovered to around 70-75% of pre-Covid levels and seems to be levelling off at this point. Concessionary travel usage has seen a lower level of recovery and currently stands at about 60% of pre-Covid levels. Any increase on these figures will now be considered as new patronage, as the figures have been stable for some months.
The bus network has remained relatively stable during 2022. Changes planned to the network for November 2022 are relatively minor, with no reduction in peak vehicle requirement (PVR) from the major operator. There are some services being withdrawn by small operators, as they are not proving to be commercially viable post pandemic.
Use of the MK Connect demand responsive service has continued to grow throughout, since its launch across the whole council area in April 2021.
MKCC has an aspiration to introduce mass rapid transit. An outline business case is currently being developed, with modelling to explore the viability and the best approach to infrastructure, rolling stock and management/operation.
A proposal is being taken forward to expand the e-ink signs from a trial of 15 to 65 in total. These will replace some LED signs that are not working well in their existing locations, but will mainly be at new sites that do not have mains power.
The popular bus timetable book is being produced as a one-off GetAroundMK Transport Guide, which will be delivered to all households. Once the circulation is complete, the authority will seek advertising support to fund future editions.
End to end route surveys have been undertaken to identify where buses are getting delayed most. The next stage will be to have an engineer visit the sites and assess the identified issues and the level of intervention required. These findings will allow a clear strategic approach to be formulated.
The smart ticketing scheme is moving the AllinOne under-19 youth concession onto the MK Move card. Additionally, an online portal is being made available for applications and renewals of English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) passes, to provide a simpler, faster renewals and application process. The ability to top up and collect MK Move products has been launched in the GetAroundMK app to make it easier for people to make use of the MK Move offer.
Performance and monitoring
BSIP KPIs/targets and performance against these are shown in the tables below. These will be updated every 6 months in October and April.
|
Target description |
2018/19 (actual) |
2019/20 (actual) |
2020/21 (actual) |
2021/22 (actual) |
2024/25 (target) |
|
Overall journey satisfaction (all bus passengers) |
83% |
76% |
n/a |
n/a |
89% |
|
Satisfaction with value for money (all fare-paying passengers) |
66% |
52% |
n/a |
n/a |
75% |
|
Satisfaction with on-bus journey time (all bus passengers) |
86% |
73% |
n/a |
n/a |
88% |
|
Total ENCTS passenger journeys (originating at MK boarding points) |
2.1m |
2.0m |
0.6m |
1.0m |
2.2m |
|
Total passenger journeys on key N-S/E-W route services (3, 4, 5, 6, 8) |
5.26m |
5.17m |
1.93m |
3.63m |
6.5m |
|
Total passenger journeys per head of population (DfT bus statistics Bus0110) |
32.1 |
31.2 |
13.0 |
n/a |
39.0 |
|
Average passengers per vehicle hour on DRT |
n/a |
n/a |
1.1 |
3.2 |
4.5 |
|
Proportion of population within 400m of a service 15 mins or better |
n/a |
23% |
n/a |
n/a |
60% |
|
% of local bus fleet Euro VI or better |
n/a |
14% |
n/a |
n/a |
70% |
|
% of local bus fleet Zero emission |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
30% |
|
% of bus stops upgraded |
n/a |
n/a |
0% |
0% |
60% |
BSIP summary targets (as required in DfT summary table submitted as part of original BSIP).
|
KPIs |
Actual |
Target |
Measure |
|||
|
|
2018/19 |
2019/20 |
2020/21 |
2021/22 |
2024/25 |
|
|
Journey time
|
n/a |
n/a |
3.4 |
3.4 |
2.45 |
End to end journey time of service 5 between Wolverton (Church Street) and Bletchley Bus Station at 0830 on a weekday (October), shown as ratio of bus to car journey time |
|
Reliability |
78% |
70% |
82% |
86% |
95% |
Proportion of buses running on time (no more than 1 min early or 5 mins later than scheduled), from RTPI observations |
|
Passenger numbers (all) |
8.6m |
8.4m |
3.5m |
n/a |
10.1m |
Data from operators supplied to DfT for Bus Statistics BUS0109 |
|
Average passenger satisfaction |
83% |
76% |
n/a |
n/a |
89% |
Transport Focus annual Bus Passenger Survey |
Delivery
The following table lists the measures proposed in the BSIP and provides an update on whether any progress has been made, or what the next steps are.
|
BSIP projects and schemes |
Proposed delivery dates |
Included in EP |
Progress made |
Next steps |
Network Planning |
||||
|
Bus network review |
2022/23 – 2024/25 |
Yes |
End to end route surveys undertaken |
Engineer site visits to assess interventions |
|
New bus services |
2022/23+ |
Yes (*) |
Some changes to services but no new services at this time |
Share patronage hotspots on MK Connect with operators |
|
DRT: Stage 2 |
2022/23+ |
Yes (*) |
Conducting in-depth meetings with various groups to understand issues with existing system |
Model alternative approaches |
|
Park & Ride |
2022/23 – 2023/24 |
Yes (*) |
|
|
Bus priority measures and addressing pinchpoints and congestion hotspots |
||||
|
Bus priority measures |
2022/23+ |
Yes (*) |
Introduction of green light extensions for buses at smart signal locations |
Further roll out as smart signal project expands |
|
Red routes |
2023/24 – 2024/25 |
No |
No action to date |
Identify options and seek political support |
|
Enforcement |
2023/24 – 2024/25 |
No |
MKCC is seeking moving traffic violation powers |
|
|
Urban traffic control management |
2022/23 – 2024/25 |
No |
A proposal is going through internal approvals within MKCC |
|
Fare and ticketing |
||||
|
Ticketing integration |
2021/22 |
No |
Driver app developed for MK Connect to accept MK MOVE PAYG |
Launch driver app November 2022 |
|
Smart Ticketing – Improve and expand existing scheme |
2022/23+ |
Yes |
Scheme expanding to include the under-19 ‘all in one’ scheme |
|
|
Travel by bus promotions |
2022/23 |
Yes |
Working with operators to support promotional work |
|
|
Free travel for low-income groups |
2022/23+ |
No |
Dependent on funding |
|
|
Payment by facial recognition |
2022/23+ |
No |
Dependent on funding |
|
|
Concessionary fares reimbursement mechanism |
|
Yes |
No progress |
|
Infrastructure and integration |
||||
|
MK MRT |
Concept development and design 2022/23; delivery of system 2026 - 2030 |
No |
Outline business case is being developed with support from external consultants |
|
|
Pinchpoints programme |
2022/23+ |
Yes |
Survey work undertaken |
Pinch point programme will be developed by the Network Team |
|
Introduction of mobility hubs |
2022/23 – 2026/26 |
No |
A strategy for design and placement is being developed and a hub is being included in the Agora development, Wolverton |
|
|
Coachway Park & Ride |
2022/23 – 2023/24 |
Yes |
Exploring options with landowner |
|
|
Bus access at hospital |
2022/23 |
Yes (*) |
Not started |
Design work on this will be requested at an appropriate time |
|
Bus stop/shelter programme |
2022/23+ |
Yes |
Procurement to be complete by end of 2022/23 financial year |
Begin roll out of new shelters |
|
Reduced speed limit on grid roads |
2022/23+ |
No |
No proposals moving forward currently |
|
|
Specific priority measures in CMK |
2023/24 – 2024/25 |
Yes |
Updating of smart signals to allow green extensions for buses |
Review of routes for grid road priority lanes. |
Information and brand |
||||
|
Promoting bus use |
2022/23 |
Yes |
Producing a one-off Travel Book for early 2023 |
Putting together a detailed collaborative marketing plan with operators |
|
Information and communications |
2022/23+ |
Yes |
GetAroundMK app phase two live |
Promote awareness |
|
Minimising disruption from roadworks |
2021/22 |
Yes |
Working with Highways to improve early warning on major works and information on late changes. |
|
|
MK App |
2022/23 |
Yes |
Phase 2 launched |
|
|
Public transport map |
2022/23 |
Yes |
This is updated regularly to reflect changes to services |
|
|
Real time passenger information |
2022/23+ |
Yes |
Proposal to expand the existing real time network going forward in November |
|
|
Timetable and service changes |
2022/23 |
Yes |
Operators have agreed to pre- agreed service change dates, to reduce confusion, from January 2023 |
|
|
Engagement |
2022/23+ |
No |
|
|
|
Data |
2021/22+ |
No |
A data dashboard is being developed |
|
Planning policy |
||||
|
New development |
Update guidance 2022/23; encourage higher density development along key public transport corridors 2022/23+ |
Yes |
Reflected in Plan:MK 2016-2031 |
Ensure the policy is also reflected in the Local Plan. |
|
Workplace parking levy |
2023/24
|
No |
|
|
Vehicles |
||||
|
Electric Bus |
2022/23+ |
No |
Work progressing to deliver ZEBRA-funded project to introduce battery electric buses |
|
|
Alternative Fuels – Bio-methane & Hydrogen |
2022/23 |
No |
|
|
|
Low or zero emission zones |
2023/24+ |
No |
|
|
|
Note (*) subject to new/external funding being identified |
BSIP updates
The wayfinding project is being led by Environment and Waste, as part of the CMK revitalisation work. The Passenger Transport Team will input into the project regarding totem design and the potential to introduce totems at bus stops and key wayfinding locations for bus services.
Should funding become available, the new shelter/infrastructure programme would be brought forward to reduce the current 10-year delivery plan, along with development of mobility hubs and greater integration between different travel modes and the bus network.
Further development of the smart ticketing offer to include DRT could progress if funding became available.