At lunchtime today, as the City Council's Planning & Transport Convener, I attended the launch of the Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership for Dundee and Angus, a first for Scotland. Here's a couple of photos from the event below, plus the City Council's news release.
For the first time in Scotland a Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership between local councils and bus operators has been set up to help make journeys more efficient.
Dundee City and Angus councils have teamed up with National Express Dundee and Stagecoach with the support of the Scottish Government to run the pilot, and today it was given its formal launch in City Square.
Leading figures in the industry including transport minister, Stewart Stevenson, and Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken were at the launch to witness the official partnership signing ceremony.
David May, convener of Angus Council's infrastructure services committee said: "I am delighted that Angus Council has entered into this partnership and hope that it will bring about significant improvements for bus users.
Mr Stevenson said: "I welcome the signing of this important partnership project which will improve bus services for the travelling public and lead to quicker and more reliable services.
"The collaborative work between Dundee City Council, Angus Council, National Express Dundee and Stagecoach has been excellent and I would encourage other local authorities and bus companies to follow their lead and undertake similar projects in the future to achieve the improvements in bus services in Scotland that we all want to see."
Lawrence Davie, managing director of National Express Dundee said, "Working in partnership with the city council will enable us to improve the bus service in Dundee.
"Together we will continue to make improvements and make this an excellent service that the people deserve."
Charlie Mullen, Managing Director, Stagecoach Fife and Strathtay, said: "Punctual and reliable bus services are crucial if we are to encourage people to switch from the car to public transport. Stagecoach has already been at the forefront of introducing new technology on all of its buses in Scotland in support of the Scottish Government's concessionary travel scheme.
After six and 12 months the data will be analysed to identify any "choke" points or parts of the route that can be speeded up.
Dundee City Council News Release :
A pioneering scheme that uses technology to track buses and measure their punctuality has been launched in Dundee.
For the first time in Scotland a Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership between local councils and bus operators has been set up to help make journeys more efficient.
The scheme will collect real time information on the time taken on four Dundee and Angus routes, which will then be used to look at where and how precious minutes can be shaved off journey times.
Data on the 13, 14, 22 and 73 routes has been collected every 21 seconds, detailing where the vehicle is on its route and what it is doing, since January 1.
Dundee City and Angus councils have teamed up with National Express Dundee and Stagecoach with the support of the Scottish Government to run the pilot, and today it was given its formal launch in City Square.
Leading figures in the industry including transport minister, Stewart Stevenson, and Traffic Commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken were at the launch to witness the official partnership signing ceremony.
Convener of Dundee City Council's planning and transport committee, Fraser Macpherson said: "I am pleased that Dundee is in the forefront of using these technological advances to allow bus companies and the local authorities to gather information.
"Information is key to improving bus journeys and making them run efficiently, and from the council's point of view to identifying any road or junction improvements that could be carried out to assist this."
David May, convener of Angus Council's infrastructure services committee said: "I am delighted that Angus Council has entered into this partnership and hope that it will bring about significant improvements for bus users.
"Angus Council has invested significantly in recent years in infrastructure on the Arbroath – Monifieth – Dundee corridor through the provision of real time information, bus boarders, bus shelters and solar lighting. In addition, bus timetable information is available at all stops. I hope we can build upon this sound base and work with our partners to identify and remove barriers to reliability and thereby offer an all-round first class service to the public.”
Mr Stevenson said: "I welcome the signing of this important partnership project which will improve bus services for the travelling public and lead to quicker and more reliable services.
"The collaborative work between Dundee City Council, Angus Council, National Express Dundee and Stagecoach has been excellent and I would encourage other local authorities and bus companies to follow their lead and undertake similar projects in the future to achieve the improvements in bus services in Scotland that we all want to see."
Lawrence Davie, managing director of National Express Dundee said, "Working in partnership with the city council will enable us to improve the bus service in Dundee.
"Together we will continue to make improvements and make this an excellent service that the people deserve."
Charlie Mullen, Managing Director, Stagecoach Fife and Strathtay, said: "Punctual and reliable bus services are crucial if we are to encourage people to switch from the car to public transport. Stagecoach has already been at the forefront of introducing new technology on all of its buses in Scotland in support of the Scottish Government's concessionary travel scheme.
"We are delighted to support this new pioneering initiative targeted at punctuality as part of our drive to attract more people to greener, smarter bus travel."
After six and 12 months the data will be analysed to identify any "choke" points or parts of the route that can be speeded up.
If the Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership proves successful it is hoped that other councils and operators will take up the idea.