Council to spend £75,000 a year advertising York at LB airport – but bus service link shelved

One of the stranger announcements made by the new Labour Council was a commitment to reintroduce a bus service link between York and Leeds/Bradford airport.

This had been tried in the past but had attracted too few passengers to be economically viable.

The Council Leadership were warned.

12 months later and the service has not started but the Council is planning a £75000 a year advertising campaign at the airport.

No objective ways of judging the success of such a broad brush advertising campaign have been found.

One of the first questions that any incoming airline passenger is likely to ask is how do we get to your City? The only answer remains by taxi – with the promised rail connection also still at least 10 years away.

Lendal Bridge closed from tomorrow (Tuesday) – what to expect

The Lendal bridge “trial” closure starts tomorrow (Tuesday 27th August) between 10:30am – 5:00pm.

What should drivers expect?

Actually, probably not much difference to congestion levels.

The schools are still on holiday and that makes a lot of difference to traffic volumes. So there will be spare capacity on most of the road network during the day.

True, for some, journeys will be longer, with people living in the City centre particularly inconvenienced.

But the forecast gridlock is still probably some weeks away.

For a couple of weeks, it is likely that motorists will shun the City centre, putting off inessential journeys or opting for out of town shopping destinations

What could make matters worse are unpredictable road accidents, poor weather (which tends to see more people getting into their cars), road works and yet more faulty traffic lights (of which, we’ve had more than our fair share over recent weeks).

Weekend traffic patterns are very different though. Many will be watching with anxiety what happens on 31st August.

Council Lendal Bridge "success" criteria base data. click to enlarge

Council Lendal Bridge “success” criteria base data. click to enlarge

Now only a few days before the restrictions are due to be implemented, the Council has published the criteria under which it will judge how successful the closure has been.

It is clearly an afterthought.

We questioned on 27th April why no success criteria had been published.

It slowly became clear that the Council had not even thought of what objective measures it should apply.

Now some “tests” have been cobbled together without any public consultation and too late to get some of the base line public opinion data.

The Council claims to be open but they have failed to publish the public opinion data on the trial which was apparently collected “between 15th and 20th August”.

They do admit, “However the feedback collected at the information event approximately 60% (of 73 written responses) thought the bridge trial would impact them negatively and 34% though the bridge trial would impact on them beneficially”

It also looks like they will only be taking into account the views of people actually using the transport systems rather than including those who choose not to access the City centre.

Ironically the Council promise to publish the results on their web site including bus service reliability (a “stat” that they have dogmatically refused to reveal during the last 2 years).

They say that they won’t be measuring changes to air quality (Gillygate is a critical area).

They admit that any changes in cycle use and walking could be influenced by other initiatives (and the weather).

The criteria haven’t been approved at a formal Council meeting. There has been no public input into the measures chosen. There has been no opportunity to challenge the validity of the base data.

We suggest that residents keep an eye on independent real time traffic congestion maps (click here http://roadworks.org/) .

York road works map click to update

York road works map click to update

Problems will arise in the autumn when a combination of poor weather, the return of the “school run” and continuing road works on the A1237 could produce a “perfect storm” test for the closure

NB. There is little point in looking to the councils travel web site for help. Several months after a new control centre was opened, traffic monitoring cameras are still not working http://www.yorklive.info/

York Council confirms new contracts for subsidised bus routes

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The Council has confirmed that it has accepted tenders for new bus services which will operate from 1st September. The services involved are:

Route 21 Colton to York, via Middlethorpe Grove
Services on this route were retendered and the existing operator, Harrogate Coach Travel (trading as Connexions Bus), has been awarded the contract for the next three years. There will be no changes to the route or timetable. As part of the new contract, Harrogate Coach Travel will be introducing a new vehicle that meets more stringent Euro V emission standards (above our minimum standard) later in the year.

Route 24 Lindsey Avenue, Ascot Way and St Stephen’s Road to city centre via Acomb Centre (Monday to Saturday);

Route 26 Fordlands Road to South Bank via Broadway and city centre (Monday to Saturday);

Route 27 Heslington Hall to city centre via Broadway (Monday to Saturday);

Route 627 City centre to Fulford School via Heworth (school days);

Route 637 City centre to Archbishop Holgate’s School via Heworth (school days);

Route 647 Foxwood Lane to Manor School (school days).

Services on these routes were retendered and awarded to Arriva Yorkshire for the next three years starting on 2 September. There will be no changes to the routes or timetables. As part of the contract, Arriva Yorkshire will be introducing newer vehicles that meet more stringent Euro V emission standards (above our minimum standard) on all these routes later in the year.

Routes 35 and X35 Holme-on-Spalding-Moor to city centre

Services on these routes are provided under contract to City of York Council but, as cross-boundary services, with financial contributions from North Yorkshire County and East Riding of Yorkshire Councils. Services on these routes were retendered but the Council has not been able to award a new long-term contract due to a substantial increase in the price from bidders. The Council has reached agreement with Yorkshire Coastliner, which currently provides the service, to extend the current contract for a short period until we can find a more affordable solution for the three authorities. Officers are working with colleagues from neighbouring authorities to come up with an alternative route

Coalition government funds electric buses for Poppleton Park and Ride site

First has been awarded York’s Park & Ride (P&R) contract for a further three years.

Working in partnership with the council, First York has successfully operated all five P&R sites for more than 15 years and will continue to do so for another three years.

In addition, one of the city’s principle bus companies has now also been signed-up to operate the new P&R site at Poppleton, which is set to open in 2014.

Vehicles used in York eco bus trial in 2010

Vehicles used in York eco bus trial in 2010

As part of the new agreement First will be operating a new electric bus service from the new 600-vehicle facility at Poppleton Bar, which is set to open in Spring 2014. The purchase of the buses has been part funded through the Coalition Government’s Green Bus fund, which awarded £594k to First in May.

Six electric buses are set to be deployed on the York Park & Ride network, though a bid submitted by First York. The new buses will provide cleaner and greener bus journeys for thousands of passengers across the city.
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City centre cycle parking – results of consultation

Behind closed doors logoMany residents will be surprised to find that consultations were taking place about extending cycle parking arrangements in Goodramgate, King Square, Lendal (exiting parking @ Zizzi’s), Lendal (new parking @ Post Office), Castle Museum, Piccadilly (White Swan), Library Square, Micklegate/Bar Lane.

Nevertheless the Council has approved the new sites in another behind closed doors decision session.

Click here for details and photos.

Piccadilly new cycle stands

Ice and snow clearance cuts – residents survey announced

Damaged salt bin Cornlands Road

Damaged salt bin Cornlands Road

The Council is asking residents whether it should cut even further the number of salt bins available in the City. They also plan to reduce the number of roads that are gritted (salted).

From Monday 12 August until Sunday 1 September, residents and businesses are invited to complete a three-week consultation on the criteria which is used to help determine how and where the council provides winter maintenance across the city.

To take part in the survey or view the criteria and gritting maps please visit: http://www.york.gov.uk/info/200262/gritting/402/winter_maintenance_services (from Monday 12 August).
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Details of new York bus services planned for late September

Number 1 bus at station

From Sunday 29th September, First’s bus network in York will see changes that are based on feedback from customers who took part in a major consultation exercise this summer.

A mini ‘transport hub’ in Acomb, better services to York University and the return of a half hourly service in Haxby are the headlines and many other bus customers in York will see positive changes as a result of their feedback.

The future of the number 24 – a York Council subsidised services – remains unclear.

The changes are available for customers online – click here

They include a change requested by ourselves a couple of months ago :

• Acomb – Services 4 and 5 will run into Acomb forming a mini transport hub and re-establishing links to Acomb Front Street

• The number 4 and 5 are being decoupled and will once again operate as independent services

• The number 4 will now always run to Acomb at a Mon-Fri daytime frequency of 7/8 minutes

• It will no longer serve the stretch of Gale Lane between Foxwood Lane and Cornlands Road (which was only introduced last October)

• The 4 will now run to Acomb Front Street and back via the following loop: Cornlands Road >Gale Lane>Front Street> Green Lane > Tudor Road > Cornlands Road

• The 5 will no longer go to Foxwood terminating in Acomb from the north

• Haxby – Services 13 and 13A – First has introduced a new Service 13A to create additional journeys between Haxby and York with four arrivals in the centre by 9am.

• University of York (Heslington) – Services 4 and 6 will now run to the University and will serve the Heslington East campus, creating direct link from the University to Tang Hall and the hospital.

Extra morning buses to York Railway Station (Station Avenue) – Service 2 will run three extra early morning buses from Clifton Moor, via Rawcliffe Bar, to York Railway Station.

Full list of service changes announced by First:

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