Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February THE RURAL TRANSPORT INITIATIVE (RTI) IN IRELAND – HISTORY, KEY RESULTS AND NEW DIRECTIONS Niall Crosbie Fitzpatrick Associates, Economic Consultants

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 STRUCTURE OF PRESENTATION PART 1 Background and Study Objectives PART 2 Rural Transport/ RTI Experience PART 3 Rural Transport Issues, Options, Proposals 2

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 PART 1 Background and Study Objectives 3

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 POLICY BACKGROUND 4 Individual pilot projects under Local Development Programme 2002 – Inter-departmental Committee on Rural Public Transport and National Rural Transport Survey – Pilot Rural Transport Initiative Announcement that rural public transport was to be put on a permanent footing from 2007

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 WHAT THE MINISTER ANNOUNCED Put the RTI on a permanent footing Spending c 18 mn when rolled out A phased roll-out Build on the RTI National coverage Action in

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 STUDY TERMS OF REFERENCE 6 Identify options for Rural Public Transport Policy Allow for progressive roll-out Provide case for and against each option Select a preferred option (consultants preference)

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 PART 2 Rural Transport/RTI Experience 7

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 COMPONENTS OF THE RURAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM 8 High Pop Density Low Pop Density

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 IRELANDS DEMOGRAPHIC AND SPATIAL CONTEXT 40% of the population in rural areas, i.e. settlements of <1,500 (1.6 mn) Population density low, and highly dispersed Considerable local diversity in population Rural population up to 75%-80% of total in some counties Changing population patterns up to 2021 – age, gender Projected increase in numbers of older people 9

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN IRELAND Network of extensive but low frequency scheduled rural services Indirect contribution from major inter-urban services Development of non-conventional rural services via RTI Private hire transport in rural areas, e.g. taxis and hackneys School bus system important specialist service Other rural transport for specialist purposes, e.g. health, C+V 10

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 SNAPSHOT OF THE RTI GROUPS 11

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 RTI GROUPS – SERVICES All but one county at least partially covered Service levels vary within RTI areas Users mainly older people – 63% are FTP passengers More than 70% of FTP passengers are female Groups also serve wider target groups Personal business, shopping, social/leisure – main journey purposes Destinations generally local – little need for links to scheduled services? 12

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 RTI GROUPS – STRUCTURES AND LINKS Mainly existing local development groups and/or newly formed groups Mainly limited companies with charitable status Boards representing a mix of interests 14

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 PART 3 15 Issues and Options

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 KEY COMPONENTS OF A NATIONAL RURAL TRANSPORT POLICY 16 Target groups, objectives, service Service types, vehicles Local management/delivery Higher-level oversight, management Resources, funding Performance management, monitoring

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE RTI 17 STRENGTHSWEAKNESSES pioneered door-to-door services huge benefits for users benefits for other service providers good at serving main existing group extensive geographical coverage a lot of learning on ground only part of the rural transport issue regulatory gaps continue patchy coverage in existing areas absence of area-based transport plans governance/reporting in some groups systematic overall information needed

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 OPTIONS FOR A RURAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT POLICY 1. Existing Target Groups2. Wider Target Groups3. Wider Rural Public Transport Services Target Groups As per the existing RTIs coverage of key target groups Wider coverage in practice for all excluded groups, including older people, people on low incomes, people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments, young people Widest target group coverage of the various options, to include all potential rural transport users, e.g. including travel for work Service Types Mainly non-conventional services, including semi- scheduled and fully demand- responsive services, mainly day- time services Also mainly semi-scheduled and fully demand-responsive services, but with more scope for scheduled services than under Option 1, mainly day-time services but also some morning and evening services based on wider target group needs More varied mix of scheduled, semi- scheduled and fully demand-responsive services, with services spread across morning, day-time and evening Vehicle Types Mainly using minibuses, taxis, hackneys and private cars Use of a full range of available vehicle types, including cars, taxis, hackneys and minibuses for non-conventional services as well as larger coaches for conventional scheduled services Operators Operated mainly by small private operators and the community and voluntary sector Operated by a mix of small private operators, larger commercial/ scheduled operators (both public and private) and the community and voluntary sector 18

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 PROPOSED OPTION 19 Option 2 in shorter-term, move towards Option 3 Retain focus on exclusion in all options Roll out via mix of: –existing groups –existing groups expanded –new groups (limited number, relatively large, not greenfield) All groups must meet governance/reporting/accountability County boundaries desirable Enhanced central support via Pobal More co-operation with local bodies Give impetus to local integrated transport planning

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 WIDER ISSUES – DIRECTLY AFFECTING OPTION 2 ROLL-OUT Bus regulatory situation – affects fare-paying FTP post RTI Insurance for voluntary cars, brokerage Displacement of scheduled services – must be monitored centrally Voluntary contribution generally Funding from other sources Link to school bus system 20

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 OTHER ISSUES Link to health services/voluntary sector Vehicle standards/accessibility Cross-border services with N. Ireland/cross-boundary in Ireland IT – needs larger structures involved (national or area-based) Area-based accessibility type planning 21

Comhairle Cathrach Chorcai Cork City Council 8/9 th February 2007 TOWARDS OPTION 3 – NECESSARY PRE-CONDITIONS … clearer national policy objectives/service standards … clearer framework of conventional/non-conventional services … policy on public transport service subvention … regulatory environment clearer … integrate transport and spatial planning 22