GROWTH, HOUSING AND ENVIRONMENT
PROVISION OF WAITING SHELTERS FOR PASSENGERS AT BUS STOPS
Purpose of the report
To set out the proposed programme of eight new waiting shelters at bus stops, in support of the Government of Jersey Government Plan and the Sustainable Transport Policy.
Background
A key objective enshrined within the Sustainable Transport Policy is the reduction of vehicular traffic, in part by increasing the usage of public transport. In addition to improvements to bus schedules and services, there is a need to enhance on-street facilities for existing and future customers of the public transport network. Waiting shelters for passengers at bus stops can make life considerably better for bus users and the Department frequently receives requests for such improvements. To date over seventy-five have been delivered, contributing to enhanced bus service user experience and supporting increased ridership.
Discussion
The Department has identified eight further locations where demand levels are such that installing shelters will give rise to significant benefits. Using the bus stop naming convention these sites are:
The shelters will all be located on land already in Public ownership, and therefore no land acquisition will be required.
The erection of bus shelters is deemed to be permitted development by the Regulation Directorate, which enables the Minister for Infrastructure to install the shelters in accordance with the Planning and Building (General Development) (Jersey) Order 2011. Seven of the shelters require no planning applications, however, advice is currently being sought in relation to Coronation Park due to its status as a listed place.
To ensure that the public are aware of the proposals, for each location a drawing was prepared and placed on the Government of Jersey website consultation pages, with notices erected at sites 1 to 7 inviting members of the public to log their comments via an online survey over a three week period. This was backed up by a press release, advertising on social media channels, and on-bus posters with a digital version displayed on the bus station departure stand information screens.
204 responses were received. Overall support for the principle of providing shelters was 95%, with only a few respondents stating that they did not consider it to be a good use of public money. Support for the individual sites was as follows:-
- Bagatelle Lane S – 73.2% in favour, 15.5% not sure
- Bon Air Lane S – 75% in favour, 15.2% not sure
- Salisbury Crescent – 82.4% in favour, 10.6% not sure
- Seymour Inn S – 77.8% in favour, 11.1% not sure
- Hautmont Estate S – 75% in favour, 16.7% not sure
- Coronation Park W – 74% in favour, 14.6% not sure
- Clarke Avenue – 72.3% in favour, 17% not sure
- Les Varines W – not included in this consultation
At Les Varines W the proposed shelter had already been included in the separate public consultation that was carried out prior to the recent implementation of the pedestrian improvement scheme, and some enabling works were carried out as part of that project in order to simplify installation of the shelter.
Judging by the associated comments, it appears that a number of the survey respondents who selected “not sure” or “don’t support” in relation to the individual shelter locations had done so because their preference would be for other sites to be prioritised, presumably those nearest to their place of residence or employment. The effect of this has been to reduce the percentage of supportive responses, which nevertheless averages over 75% across all sites.
A significant amount of welcome feedback was received throughout the consultation, and the requests for bus shelters at other locations that arose have been noted by the Department for future prioritisation of shelter provision, where space is available or there are willing adjacent landowners. In addition to more general areas being put forward, such as the Five Mile Road and the Georgetown/Plat Douet Road area, over 40 stops were suggested as potential candidates for a shelter.
Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to approve the installation of the following bus shelters as proposed: Bagatelle Lane S (stop 2498), Bon Air Lane S (stop 3243), Salisbury Crescent (stop 2694), Seymour Inn S (stop 3696), Hautmont Estate S (stop 2796), Coronation Park W (stop 3437), Clarke Avenue (stop 2523), Les Varines W (stop 3953).
Reason(s) for Decision
To provide shelters at suitable bus stop locations as part of the ongoing programme to deliver improved facilities for public transport customers, in accordance with the Government of Jersey Strategic Plan and the Sustainable Transport Policy.
Resource Implications
The shelters can be funded by the Department’s capital project budget allocation, and in the case of the Seymour Inn S bus stop, in part by a developer contribution arising from a Planning Obligation Agreement.
Action Required
Senior Engineer – Transport Projects to arrange for the shelters to be procured and erected.
Written by: | Public Transport Planner |
Approved by: | Principal Engineer Transport |
Attachments: | Appendices 1-3 |