Final Conference 15 September 2005 LiRa-2: From Vision to Action René Buck President Buck Consultants International Initiator of LiRa network Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, UK

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities1 Agenda 1Barriers to seamless journeys 2From Vision to Action with LiRa-2 3Main results: existing systems 4Main results: future systems 5Conclusions 6Parallel sessions

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities2 1 Barriers to Seamless Journeys Main project theme came out of LiRa-1: Barriers to seamless journeys APhysical barriers BConceptual barriers CCommercial barriers DInstitutional barriers

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities3 Barriers to Seamless Journeys (2) APhysical barriers Concrete, visible, tangible in built environment –spatial, material aspects Hampering movement of travellers Interchange-related: –one transit system –several transit systems –pre- and end-transport: walking, driving, cycling… Well-designed interchange facility might be more important than expensive infrastructure

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities4 Barriers to Seamless Journeys (3) BConceptual barriers More traveller-related Exchange of information / opinion –lack of accurate travel information: static / dynamic –poor image of public transport Broad target group: –variety of travellers (heterogeneous) –some need more information than others Travellers will always need information

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities5 Barriers to Seamless Journeys (4) CCommercial barriers Commercial activities are crucial as ingredient of quality rapid transit However, commerce can seriously hamper door-to-door transport –tickets for various companies seamless journeys –lack of integration if operators will not co-operate –human aspect: social inclusion Vary from country to country

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities6 Barriers to Seamless Journeys (5) DInstitutional barriers How is quality rapid transit –planned –built –organised –regulated Political or administrative –arrangements –traditions –attitudes Resistance to change Can be a severe barrier to seamless journeys

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities7 Barriers to Seamless Journeys (6) Approach: To optimise Quality Rapid Transit by attempting to see, develop and operate it as one whole work towards seamless journeys in various ways aiming to break the four barriers with existing and new systems … while not focusing on (Light Rail) technology

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities8 Barriers to Seamless Journeys (7) Central LiRa-2 project targets: 1To create concrete methods, procedures and tools, supporting –improvement –implementation of Quality Rapid Transit throughout Europe 2To be the driving force of active transnational transfer of knowledge through various channels

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities9 2 From Vision to Action with LiRa-2 How did the project deal with this? Split between: Core services –transportation Fringe services –interchange –travel information –marketing –ticketing –…

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities10 LiRa-2 results Existing systems: optimisation of fringe services Future systems: both fringe and core services and their cohesion Main results: now a quick overview. More detail in the afternoon sessions! From Vision to Action with LiRa-2 (2)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities11 ATravel information standardisation scheme (Gelderland, NL) BRemoving barriers to Seamless Journeys (East Lancashire and Greater Manchester, UK) CBridging a physical distance with the right travel information system (Wolverhampton / Centro, UK) DSeamless Journeys in the Euroregion (Limburg, NL / B / D) 3 Main results: existing systems

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities12 Province of Gelderland: ATravel information standardisation scheme Background: static (traditional) information weak point of public transport Target: create a coherent and reliable traveller information system, co-ordinated by provincial authority –all modalities in one uniform set-up –operators provide the information –strong corporate identity Main results: existing systems (2)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities13 Approach Analysis of existing information pointed out: considerable improvement needed Essential elements listed –modality, line number, destination, departure times –high-profile bus shelter –route and area map incl local information –information / logo of operating company Note: significant shift in responsibilities –operator to transport authority –excellent co-operation essential Initial designs tested and evaluated –user panel, union of travellers… Main results: existing systems (3)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities14 Bus shelter panels

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities15 Province won the UITP travel information award! Roll-out started in 2004 –greater part of the province –400 bus stops with panels –1100 pillars Main results: existing systems (5)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities16 East Lancashire and Greater Manchester: BRemoving barriers to Seamless Journeys Main results: existing systems (6) Target: enhance public transport travelling between an urbanised city region and a rural region

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities17 Approach –Identification of barriers to public transport use –Identification of measures to remove / reduce barriers –Development / implementation of a selected number of measures Main barriers relate to –time –cost –personal safety Main results: existing systems (7) –comfort –accessibility –lack of familiarity

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities18 Key measures to remove or reduce these barriers: creation of a core network improved ticketing safety and security improved awareness improved service experience Also here: static travel information key action! Main results: existing systems (8)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities19 Main results: existing systems (9)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities20 Wolverhampton City Council / Centro: CBridging a physical distance with the right travel information system Wolverhampton Interchange: complex geographical situation –Heavy Rail –Light Rail (Midland Metro) –Bus Station Hardware to be realised anyway Target: Create software: to bridge the physical gap Main results: existing systems (10)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities21 Main results: existing systems (11)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities22 Approach (parallel to physical design) Information / marketing requirements of Interchange users –Desk research / benchmark System development: –Generic Idea toolkit –Design workshops Effectiveness testing –3D movies / virtual walkthrough model –(to be shown at workshop!) Main results: existing systems (12)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities23 Output: Concept design of information system: foundation stone for detailed design –state-of-the-art –future ready –adaptable & expandable Innovative Virtual Reality walkthrough simulation –Concrete dissemination tool Smart Integration in physical lay-out of Interchange: –LiRa 2 has enabled conceptual domain issues to be considered at the same time as those in the physical domain Main results: existing systems (13)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities24 Province of Limburg: DSeamless Journeys in the Euroregion Background: –National borders do not exist anymore for people and economy –But Euroregional seamless journeys are far away –Consequence: marginal role for public transport Focus: two cross-border (heavy) railway lines –Maastricht (NL) – Liège (B) –Heerlen (NL) – Aachen (D) Main results: existing systems (14)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities25 Targets relating to improvement of two lines: identify factors that hamper improvement –physical, conceptual, institutional, commercial find ways to eliminate them Overall results: Physical, conceptual and commercial barriers can be overcome (at a cost) Institutional barriers remain a Euroregional challenge Main results: existing systems (15)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities26 4 Main results: planned systems APlanning & Design Expert Sessions (Stockport, UK and Delft, NL) BSeamless Journeys ex ante planning (Vlaams Brabant / Brussels Capital Region, B) CRapid Transit Options Assessment Tool (usable in Belgium, UK, the Netherlands, Germany)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities27 ALiRa-2 Planning and design expert sessions Integrate Quality Rapid Transit with urban and regional planning Use it as a planning tool! Two sessions carried out: Stockport, near Manchester Delft Zuid (Haaglanden) Main results: planned systems (2)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities28 Stockport Background: –public transport essential for community / economy –new quality rapid transit east-west alignment planned Target: –shared vision as to integration in urban fabric LiRa-2 expert session has viewed, discussed and evaluated various solutions… –for planning of new public transport axis –relating to existing services including bus station –planning issues optimal embedding of axis within town Main results: planned systems (3)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities29 Stockport: complex geography Main results: planned systems (4)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities30 Delft Zuid issue: combination of Station / station area to be renewed / furbished Regeneration of derelict industrial park Upgrade of Heavy Rail services –frequency, rolling stock Integration with residential & office developments Overall target: transit oriented development with high densities close to station Planned: October 10 and 11 Main results: planned systems (5)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities31 BSeamless Journeys ex ante planning Brussels Capital Region and Province of Vlaams-Brabant Main results: planned systems (6) Target: Overcoming barriers (long) in advance –bring quality early into long-term quality rapid transport visions –promote it to stakeholders –building barrier philosophy into feasibility audits

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities32 Choice two corridors: Brussels – Boom and Brussels – Leuven Main results: planned systems (7)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities33 Vlaams Brabant Approach: seamless journeys-proof feasibility audits on the two corridors Outcomes: –institutional barriers most difficult: –better integration with urban planning needed Brussels Capital Region Approach: evaluation between options –let the lines terminate at multi-modal transfer points, offering seamless connections in many directions; –extend the lines into the into the city, using existing or planned infrastructure. Main results: planned systems (8)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities34 Brussels Capital Region outcomes Choice of interchange hubs for entering city: –Merode, Simonis, Heysel Design principal ideal interchange hub –legibility of the spatial structure –concentration through combination of functions –design-aided integration Main results: planned systems (9)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities35 CLiRa-2 Rapid Transit Options Assessment Tool To be presented and demonstrated by Alex Muller in a later presentation Main results: planned systems (10)

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities36 5 Overall Conclusions 1Fringe services are equally important as core services (Quality Rapid Transit itself) 2Travel information is a crucial element –potential to unite various systems –can act as bridging tool for physical barriers –quality low-tech, bottom-up solutions are just as important as modern, dynamic services 3Professional marketing is an important tool –especially to break conceptual, but also physical, commercial, institutional barriers

LiRa: the International Network of Light Rail Cities37 5 Overall Conclusions 4Include breaking of the barriers from the beginning of the project –from the first idea phase –do not underestimate institutional barriers, e.g. national borders –it will ultimately pay itself off: quality needed for seamless journeys 5Transnational co-operation is an invaluable way to work on these matters