APPENDIX A – Initiatives with Agreed BSIP Funding
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Bus priority schemes in Dover Pencester Road, Dartford Rennie Drive and a series of measures in Thanet. |
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A number of smaller highway schemes to enable more reliable bus services, e.g. at pinch points. |
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Introduction of Bus Gates enforced with cameras at identified sites across Kent.. |
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A school travel promotional campaign with support for the Kent Travel Saver scheme |
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Other large fares promotions such as Bus About Kent and the Kent Big Weekend. |
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Introduction of a trial multi-operator ticketing scheme (for a small geographical area) using existing technology. |
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Funding for smaller operators to upgrade ticketing equipment to enable multi-operator ticketing. |
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Network support funding (sustaining some services following any end to Government Covid support) |
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A bus network planning tool |
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Support for a Community Transport grant scheme |
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Delivery of a countywide Passenger Information Portal with a journey planner, timetable database and online map, backed up by individual operator websites. |
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Delivery of real time information screens at key bus stops and QR codes at all stops, linking to the Information Portal. |
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The delivery of a Mobility-as-a-Service platform in Kent Thameside that offers travel options on a number of modes, including bus and rail, in one app |
Initiative Updates:
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A school travel promotional campaign with support for the Kent Travel Saver scheme – On 6th July 2023, KCC announced the price freeze of the KCC Travel Saver bus pass for 11–16-year-olds at the rate of £450 and £120 for low-income households. The 16+ Travel Saver Pass’ price was also frozen for another year at £500.
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Other large fares promotions such as the Kent Big Weekend – KCC launched the Big Free Bus Weekend on the 24th & 25th June that allowed residents of Kent free travel on all bus services each day until 20:00. This initiative was received positively and saw an increase of passengers by 34% than a comparative weekend in June.
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Other large fares promotions such as Bus About Kent – On 18th July, KCC launched the Bus About Kent scheme for families with children in receipt of free school meals. This scheme allows those families free bus travel over the summer holidays in Kent and commenced on 23rd July and will run until the 31st August. Families of up to four can take advantage of the offer as long as there is at least one adult in the party, and a maximum of 2 adults. The families entitled to this scheme would have received an E-Voucher that contains the digital bus pass.
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Other large fares promotions such as All-Day August – On 20th July 2023, KCC launched the All-Day August scheme for England National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) bus pass holders that will remove the limit restricting people to travel from Kent and Medway after 09:30. This initiative will enable ENCTS pass holders free bus travel any time until 11pm Monday to Friday and all day at weekends for the whole month of August.
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Bus priority scheme in Dover, Pencester Road – KCC are planning on going to a public consultation for the Dover, Pencester Road Bus priority scheme in September 2023.
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Other Initiatives – All other initiatives have been assigned Project Leads and are in development and further updates on these initiatives will be available on the KCC website in due course.
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