Proof of Evidence of Mr James Willcock

Document Reference Number OA/13
Proof of Evidence of Mr James Willcock
6 PROCUREMENT OF BUS SERVICES (BRT AND FEEDER BUS
SERVICES)
6.1 The purpose of the Procurement of Bus Services (BRT Services and Feeder Bus
Services) work stream is to procure the delivery of both BRT services and feeder
bus services for the three BRT schemes, through a combination of competitive
tender and via the commercial marketplace. The BRT services will form the core
services to be operated on the BRT infrastructure. The feeder bus services are
existing bus services that will use parts of the BRT infrastructure to obtain journey
time savings.
6.2 This work stream includes OJEU procurement, the formulation of a Quality
Partnership Scheme and complementary legal agreements, informs the design of
the ‘BRT Network Operation (Management and Maintenance)’ work stream, which
concerns the on-going operational management and maintenance of the BRT
services, ITS and infrastructure. Central to the delivery of both work streams is
integration; this includes integration between the schemes, physical and technical
integration and integration with the wider bus network.
6.3 Procurement of Bus Services (BRT Services and Feeder Bus Services) work stream
entails three main categories of bus service:
a) Procurement of BRT services via competitive tender
b) Procurement of BRT services via commercial marketplace
c) Procurement of Feeder bus services via commercial marketplace
6.4 Table 1, (OA13/2, Appendix 3) provides a network wide summary by service type
and scheme. The AVTM BRT scheme entails bus categories a) and c) only, while the
NFHP scheme entails all three.
6.5 The BRT services will form the core services to be operated on the BRT
infrastructure. The BRT services will be characterised by an uplift in quality and
level of service compared with conventional bus services, through the delivery of
the BRT infrastructure, ITS and the levels of service and operational standards
prescribed by the councils. The core BRT services will operate at high frequency,
typically operating between every 10 minutes, and in the case of the AVTM BRT
service an every 6 minute frequency is proposed. To ensure the provision of a
consistent quality uplift and high levels of service, the BRT services will be the only
services serving Park & Ride customers, at least during the initial period to establish
the BRT services. For example the AVTM BRT service will be the only service
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