On Monday 6 October 2008, Conor Murphy, Minister of the Department for Regional Development (DRD), launched 30 new accessible minibuses for use by Rural Community Transport Partnerships supported by the Rural Transport Fund. This investment updates and increases the number of accessible community transport vehicles across rural Northern Ireland. The £1.3 million investment compounds DRD’s investment to supply transport solutions in rural areas for people who find it difficult to access or use conventional transport because of age, disability or rural location.Kellie Armstrong, CTA’s Acting Director for NI said: “We are delighted the Minister has launched the vehicles during Community Transport Week. This is a fantastic start to the week and focuses attention on the types of services community transport provides in our community. This investment replaces and increases the number of community transport vehicles. The more accessible vehicles there are in the community means the more people can access transport that meets their needs. All vehicles are fully accessible meaning they are fitted with a passenger lift, lower side steps and have high visibility handrails, exit signs and comfortable seating. The design of the vehicles particularly meets the needs of people with limited mobility such as someone who finds it difficult to climb stairs (bus steps) or who use wheelchairs or have a visual disability. Community Transport aims to ensure transport is fully inclusive. This investment in accessible vehicles demonstrates the DRD’s commitment to ensure all needs are met. Getting out and about in a rural area is made easier for everyone”

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6 October 2008
© CommunityNI

Rural children are disadvantaged by a lack of public transport and rising fuel costs, reveals a study. More than 70% of teachers believe transport problems mean children have difficulty getting to and from school or college. The situation has left pupils unable to get involved in school sports, choirs and orchestras or plays. The Association of Teaches and Lecturers questioned 475 teachers in schools and colleges earlier this summer. Some 77% of teachers said transport problems prevented children from taking part in after-school activities. Over 50% said a lack of transport prevented parents from attending school or college parent meetings to discuss their children’s progress and seeing their children perform in school events. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, lecturers and support staff.

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29 September 2008
© RS Online

Ruth Kelly, Transport Secretary, today announced £25 million to provide new and improved bus services across England. This will better connect local communities with vital services - like hospitals, business centres and colleges - and help tackle congestion and rural accessibility by giving people more alternatives to their car. Over the last three years the Kickstart programme has helped councils and bus operators introduce 43 new or enhanced bus services. This resulted in increases in local bus use and improved the quality of bus services for local communities.

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24 September 2008
© Department for Transport (National)

The Department for Transport has today published the following Transport Statistics:
Road Casualty Statistics Great Britain: 2007 Annual Report, see www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/
Bus and Light Rail Statistics GB: April-June 2008, see www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/buslightrail/buslightrail200809/busaprjun08
See http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/ for details on all recent transport statistics releases. These Statistics are published according to arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority.

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25 September 2008
© Department of Transport (National)

Together with the University of Manchester and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Transport Resource Unit supports an annual programme of transport focused seminars. The 2008/09 seminar programme is now finalised with this year’s topic of Engaging with the Local Transport Act 2008. The programme runs from October 2008 to April 2009. The first seminar will take place on Wednesday 1st October in lecture theatre B at the Roscoe building, University of Manchester, and will feature Paul Lucas from GMPTE.

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22 September 2008
© GMCVO

Passenger Focus, the independent rail passenger watchdog, will be taking a double decker bus to the Labour party conference this year to highlight the announcement that it will become the bus and coach passenger watchdog for England from 2009. The Passenger Focus bus, fitted with a large billboard poster, will be found on Station Approach, Manchester (outside Manchester Piccadilly station) on Tuesday 23rd September from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Passengers, politicians and other stakeholders are encouraged to visit and put their views across directly to Passenger Focus.

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15 September 2008
© GMCVO

As previously announced in a statement to Parliament on 8 July, the Department for Transport (DfT) has today begun a consultation on how airport development at Heathrow might affect different demographic groups living near to the airport. The Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) forms part of the Impact Assessment underpinning the ‘Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport’ consultation document and seeks to establish the impact of airport development on different groups in terms of race, disability, age and social deprivation. Aviation Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: “Aviation contributes over £11bn to the economy and Heathrow alone supports over 100,000 jobs. While Heathrow is vital to the UK’s economy, we have always made clear that expansion will only go ahead if strict local environmental conditions on air quality and noise can be met and improvements made to public transport access to the airport.The EqIA will ensure we fully understand how airport development might affect different groups around Heathrow by reason of their race, disability, age or level of income.”

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15 September 2008
© Department for Transport

Today (Monday, September 15, 2008), the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) is publishing five studies putting the spotlight on transport challenges facing rural areas, ranging from accessibility to key services, the effects of technological change and implications of road pricing. Rural people travel around 10,000 miles each year compared with around 7,000 for all residents, and use of cars is significantly higher in rural areas. Graham Russell Director of Practice at the CRC said: “Transport is a key concern for rural communities. With a continuing decline in local services, rural residents need to travel greater distances, and because of significant gaps in public transport much more of their travel is by car. What’s more, rising fuel prices are hitting rural areas hardest, especially less well-off households where a higher proportion of income goes on essentials including transport costs. Greater car use in rural areas also contributes to higher overall carbon production rate per person than in urban areas.

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15 September 2008
© Commission for Rural Communities (National)

Transport Minister Rosie Winterton today called on motorists, cyclists, pedestrians, highway authorities and road organisations who are keen to have a say in how our streets will look in the future, to take part in the biggest review of British road signs for 40 years.
The review will ensure that traffic signs keep pace with the latest technology, help to cut congestion and emissions and keep traffic moving safely and efficiently without cluttering our streets. The review’s aims include: To consider new powers to reduce street clutter - and ensure out of date signs are removed; Look at using new traffic sign technologies that can provide new ways of managing traffic flow; Provide better road information - such as up-to-date travel news - to give motorists informed choices about their journeys; Demonstrate how effective signing can provide safer roads and reduce accidents; Improve road users’ understanding of traffic signs and signals.

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13 September 2008
© Department for Transport (National)

Transport Minister, Conor Murphy, today opened the new £2.8million Lisburn Bus Centre. During his visit he also launched Translink’s new Passenger Charter. The Minister said: “This investment in a new bus centre is a major asset for public transport in Lisburn and local passengers will benefit from a modern fully accessible station which provides better and more comfortable facilities for all. I am committed to improving public transport and my key objective in investing in bus services is to encourage more commuters and other travellers out of the car. Substantial investment in bus services between 2003-2007 has resulted in nearly 940 new Translink buses, making it one of the most modern, comfortable and reliable fleets in Europe. In addition between 2008-2011 a further £36million will be invested in buses to ensure these high standards are maintained.”

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08 September 2008
© Northern Ireland Executive