Presentation to ACC Public Transport Accessibility Update - 1 Hugh Creegan, Director of Transport Planning & Investment. Naomi Rooney, Transport ...

Presentation to ACC
Public Transport
Accessibility Update

                   Hugh Creegan, Director of Transport Planning &
                   Investment.
                   Naomi Rooney, Transport Accessibility Manager.
                                                           June 2, 2021
                                        1

Rail Stations

Rail Stations

• There are 144 stations on the rail network.

• In 2014, 54 were identified as needing accessibility enhancements.

• Between 2015-2019, 49 stations had improvement works such as upgrades
  in wheelchair accessible parking, improved signage and the provision of
  ramps, tactile and handrails for steps. A lift was also installed at Connolly
  Station.

                                                           3

Rail Stations

• Accessibility Retrofit Funding 2018-2021
• New footbridges and lifts are being installed at 3 rail stations
• Carlow and Ennis are complete and Edgeworthstown will be completed
  shortly.

                                                      4

Rail Stations

• Accessibility Retrofit Funding 2018-2021

• 18 stations are having internal and external audits to identify compliance
  with accessibility requirements. Athy has been completed.
• Preliminary design work for Dalkey, Little Island and Gormanstown
  for the installation of footbridges and lifts has started.
                                                           5

Rail Stations
  Lift Replacement Funding €18 Million 2020- 2023
• There are 125 lifts on the rail network in total which all have a shelf life.

                                                              6

Rail Stations

• In 2020, ten lifts were fully replaced and four lifts were renovated.

• For 2021 it is planned to renovate nine lifts, Clongriffen, Blackrock,
  Booterstown have been completed. Templemore is in progress and
  Seapoint is due to start shortly.

• It is planned to replace nine lifts in 2021. Templemore is in progress and
  Thurles, Ballybrophy, Laytown, Leixlip, Monasterevin, Tullamore, Athlone
  and Ballinasloe will follow.

                                                             7

Rail Stations

Capital Funding
• Lift to call system for vandalism. 28 stations have been completed to date.
   Planned to do nine stations from Fonthill to Portlaoise in 2021. Fonthill is
   completed.
• Changing Place installed at Connolly Station.
   Heuston and Waterford Station planned during improvement works.

                                                            8

Rail Stations

Capital Funding
• Audio/visual announcements upgrade on the DART

• Platform Train Interface pilot at Killester

• Signage improvements installed in 10 stations 2020. Irish Rail plan to
  implement in 37 stations in 2021 and complete the 144 stations in total.
  The NTA plan to implement it in Bus Stations also.

                                                          9

Rail Stations

Advance Notice

• Irish Rail have reduced the 24-hour notice to 4-hour notice on their DART,
  Northern Commuter, Maynooth Lines and on the Cork/Cobh/Middleton
  Route.

• App for Assistance is being tested.

• Irish Rail have employed 89 out of 120 Customer Service Agents to have a
  member of staff available to assist all passengers on it’s Inter City Services.

                                                             10

Bus Stations

Bus Stations

• 25 Bus Eireann stations have been identified to install accessible bus bays
  for coaches and other external accessibility works.
• Twelve stations have been completed to date.
• Cavan, Drogheda, Letterkenny, Ballyshannon, Sligo, Galway, Limerick.

                                                            12

Bus Stations

• In 2020, Rosslare, Killarney, Tralee and Waterford were completed.

                                                         13

Bus Stations

•   In 2021, works are proceeding at Ballina, Athlone, Tramore and Wexford Bus
    Stations
•   Design works progressing in another seven stations Busarus, Dundalk, Parnell
    Place, Macroom, Ennis, Clonmel and Longford.
•   Followed by Kilkenny, Mullingar and Dundalk

                                                                 14

Bus Stations

• Accessibility Audits carried out on 18 Bus Stations
• Lists of improvements from car park to station and bus
  bays
• Wayfinding and Signage
• Lack of Information
• Shelters
• Dog Relief Areas
• Changing Places Facilities
• List and priorities works for future funding
• Planning permissions needed

                                                       15

Bus Stops

Bus Stops

• Accessible Regional/Rural coach and bus stops
   • 43 towns with a 5,000 population
   • 11 bays were constructed in 2020
   • 17 bays in construction now
   • 11 bus bays being designed
   • Discussions with Local Authorities

                                                  17

Bus Stops

• Audit of over 12,000 bus stops carried out
   • UD rating A+ to C
   • hard stands, kerbing, information, pole etc.
   • 50% not wheelchair accessible

• TFI poles, headplates and carousels
   • National brand consistency
   • de-clutter of area
   • clear information and timetables

                                                    18

Fleet

Existing Services

• City and Town Services are wheelchair accessible and have audio/visual.
• 64% of the Dublin Bus have a wheelchair space and buggy space.

• Regional coaches services are now 100% wheelchair accessible
• As the new TFI Fleet from NTA is used on the shorter urban routes, roll
  on/roll off and audio/visual on all new fleet

• Viewing of modified and new fleet to IWA, DB & BE Disability User Group
  and ACC members

                                                           20

New Fleet

City Services
• 280 new hybrid double deck buses
• Back up manual ramp, induction loop, PID and priority seating

                                                         21

New Fleet
Regional Fleet - Double deck coaches
Low Floor, wheelchair space, priority seating and extra PID

                                                              22

New Fleet
Regional and City Fleet – Single deck coaches

                                                23

Rural Transport Programme

• Local Link is managed by 15 TCU’s
• 90% of passenger journey trips are wheelchair accessible
• New licenses are wheelchair accessible where possible
• 85 Scheduled services
• Door to Door or Demand Responsive Services
• Varying sizes of vehicles

                                                             24

Rural Transport Programme

Local Link
• Developing the evening services
• Six pilot community car schemes approved for Cork. Kerry x 2, Offaly,
   Longford and Mayo
• Connecting Ireland will feed into developing these services

                                                          25

Private Licenses

• Number of wheelchair accessible private fleet is 18%
• Public Consultation September 2019
• 330 commercial licences for regular services pre Covid

                                                           26

Small Public Service Vehicles

• The number of wheelchair accessible taxi’s have increased from 4% in 2014 to 17%
  in April 2021
• All new licences are to be wheelchair accessible
• Must complete disability awareness training for Grant
• There is a regional urban divide with 1405 WAV’s in Dublin and 6 in Leitrim
• List of all wheelchair accessible vehicles per county and contact details on the TFI
  website
• Electric SPSV Grant Scheme

                                                                27

Fares

Fares

• Monthly and annual tickets which can be used across all the Transport
  Operators in the GDA. It will be adapted to accommodate post Covid
  travel patterns.

• New easier fare structure starting in Leap in October across bus, Dart,
  Luas and commuter rail. One short distance and one long distance fare
  within a 90 minute. Cash fares to follow.

• Easier ways to top up your leap card and know the balance with the Top
  up Leap App which recently launched.

• Can top up via phone, Pay zone retailers, Luas and Irish Rail TVM’s.

• It is hoped to complete a study on national fares to see if they can be
  easier to understand and better value.
                                                          29

Information

Website and APP’s

• TFI website has been updated and reviewed for compliance with WCAG
  2.1 AA

• NTA website has been updated and reviewed also

• Working within the Transport Operators new contracts to see what
  improvements are needed to upgrade websites, apps and the provision of
  information.

                                                     31

Customer Service

Travel Assistance Programme

• Managed by Dublin Bus
• Up to 1000 assists per year

• For Dublin Bus, Go Ahead, Irish Rail Dart & Luas.
• New staff to commence shortly

• Bus Connects- H Spine Route 28, 29 and 31 first
  Contact Disability User Groups in area

                                                      33

Customer Experience

• Disability Awareness Training is provided by all Transport Operators. On new
  contracts it is to be renewed every 3 years and include hidden disabilities.

• All the Transport Operators have individual Disability User Groups.

• The NTA plan to setup a Transport User Advisory Group made up of all
  representatives who use the various modes of transport including people
  with disabilities and the elderly.

                                                           34

Customer Experience

• Mystery Shopper Surveys reviewed.

• SBIR Challenge with Enterprise Ireland on Vehicle Capacity Information for
  Public Transport Passengers.

• Like the DoT, the NTA is incorporating accessibility requirements into their
  submissions to Local Area and Development Plans

• For NTA Funded projects for the Local Authorities a condition is included
  that they must consult with people with disabilities.

• Relaunch of the JAM Card planned but had to be
  postponed but 13,500 cards and apps have been
  issued to date

                                                            35

Thank you