Green Member of the Greater London Assembly Caroline Russell. Has asked 6 questions of the Mayor of Greater London, Sadiq Khan regarding the service. Here is the responses:
Caroline Russell (18-Jan-2017)
What modelling has Transport for London (TfL) carried out into the potential increased use of the hopper ticket as a result of the proposed truncation of the 167 bus route? Please provide me with the results.
Answer...The Mayor (18-Jan-2017)
There was no specific modelling of Hopper usage. However, TfL did analyse passenger journeys. The route truncation affects approximately 830 journeys per day which can be currently made on a direct route 167 bus and would in future require a change. 4,587 journeys would continue to be possible by using direct TfL bus services. Some of the passengers whose journeys are affected will already be using a multi-journey ticket such as a bus pass, a Travelcard, or a Freedom Pass, or travelling on a concession and those using pay as you go would be able to take advantage of the Hopper fare.
TfL's response to the issues raised during consultation on this scheme is available on their website:
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/167/.
Caroline Russell (18-Jan-2017)
What modelling has Transport for London (TfL) carried out into the potential increased use of the hopper ticket as a result of the proposed truncation of the 167 bus route? Please provide me with the results.
Answer...The Mayor (18-Jan-2017)
There was no specific modelling of Hopper usage. However, TfL did analyse passenger journeys. The route truncation affects approximately 830 journeys per day which can be currently made on a direct route 167 bus and would in future require a change. 4,587 journeys would continue to be possible by using direct TfL bus services. Some of the passengers whose journeys are affected will already be using a multi-journey ticket such as a bus pass, a Travelcard, or a Freedom Pass, or travelling on a concession and those using pay as you go would be able to take advantage of the Hopper fare.
TfL's response to the issues raised during consultation on this scheme is available on their website:
https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/buses/167/.
Caroline Russell (18-Jan-2017)
Eighty-one per cent of respondents to the consultation on the future of the 167 bus service said that truncating this route will make their journeys longer. Has Transport for London (TfL) assessed the likelihood that local residents may decide to switch to making their trip by car instead of bus as a result of the changes it is proposing? If so, will you provide me with the results?
Answer...The Mayor (18-Jan-2017)
No specific modelling was carried out on mode shift. However Transport for London (TfL) route 20 will continue to serve nearly all of the section in Essex no longer served by route 167.
Caroline Russell (18-Jan-2017)
What would be the annual cost to Transport for London (TfL) of continuing to run the 167 bus route between Loughton station and Debden station?
Answer...The Mayor (18-Jan-2017)
Debden and Loughton in Essex are currently linked to North East London by Transport for London (TfL) bus routes 20, 167, 397 and 549. Essex County Council provided funding towards the operation of routes 20 and 167, however this stopped in April last year. Given that these services are now entirely subsidised by London, TfL has had to develop proposals to restructure route 167.
The additional annual extra cost to TfL would be over £0.5m a year to retain the route between Loughton station and Debden station. Modelling shows that revenue would cover less than 40 per cent of this cost, leaving a shortfall of at least £225,000 a year to operate this section.
Caroline Russell (18-Jan-2017)
Essex County Council has asked Transport for London (TfL) to consider actively encouraging alternative methods of service provision on the 167 route, such as encouraging commercial operation with a permit for operation in London, and has offered to cooperate with TfL in this regard. Will you ask TfL to work with Essex County Council and with local residents to explore the feasibility of such a solution?
Answer...The Mayor (18-Jan-2017)
I have asked Transport for London to ensure Essex County Council is briefed on the mechanisms that exist to facilitate a commercial operator wishing to operate services inside the GLA boundary.
Removal of diesel particulate filters - MOT failures
Caroline Russell (18-Jan-2017)
Davenant Foundation School and Debden Park High School are concerned that students could be deterred from attending after-school revision sessions or extra-curricular activities as the proposed new timings for the 677 bus service are unsuitable. Were these schools involved in discussion with Transport for London (TfL) on the timings for this route?
Answer...The Mayor (18-Jan-2017)
Both Davenant Foundation School and Debden Park High School were contacted before the route 167 consultation went live and were encouraged to respond. Both schools provided submissions.
The schedule for route 677 is yet to be confirmed.
TfL will contact all schools involved, also including Roding Valley High School, to find out the best timings for the service to operate. Route 20 will also continue to serve the section between Loughton station and Debden Station, with buses every 15 minutes, providing access to both schools.
