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More PT with less money – Budget cuts as an opportunityWorkshop EMTA – Vienna, October 11th 2013

David van der Spek – Stadsregio Amsterdam

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1.Background2.The main challenge3.Our ambition4.Measures5.Effects6.Conclusion

Overview

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1Background

Financial situation:•Stadsregio Amsterdam depends on funds from national govt.•Cutbacks in funding of PT part of govt. austerity measures

Urban and regional developments:•Struggle for space in narrow streets of Amsterdam increasing•2017 opening of new Underground route: changes in travel patterns expected•Rising importance of decentral railway stations•Population and number of jobs will continue to grow•Mobility will continue to grow

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2The main challenge

What is the main challenge?

•Increasing need for good PT to keep region accessible and support economic development•Operational subsidy for urban network will decrease•Underground only serving some relations, no extensions or new routes in the near future •Tram backbone of network in many parts of city•Average speed on tramway network low (15-16 kmh)

How to cut costs on the surface network?How to make the surface network more attractive for commuters?

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3Our ambition

City and Stadsregio: we have to make choices, we cannot allocate more space and priority for PT everywhere!

Diversification of the network•Split the network in a trunk route network (the ‘plus’ network) and an additional network•Maximum priority for higher speeds and higher reliability on the plus network•Plus network to focus on economically important relations•Avoid conflicts between PT plus network and car / bicycle plus networks

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Main tasks of Stadsregio

•Plan the plus network•Use the threat of service cutbacks to convince our partners•Concentrate investments in PT on realizing the plus network•Investment program (10 yrs):

• Urban network € 395 mio• Regional network € 195 mio

(mainly BHLS)

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Ontwerpprincipes leiden tot netwerkvoorstel (Plusnet)

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4Measures

Infrastructure

•Higher quality PT on trunk routes through:• More separate lanes (or equivalent)• Improved effect of existing separate lanes (i.e. less

crossings by cars)• More priority at traffic lights• Less stops

•New tram tracks only if necessary for plus network •Reduction of dwell time at stops•Possibly longer tram cars•Improve transfer quality

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Optimization of network•Restructure the surface network to make maximum use of plus infrastructure•Stretch routes•Allow for greater catchment area of stops•Allow for less direct routes

Future network•More frequent routes•Lower total number of routes•Routes more stretched•Better connections between tram/bus and underground•Better connections between urban network and national rail network

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• The demand for PT will rise in the near future, but• We do not have the money which we need to pay for the

level of PT which we need in 2022 without the plus network

• Investing in the plus network will enable us to provide more PT with less subsidy

Effects 5  Passenger km Costs Revenue Subsidy

2012 100 100 100 100

2022 without plus network 121 109 111 103

2022 with plus network 131 111 119 90

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6Conclusion

It is too early for lessons learned

Advice:•Service cut backs are unpopular•The threat of service cutbacks can create a sense of urgency•Try to use the budget cuts as an opportunity to gain support for difficult choices in favour of PT

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Thank you for your attention!

Any questions?