Experiences of AUTh in the FLIPPER project and the successful DRT services provided in Greece

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1 EPTA Project Training Course Razlog, 30 October 2013 Experiences of AUTh in the FLIPPER project and the successful DRT services provided in Greece Evangelos Genitsaris, TSRG/AUTh, Thessaloniki Dipl. Eng. (Civil), MSc (Transport)

2 Contents Main findings of the questionnaire surveys in Kastoria and Langadas Pilot flexible transport service in Greece: lessons learnt Good examples of DRT services provided currently in Greece General conclusions & considerations

3 Main findings of the questionnaire surveys in Kastoria and Langadas

4 Questionnaire surveys 1. Langadas County: FTS for a Greek rural area of relatively low density population, poorly served by public transport 2. Kastoria City: DRT service for meeting demands of locals and tourists Surveys main objective: The exploration of potential application of a DRT service. Surveys Methodology: Stated Preferences Questionnaire Survey among potential users (sample of 700 people). Personal interviews and distinct sub-groups (segments). Nine SP Scenario exercises were tested with varing values/ characteristics in terms of 4 attributes (a. Transport mode, b. Travel Time duration, c. Travel cost, d. walk distance to stop)

5 Overview of the surveys The Main characteristics of the proposed FTService : The FTS will serve trips within the selected area Users will make the booking via telephone call the day before the trip, while real time requests will also be served if they match existing schedules but with a fare penalty Passengers will be collected from appropriately predefined meeting points, door to door service only for elderly and disabled. The service will be realized initially by accessible minibuses (combined with the tourist boat service) The design time response: 15 minutes.

6 Overview of the survey in Langadas THE SURVEYED AREA 4 Municipalities of Langadas County - The proposed area coverage by the new transport service Thessaloniki City Centre A rural area, of relatively low density population

7 Overview of the survey in Langadas Main conclusions from the Langadas survey: Concerning the evaluation of the level of the existing transport modes, the residents consider the parameters of time of routes (72,16%) and the route coverage (57,81%) as the worst ones. After the completion of the SP Scenario exercises, the percentage of people being positive to choose/use FTS in the future instead of the mode that respondents used in their reference trip, was 53%.

8 Overview of the survey in Kastoria Serious demographic problems: Locals tend to migrate BUT: - there is a significant number of undergraduate students - there is a significant number of tourists (Kastoria Lake, Museums, fur stores, over 100 churches, etc.) PROBLEMS that make conventional services difficult to manage: Landscape (steep slopes), Road width (narrow streets) RESULT: very low efficiency in the Old City and the Market area, service is only manageable by mini buses.

9 Overview of the survey in Kastoria First reaction in relation to a new FTService The first reaction of the respondents in terms of a possible usage by them of a FTService in case that there was such one (total sample) Residents Tourists 12% 12% 17% 14% 2% 2% 29% 12% Definitely YES No opinion Definitely NO 47% Probably YES Probably NO 53% Definitely YES I have no opinion Definitely NO Probably YES Probably NO

10 Pilot flexible transport service in Greece: lessons learnt

11 Overview of the pilot FTS application in Kastoria, Greece The Kastoria city feasibility study showed that there is a good potential for applying an FTService. Although, the Original surveyed concept was: to create a new FTService focusing on elderly and tourists, including: a tourists ship and the Municipality s minibus, this has been proven not feasible and thus: The Cooperation of Taxis of Kastoria has finally organised and run the pilot application from October 2010 until May 2011 in a satisfactory manner. However, the public s response to the new service was not satisfactory. Hence, the results from the pilot application contradict the findings of the feasibility study

12 Preparatory actions: meetings, role assignment, promotion Several preparatory meetings were realised with the participation of representatives stakeholdersfor the determination of the attributes of the pilot and the role of its member Partners were committed to provide the FTS in cooperation by signing a Cooperation Agreement (which described the concept and the scheme of the service and defined the roles and responsibilities of the partners) The Union of taxis also signed a separate Agreement with the Municipality of Kastoria regarding the fare collection tickets after considering recommendations by the local Tax Office Poster and Logo, Leaflet, Press release, Press conference, Minister s letter of support, Inauguration (opening) of the operation of the service

13 Preparatory actions:

14 The pilot FTService scheme and characteristics SCHEME: The FTS KALOSTOUS operated on demand and offered door-to-door service. Similar trip requests in terms of route and time were combined together. VECHICLES: The service was provided by one type of vehicles, common taxis. The communication between drivers and TDC was possible using mobile phones or the private radio communication network. FARES: The service area was divided to 6 zones and one route (7 categories in total). There was a fixed fare for each route depending on the departure and the destination zone, that was ranging among the cost of the conventional urban bus service and the estimated minimum cost of taxi service for each route.

15 The pilot FTService scheme and characteristics BOOKING: Users had to make a booking at least one day before the day of their trip and confirm the booking after the finalisation of the route to be followed. Reservations were possible via telephone calls. Trip bookings were managed using a common commercial software for data management. TRAVEL DISPATCH CENTRE: Taxi vehicles were being assigned suitably by TDC to serve users according to the number of travellers in the each route. The TDC was operating at the existing facilities of the telephone call centre of the Union of Taxis Taxi driver displaying the Ticket 2. Telephone Center for bookings 3. Taxi with FLIPPER and KALOSTOUS logo

16 The pilot FTService: main results from users survey % Travel mode 80.00% 78.85% 60.00% Trip Purpose 60.00% 55.77% 40.00% 40.00% 20.00% 30.77% 20.00% 0.00% 7.69% Car driver 9.62% Car passenger Use other PT service 3.85% Walk 0.00% 0.00% Didn't need towasn't able to make the trip make the trip 7.69% 5.77% 0.00% Work Education Health Other (leisure, school run etc)

17 The pilot FTService: main results from users survey

18 Possible reasons for low public response in the pilot 1. During the same period when the pilot application started to run, KTEAL decided to introduce a new low cost fare for the students of TEI Kastorias, which were a main target group for new FTService according to the results of the questionnaire survey. 2. The period during which the pilot application has been running was outside the tourist season, hence another main target group, the tourists, were not able to participate 3. Another important reason was economic crisis which had an impact on the use of the service 4. It should be noted that the initial design of the service, which was described to the survey participants, differed from the one that was actually implemented for the pilot application due to the unavailability of necessary resources 5. There may was a need for a longer duration promotion campaign.

19 Good examples of DRT services provided currently in Greece

20 1. OASTh DRT service Operator: Established in 2005, Operated by Thessaloniki s public transport operator Served groups: Door to door service, mainly focused on passengers with mobility impairments or restricted vision Area served: Covers the Thessaloniki urban agglomeration Operational data: So far the service is used by 319 passengers with disabilities, 252 of them with severe mobility problems and 29 blind. Up to 1250 passengers with disabilities are served each month (approx.). Staff: 7 drivers are used, while an escort is present at each journey Fare cost: The service is free of charge The vehicles exterior decoration is designed by the famous Greek artist Constantin Xenakis

21 1. OASTh DRT Service Vehicles fleet: 3 buses are now available with a fourth, smaller one, as a spare. Each vehicle can carry up to 4 wheelchair users, as well as escorts. The vehicles are equipped with electric lifts, airconditioning, fridge. Travel Dispatch Centre: Reservations are made via telephone call, at least two hours before the journey. The TDC is responsible for accepting these calls and arranging the journey. Special software is used by the TDC. Communication with drivers is achieved using mobiles or private radio communication network Service level: An interview survey was conducted (Jan 12), with 20 respondents (most of them were wheelchair users). 85% of the passengers used the service for professional purposes. 90% of the users considered the service excellent, while a further 10% considered it good. Passengers are obviously satisfied with the service provided.

22 2. The AINEIAS DRT service Operator: Established in 1996 and operated by the Municipality of Thessaloniki Served groups: Door to door service, mainly focused on passengers with mental and mobility disabilities Area served: Covers the Municipality of Thessaloniki as well as some areas of the Thessaloniki s urban complex Operational data: 50 persons per day, annually approximately trips Vehicles fleet: In total three vehicles are in operation. Each vehicle can carry up to 3 wheelchair users, as well as seated passengers. The vehicles are equipped with electric lifts, airconditioning Staff: 5 drivers and 5 escorts are used. The escorts are responsible for the safe operation of the lifts and the safety of the passengers. Fare cost: Minimum charge

23 2. The AINEIAS DRT service In 2005 TSRG/AUTh through SUNRISE project supported the service s modernising: Equipment: A telematics system was installed to the three vehicles. Travel Dispatch Centre: A new TDC was created with a high-end server and fleet management software. TDC is responsible for accepting reservations that are made via telephone calls and arranging the journey. On-board equipment: high-definition TFT touch-screen, GPS receiver and transmitter, Navigation system, Alarm button, GPRS modem and antenna were installed. Training: The personnel, including the drivers, were trained to get into the DRT philosophy and meet its needs.

24 3. The KEKPA DRT service Operator: Established in 1996 as a students transport service. Operated by the Volos Municipal organization for health and social affairs Groups served: Mainly focused on passengers with mobility and mental disabilities Area served: It serves the provincial city of Volos, with res. Vehicles fleet: 3 vehicles were used, 1 more was added in the frame of FLIPPER. Two vehicles can carry wheelchair users as well as seated passengers. A lift is available. Staff: 4 drivers and 3 escorts are used in the morning, 1 driver and one escort in the afternoon Service type: The service is DRT and door to door, with 8 predetermined destinations. Special software used. Bookings: 1-2 days in advance for the peak hours, otherwise at any time. Fare cost: 5 E/ person/ trip.

25 3. The KEKPA DRT service Within FLIPPER project, the KEKPA service: cooperated with the local urban bus service for facilitating transfers outside Volos acquired the INMOSION software to plan journeys applied a pilot service expanded to new potential users Volos city

26 The Flexible Transport Services (FTS/ special DRT) that are provided officially in Greece Special DRT Sevices 1 OASTh 2 AINEIAS 3 KEKPA Target groups served Mobility disabilities (wheelchair users and blind) Mobility and mental disabilities Mobility and mental disabilities And people with very reduced mobility (e.g. some elderly) Area (urban/ rural) - Population Thessaloniki (urban and suburban) Thessaloniki (urban agglomeration) Volos (provincial city) Veh 4 3 Technical equipment TDC, radio communicatio n system, telematics TDC, vehicles management software, vehicles equipment (GPS, GPRS) 4 - Flexibility/ Cost Booking up to 2 hours in advance, no charge Booking 24 hours in advance, low cost 1-2 days in advance for peak hours, any time for nonpeak hours 5 E/ person/ trip Year

27 4. Other informal FTServices The example of cargo-taxis in the island of Kalymnos There are 30 motor tricycles, operating without any formal legal framework or an umbrella organisation They transfer mainly light goods and rarely passengers in the narrow streets of the city, where the access of taxis is difficult or infeasible The service is cheaper than taxis Although informal and pirate service, it is a socially catalytic one. It is considered to be of high acceptance and importance in terms of social impact, upgrading the service level to the island. It comprises an example of bottom-up initiative Kalymnos Island

28 General conclusions & considerations From the examination of the FTS surveys, pilot and DRT services: In general, there is absence of legal framework on FTS at most European countries. The development of an FTService in an area where existing services are inadequate should be encouraged and facilitated by the legislation which requires special provisions There appears to be good potential for FTSservices launch in areas where there are no cheaper alternatives and in rural areas, where the existing services for some remote places are inadequate. Concerning special DRTs: although the final goal should be a fully accessible integrated transport system, special DRT services are valuable in cases where the trip chains are not fully accessible

29 General conclusions & considerations From the examination of the FTS surveys, pilot and DRT services: The development of FTS/DRTs in Greece is limited, and exclusively focused in serving disabled people. The pilot FTS (shared taxi scheme) for the general public in Kastoria didn t achieve the expected service s patronage derived from feasibility study. Accessibility for people with restricted mobility to public transport is essential to ensure the participation of those persons in social activities. Existing DRTs in Greece are considered by users very successful and vital for their everyday living. The economic situation threatens the existence of the services, since the cost coverage has not been yet solved. The cost of DRT services cannot be fully covered by the users, The society and stakeholders must be prepared to compensate costs, in terms of citizens equality and social values

30 Thank you Transport Systems Research Group FLIPPER Project website