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Achieving Value for Money

This section focuses on how we achieve VFM through implementation. Major schemes are considered individually through a series of sieving assessments of options to ensure they provide the most effective contribution to the LTP objectives before being submitted to the DfT for funding through the Annex E process. It would be impractical for us to provide the same level of detailed VFM assessments for each specific policy or scheme in the other very large programmes proposed. We need to be flexible in applying the programmes across our Area and through the LTP2 period. We need to take account of local circumstances, public consultation, opportunities to work with other agencies/projects, changing circumstances, etc.

VFM is therefore assessed and schemes modified as the programmes are developed. To inform this process we share our experience from implementing our capital and revenue schemes, including demonstration and trial projects, across the Metropolitan Area. Monitoring VFM is at the core of all our activities and it provides opportunities to adopt best practice, tailored to local circumstances. We give some examples below to illustrate how we obtain VFM in a number of different areas of work – Road Safety schemes, Bus Showcase and Red Routes.

Each Authority monitors its own programmes. CEPOG also monitors overall outcomes for the benefit of all Authorities, to ensure that schemes are delivered as planned and to measure their contributions to targets. This monitoring is reported in the APR and also provides information for calculating VFM.

An enhanced monitoring regime has been introduced by the joint P&T Sub Committee in response to the greatly increased programme we are now delivering. This will ensure that we respond quickly to programme changes and continue to deliver VFM schemes that make best use of the resources available.

We are a Centre of Excellence for Integrated Transport specialising in Road Safety. Compared with other major urban areas, we have the lowest number of accidents per 1000 licensed vehicles and the second lowest casualty rate per head of population.

Table 1 ‘Return on Local Safety Schemes Completed in 2000/01’ illustrates the outcomes of road safety schemes. Technical information as to which schemes achieve best VFM is exchanged between authorities to help promote best practice. At the bottom of the table is joint data for previous years.

Table 1 Return on Local Safety Schemes Completed in 2000/01

Number of Schemes

Scheme Costs (£,000s)

Casualties in 3 Years Before

Casualties in 3 Years After

Three Year Casualty "Saving"

Annual Rate of Return

Birmingham

20

997.00

293

196

97

225%

Coventry

7

220.00

205

183

22

232%

Dudley

10

357.00

97

59

38

247%

Sandwell

6

565.89

164

122

42

172%

Solihull

7

257.00

104

54

50

451%

Walsall

11

280.00

76

54

22

182%

Wolverhampton

7

475.00

158

133

25

122%

Total 2000/01

68

3,151.89

1097

801

296

207%

Total 1999/00

73

2,723.19

894

579

315

255%

Total 1998/99

90

2,948.22

1037

687

350

238%

Total 1997/98

91

3,336.00

1113

744

369

222%

Total 1996/97

86

3,613.50

873

478

395

213%

Total 1995/96

88

2,648.55

737

429

308

196%

We also monitor Bus Showcase schemes before and after implementation. We have used the results to develop the Bus Showcase handbook, which is a good practice guide on ways to achieve VFM. Table 2 ‘Increases in Patronage on Bus Showcase Routes’ and Table 3 ‘Showcase User Previous Modes’ illustrate increases in bus passenger numbers and transfer from other modes.

Table 2 Increases in Patronage on Bus Showcase Routes

On Route

In Corridor

Line 33

SuperLine

Prime Line

Route 67

Route 404

Route 559/560

29%

18%

5%

38%

12%

7%

5%

8%

5%

6%

12%

7%

Table 3 Showcase User Previous Modes

Previous Mode

Car

Walk

Did not Travel

Line 33

SuperLine

Prime Line

Route 67

Route 404

Route 559/560

4%

13%

5%

3%

5%

5%

2%

10%

1%

1%

<1%

<1%

2%

2%

16%

20%

23%

21%

We have also monitored our Red Route Demonstration Project. Surveys conducted soon after completion indicate improvements in safety, bus service speed and reliability, traffic speed and journey time reliability, and parking enforcement and compliance.

We have shared these lessons through workshops on Red Route implementation, through the maintenance of a website of 'before and after' studies of safety schemes and through the Bus Showcase Handbook. The Handbook features on the 'Bus Priority' website (www.buspriority.org.uk) as a result of our involvement in one of the DfT Bus Forum’s Task & Finish Groups. Seminars have also been arranged to share our experience with metropolitan and shire authorities.