Improving the bus service between the centre and the north

Implementing sustainable mobility

Utrecht wants to implement various physical measures to provide a better bus connection between the northern neighbourhood of Overvecht and the city centre.

The main objectives of the measure are to:

>> Reduce bus travel times between the city centre and Overvecht and increase reliability of the service;
>> Increase the use of the bus line; and
>> Achieve a better modal split between public transport and the car, and thereby improve air quality.

The bus line between the central station and the north of Utrecht is the only public transport corridor in the city where buses do not have a separate bus lane. As a result, the travel time is long and the service unpredictable. The city council has decided to improve the line in the city’s Air Quality Action Plan. It details measures for short-term impact, as well as long-term improvements. Within CIVITAS MIMOSA, the short-term measures will be implemented and evaluated.

How is the measure progressing

The project started with a situation analysis for instance including a stock-take of travel time, delays, numbers of passengers, complaints and observations of bus drivers. This helped to identify crucial bottlenecks on the route. Causes and possible solutions were developed during a workshop. A second workshop determined which solutions would be the most effective and resource efficient, outlined a timeline for implementation and estimated results. A Quick Scan report was published in 2011 on the results of the steps that have already been taken. Upon political approval, the technical design of the measures will start, followed by implementation of a first set of measures. A communication plan will be formulated to achieve the ambitious goal to significantly increase the number of passengers on the bus line.

What are the expected results of the measure

Utrecht expects that the measure will lead to an improvement in travel time and reliability of the bus connection. This is in turn expected to attract more users to the service. Indicators for evaluation include average journey times, the punctuality of the service, and the number of passengers.

Contact: Martine Sluijter