As the government releases details of its recovery roadmap, we can finally start to see light at the end of the tunnel. Coming back from the pandemic will undoubtedly take time and will require considerable resource - highlighting the need for effective partnerships now more than ever. Portsmouth City Council's Rapid Transit Development Manager Peter Shelley explains how one particular partnership will help support recovery in south east Hampshire.
"A post-Covid recovery plan for public transport is essential. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum is developing a Public Transport Recovery Plan together with our bus, rail and ferry companies. The SEHRT Partnership Group will be working closely together to make the plan a success for transport operators in south east Hampshire. Earlier partnership working, such as shared investment in contactless payments for ticketing, Real Time Passenger Information and Next Stop Announcements, put the network in a better place than it would have been otherwise.
South East Hampshire Rapid Transit forms a key part of our proposals, ultimately providing a highly visible and accessible network with turn up and go frequencies, distinctive stops and clear wayfinding. Head-turning vehicle liveries, and a goal of tap on tap off ticketing will make public transport even more attractive and easy to use. High quality interchange between services and between modes will help deliver an integrated journey offer.
We believe the improvements planned through TCF funding and improved partnership working will be central to winning public confidence, demonstrating that public transport is safe, reliable and preferable to using the car, post pandemic and beyond."
 This £11.6 million scheme extends the existing busway south by approximately one kilometre, from the Tichborne Way/Hutfield Link to a new signal junction with Rowner Road in Gosport. This enhanced scheme will maintain the existing shared pedestrian/cyclist route under Rowner Road Bridge.
Hampshire County Council successfully bid for funding from the National Productivity Investment Fund to complete the outstanding section of the Eclipse Busway. A further £1.4 million was secured in partnership with Portsmouth City Council from the Transforming Cities Fund for the alternative southern junction that retains Rowner Road bridge.
Good progress is being made, and as works are ahead of schedule the completion date has been revised from Spring 2022, to Autumn/Winter 2021. For detail of work to date visit the scheme web page linked below.
 Tap On Tap Off (TOTO) technology was introduced to the Eclipse bus service last week (Wednesday 3 March). The new payment method automatically gives passengers the best value single fare and put a daily cap on how much they pay.
The technology works by customers tapping their contactless card or mobile payment device on the card reader when they board and exit the bus. The operator’s clever TOTO technology system automatically charges the best value single fare because it knows where customers got on and where they got off, there’s no need for customers to tell the driver where they're going either!
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