After intensive fieldwork across three counties, the DRT-CPO project is drawing to a close. Over the past year, our research team from UWE and the University of Leeds has worked with Essex, Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire county councils to understand how Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) is connecting people in rural areas to essential opportunities. Through surveys and interviews with residents and users of DRT services, we’ve built a detailed picture of the journeys made possible and the wider impacts on people’s lives.
Fixed-route bus services have been cut back in many rural and suburban areas, leaving gaps in connectivity that DRT schemes aim to fill. However, concerns remain about DRT’s long-term financial viability. To better understand the benefits of continued public investment in DRT, this project has aimed to more fully capture how rural public transport benefits communities — not just in terms of ridership, but in enabling access to work, education, healthcare and social participation.
In this final webinar, we will present findings from this research, including our methodology for estimating the social value of DRT in monetary terms. We’ll share real-world examples of the difference DRT makes to individuals’ lives, and end with a lively panel discussion on the implications of these findings for transport policy and investment.
Please feel free to join us online on Wednesday 19th of November, from 10:00 to 12:00. For more information and to register, please follow this link:
Final Webinar: Capturing the Social Value of Demand Responsive Transport