CONNECTING COMMUNITIES IN THE PORTSMOUTH CITY REGION
South East Hampshire Rapid Transit will improve transport links between Portsmouth, Gosport, Fareham, Waterlooville, Havant and Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
Find out moreAn introduction...
South East Hampshire Rapid Transit aims to transform the way people travel between Portsmouth and surrounding towns. By enhancing existing public transport services through new and improved bus priority routes, South East Hampshire Rapid Transit will make travelling by bus a more attractive option.
In September 2020, the Portsmouth city region received just under £56 million from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) to improve connectivity and increase productivity via better walking, cycling and public transport links. Part of this investment will be used to deliver the next phase of South East Hampshire Rapid Transit.
We are developing a network of rapid transit routes to help get people to where they want to be by reliable and regular bus journeys which will connect with rail and ferry services – creating an integrated transport system.
Watch our short animation to find out more…
Benefits at a glance
Journey Time
Rapid transit infrastructure and technology will improve journey time and reliability.
Convenient
Rapid transit services will connect with other public transport networks.
Investment
The network will eventually serve 14 large development sites.
Sustainable
Combining the capacity of a tram system with the flexibility, and low cost of a bus system.
Our Partners
Funding
In September 2018, Portsmouth City Council, Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire County Council were one of 12 city regions shortlisted to bid for a share of the Department for Transport’s £1.28 billion Transforming Cities Fund for public transport improvements across South East Hampshire. The overall funding for the region was just over £55M. and the Portsmouth city region was successfully awarded just over £26M from the Fund in September 2020.
Objectives of the Transforming Cities fund
- Invest in new local transport infrastructure to boost productivity
- Improve public and sustainable transport connectivity
- Improve access to employment sites, enterprise zones, development sites, or an urban centre that offers particular growth/employment opportunities
The Transforming Cities Fund will enable the next phase of the South East Hampshire Rapid Transit network, between 2020 and 2023.
The Department for Transport released two waves of funding for the Transforming Cities Fund. First, shortlisted cities could bid for ‘quick wins’ – projects that can begin in the financial year 2018/19 and support the overall bid. The Portsmouth and South East Hampshire bid was successful and received the full ask of £4 million of the initial fund.
From this ‘Tranche 1’ funding £2.6m will be spent on improving three main junctions in Portsmouth and Real Time Information installation at bus stops across Portsmouth, Havant and Waterlooville. A further £1.4m will be used to support the extension of the existing Eclipse bus route in Gosport.
The Portsmouth city region Strategic Outline Business Case, for ‘Tranche 2’ funding was submitted to the DfT in November 2019. The joint bid was awarded £55.6 million towards the total scheme package of £101.7 million, with match funding provided by each of the bidding authorities and their partners First Bus, Stagecoach, and the borough councils.
Funding will support 23 schemes across the city region which include improvements for walking and cycling, and is an important next step for the three authorities towards developing a rapid transit network for the area.
Meet the Team
Andrew Wilson
Passenger Transport Manager, Hampshire County CouncilAndrew is the Passenger Transport Manager at Hampshire County Council. He is responsible for public transport policy and day to day operations including bus, rail, ferries, interchange, Bus Rapid Transit, ticketing, Real Time Information, bus priority measures and public transport information.
Previously Andrew spent four years with Solent Transport, a strategic transport partnership of Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth & Southampton City Councils and Isle of Wight Council, promoting a co-ordinated approach to transport policy and investment across the Solent sub-region. This included working closely with major stakeholders including National Highways, Solent LEP, Network Rail, South Western Railway, bus operators, DfT and ferry operators.
This included the development of business cases, funding bids and supporting the delivery of strategic transport projects. Andrew holds chartered status with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and has previously worked for Arriva transport group, managing bus depots.
Colin Rowland
Director of Neighbourhoods, IoW CouncilColin has a strong track record and over 20 years’ experience at a senior level, managing a wide range of environmental services, and the delivery of strategic projects, in unitary, district and county councils. He is passionate about the delivery of projects and schemes that make a positive difference to the quality of neighbourhoods and provide measurable economic benefits.
With his experience of strategic projects, Colin has overall responsibility for delivering the Isle of Wight schemes as part of the SEHRT project.
The Board
Councillor Lynne Stagg
Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation, Portsmouth City Council
Councillor Edward Heron
Executive Lead Member for Transport and Environment Strategy, Hampshire County Council
Councillor Phil Jordan
Cabinet Member for Higways PFI, Transport and Infrastructure, Isle of Wight CouncilJoin our community panel
Would you like to help shape our plans to improve connectivity between Portsmouth and surrounding towns?
We want to transform the way we travel in the area and we need your views to ensure public transport works for everyone. Members of the panel will be invited to take part in focus groups, surveys and working groups to guide our plans as we move forward. Click the link below to sign up, and we will send you details as and when opportunities come up for residents to get involved.
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