Present:
Val Shawcross CBE – HATF (Chair)
Mark Frost – HATF (Independent Technical Advisor)
Matthew Wooll – HAL (Route Development Lead)
Tim Leech – HAL (Head of Strategy and Sponsorship, Surface Access)
Sophie Chapman – HAL (Surface Access Director)
Simi Kullar – HAL (Travel Demand Manager)
Matt Furniss – Surrey County Council (Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure) Paul Millin – Heathrow Strategic Planning Group (HSPG) (Chair, Transport Sub Group) Alan Tilly – London Borough of Hillingdon (Transport and Aviation Team Manager)
Peter Bradley – UK Coach Operators Association (UKCOA) (Managing Director)
Joanna Grew – Network Rail (Industry Programme Director [Heathrow & TVA])
David Hill – Airline Operators Committee (Head of Regulation and Strategy)
Shamal Ratnayaka – Transport for London (Aviation Strategy Lead)
Peter Fisher – National Highways (Head of 3rd Party Infrastructure)
Adam Tyndall – London First (Programme Director)
Apologies:
David Stroud – British International Freight Association (Policy & Compliance Advisor) Timothy Wells – HAL (Surface Access Travel and Policy Lead)
Christian Wolmar – London Cycling Campaign (Trustee)
Nigel Wicking – AOC (Chief Executive)
1. Welcome and Introductions
The Chair welcomed everyone to the fifth and final Board meeting of 2023.
2. HAL Update
Sophie Chapman provided a HAL update. See slides for further details. Key points discussed:
Mode Share Update
- A gradual increase in public transport mode share throughout 2022
- Highlighted September (43.3%) was a strange month due to a numberof events including 2 CTA tunnel closures, strike action, Queen’sfuneral.
- This has returned to 38% for October 2022
- Elizabeth line through running was introduced in November, this willbe monitored and initial results reported at next board meeting.
Terminal Drop off Charge (TDOC) update (one year on)
- 2022 figures are provided within slides. SC stated HAL would like to increase amount of payments made with a registered account, and there are currently activities taking place in order to do this
- Question on how the amount of PCNs issued can be reduced, as this is not a good customer experience. HAL will respond back on this at a future board.
- A new code of conduct being introduced to improve customer experience in private car parks (being led by the British Parking Association) may cause issues for the scheme as it requires a ‘cooling off period’ where users could leave without charge – which clearly does not work in regards to a drop off charge. Feedback on signage and the code of practice is something that HAL are currently working through the wording on and will update HATF if there are any further developments. It was noted that this would also impact on Gatwick (and other airports, most of which have similar schemes in place) and it was agreed that HAL would reach out to them to explore their proposed response.
PB – has TDOC reduced the number of cars? // SC – this is considered unlikely as the charge is set at a level that is too low to change behaviour, however it will be something that will be monitored as part of the Surface Access Strategy
H7 (2022 – 2026 Budget Period) Update
- SC set out CAA final decision timeline, which is set for publication in early 2023. More information provided within slides including timeline and views on regulatory framework
3. Heathrow Bus Improvement Plan / Special Interest Group
Matthew Wooll and Mark Frost provided an update on the STZ development in 2022, and plans to re-instate the Bus Special Interest Group in 2023. See slides for further details, key points discussed:
- Since withdrawal of many bus services following Covid-19, HATF set up a Bus Special Interest Group (Bus SIG). This in turn was used to scope and provide a specification for the the Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ)
- Overview of STZ priorities including discounts provided within slides (see slides for details)
- We will increase awareness of STZ in 2023 such as physical roadshows (currently this is online), onboarding doc for new recruits etc
- The proposal for 2023 is to bring the continuing development of the STZ together with measures set out in neighbouring authorities Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIP), and TfL’s Bus Action Plan, into a Heathrow specific Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). This would set out how the airport and Local Authorities will work together in partnership to improve bus provision across the region.
- To steer the development of this document the Bus SIG will be reconvened in 2023.
PM – how can we measure how many fewer cars are being driven to the airport by colleagues? // TL – this is a challenge. Colleague survey could happen next summer, which will tell if mode share has shifted (last staff survey took place in 2019)
DH – can we track staff ID pass number & number of bus passes issued? // MW – this could be hard to identify and keep track of, the feeling is that a survey is likely to be more accurate.
4. Active Travel Special Interest Group Update
Mark Frost provided an update on the Active Travel SIG in October. Further information provided in slides; key points discussed:
- 2 site visits that have taken place in 2022 to understand existing cycling infrastructure and areas of improvement
- The 1st visit concentrated on the airport campus
- The 2nd site visit was with local councils, to identify potentialimprovements on the routes between the Heathrow perimeter andsurrounding residential areas
- CTA active travel update was also provided. This scheme will help tofacilitate active travel for colleagues to CTA through the tunnel sidebores and it is hoped to be open in 2023
- It was noted that HAL have been working with local stakeholders andauthorities from the Special Interest Group on updating the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), and this is out for comment at the moment. This will be signed off in the final Active Travel SIG in Q1 2023. It was noted that this will be a very useful document for providing a prioritised framework of interventions and for local authorities to use as well to guide their own programmes of investment in cycling improvements.
5. 2023 HATF Board Work Programme Open Discussion
Discussion on potential topics to cover in 2023:
- Electric Vehicle charging – VS agreed it was an area that needed to be considered further, but also to ensure that additional cars aren’t attracted onto the campus. SC: we have carried a piece of work with Jacobs looking at each airport user group and now need to sense check it, look at power supply, fire safety etc
- ULEZ – HATF, airlines & Heathrow provided consultation responses. Will work with TfL following the publication of consultation results which is expected shortly
- Delivering SAS & Heathrow 2.0 – need to develop some links with the air quality working group, potentially considering some shared projects.
- Elizabeth line through running – signage has been updated to show distinction between Elizabeth line and Underground, based on passenger feedback. Need to revisit this in the new year to understand impact and usage.
- Old Oak Common – JG noted disruptive periods & days with no services between Paddington and Heathrow over next few years due to construction of HS2 station at Old Oak Common. It was proposed to work with HATF Board in 2023 to understand the contingency plans in place to try and minimise disruption for passengers from this and other such events
- Monitoring SAS – potentially deep dive into themes throughout 2023
- Rail – follow up work based on discussions and presentations at HATFWider Forum. Particular focus on Southern Rail Access.
- Continued Engagement with CAA on their role in decarbonisationagenda