Let’s not miss the bus

The County Council’s four-year contracts with bus companies to provide subsidised services expire next June. The Council is now reviewing these and is seeking views on the No.17 service. You will see some of the options listed below in a document from the Council. Non involves withdrawing the service. The 48 bus service, which goes once a week from Jericho to and from the Cowley Centre, and to Abingdon is, however, under threat, because it is very under used. Each passenger journey is on average subsidised by £4, compared with the £1.63 average for the 17/17A/17C service. We have until 4 January to send comments to: John Wood, Speedwell House, Speedwell St, Oxford, OX1 1NE, Tel:815802, The following bus service, wholly subsidised by Oxfordshire County Council, is currently under review; any proposed changes will be introduced in June 2010. If you have any suggestions or comments on this service, please contact, in the first instancet, your local Councillor, or e-mail by clicking here . The deadline for comments is January 4th 2010. Service 17:- City – Jericho – Cutteslowe Service from Oxford (New Road) via Magdalen Street , Canal Street, Walton Street (Jericho), Summertown, Banbury Road, Cutteslowe North (Templar Road ) and Cutteslowe South (Wren Road).(M-Sat Daytime) Serviced 17A:- Rail Stn – Jericho – J. R. Hospital Service from Oxford Rail Station via Magdalen Street, Walton Street (Jericho), Banbury Road, Marston Ferry Road to J.R. Hospital (evenings, daily). Service 17C:- Rail Stn – Jericho – Marston Village – J. R. Hospital As service 17A but also serves Marston village between Marston Ferry Road and the J.R. Hospital (Suns daytime). Questions for consideration:-

1. Just run between City and Jericho, which could give a higher frequency (possibly every half-hour?).
2. Cutteslowe could possibly be served by another route – direct into City? Also cover Five Mile Drive.
3. Extend beyond Jericho to Waterways? (Replacing service 206). But little demand from Waterways.
4. Terminate at Magdalen Street East?
5. M-Sat daytime service to terminate at Rail Station via Castle St. (replace 14)/14A?)
6. Increase frequency to half hourly through Jericho and run alternate 17/17C jnys during the daytime (giving Cutteslowe / J.R. hourly buses). 17 would end at Westgate (as now) while 17C ends at Station.
7. Slightly revise 17 Westgate terminal to run both ways via New Road.
8. Withdraw peaks run, say, run 09.00 to 16.00 only
9. Run either whole route hourly to J.R. Hospital (17C route) – leaves Cutteslowe unserved
There are problems in serving the Canal Street area due to parked vehicles (a special small sized bus is allocated to this route). NOT intended to change this route at this review but would only be served by one bus per hour if frequency increased (item 6) Discontinue evenings and Suns along Walton Street and to J.R. Hospital due to low usage (17A/17C). Would also leave Marston Ferry Rd unserved.

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