Ordered by the Province of South Holland, and in co-operation with the public transport company Connexxion, an experiment with free public transport on two bus routes (routes 88 and 95) has been started in January 2004. The aim of this experiment is to test in practice the ability of free public transport to contribute to a reduction of congestion on the A44/N44. The first results show that the objectives, as stated in the policy documents, are met: the use of the buses has been increased dramatically and the occupancy of the Transferium ‘t Schouw/A44 has been more than doubled. However, no explicit targets were given for the desired reduction of congestion. But the public in general, as well as the involved authorities, are certainly interested in the possible effects this experiment might have on congestion. Therefore, TNO Inro has been asked for a second opinion on the results of the experiment with free public transport, from an independent, scientific point of view. In this second opinion, it has been determined how the available data sources can contribute to the formulation of conclusions with respect to the development of the congestion on the A44/N44. Besides, the possible use of other data sources, available elsewhere, has been investigated. Finally, recommendations have been given for the way in which additional research, conducted during the remainder of the experiment, could help to formulate more decisive conclusions with respect to the effects of free public transport on congestion. From this second opinion, it can be concluded that a reduction of congestion on the A44/N44 should not be considered as the key indicator for an experiment with free public transport. This is because free public transport is only one of the multiple factors that influence congestion. The direct influence of the experiment with free public transport on the congestion on the A44/N44 is therefore hard to determine. However, a substantial share of the new bus passengers turns out to be former car drivers. Yet this does not reduce congestion on the A44/N44, either because these car drivers did not originally choose the A44/N44 route, or because the space created on the A44/N44 is by now taken by other cars. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting