The Joint Transportation Board of Dartford Council discussed several key issues, including measures to restrict unhealthy food advertising at bus shelters, the MaaS (Mobility as a Service) pilot project in Ebbsfleet, updates on Fastrack services, and various parking schemes across Dartford. Decisions were made to extend the bus shelter advertising contract and to progress with the MaaS pilot project.

Bus Shelter Advertising

Tammy Foster, Whole Systems Obesity Officer for North Kent, presented measures to restrict unhealthy food advertising at bus shelters. The presentation highlighted that Kent has an adult obesity rate of 65.8%, with Dartford at 64.5%, the fifth highest of 13 Kent districts. The measures are part of a broader public health initiative to combat obesity in Kent. The Council's Principal Transport Planner updated members on Dartford's 67 bus shelters, noting that an extension to the existing contract had been approved until the end of 2024. A new contract starting in January 2025 will include provisions to restrict unhealthy food advertising. The Chairman stressed the need for all bus companies servicing Dartford to be included in the new contract to ensure consistent service.

MaaS (Mobility as a Service)

Jacqui Elliott, KCC’s Public Transport Project Manager and Lead for MaaS, presented the MaaS pilot project in Ebbsfleet. The project aims to encourage a shift from private car ownership to public transport, cycling, and shared electric transport. The MaaS platform will allow residents to plan, book, and pay for multimodal journeys using a single app. The project aligns with several KCC strategies, including the Kent’s Bus Service Improvement Plan and the K&M Energy & Low Emissions Strategy. Members expressed concerns about the reliability of current bus services and the need for more feeder routes to Fastrack services. Elliott noted that while MaaS is not a universal solution, it is a step towards improving public transport options.

Fastrack Services

In the absence of the Fastrack Development Manager, Jacqui Elliott and the Council’s Principal Transport Planner provided updates on Fastrack services. Key points included:

• The new operator, Go-Ahead London, will have a fully electric fleet by March 2025.
• A temporary half-hourly service C2 linking Gravesend to Ebbsfleet Station and Whitecliffe Castle Hill Turning Circle is expected to start on 7 July 2024.
• Acacia Hall car park will be the site for charging infrastructure for the new electric buses.
• A Fastrack feasibility study is exploring the expansion of the current network, including potential links to Cross Rail and West Dartford.
• Contracts have been awarded for installing ANPR cameras to monitor and enforce violations on Fastrack bus-ways.

Parking Schemes Update

The Council’s Principal Transport Planner provided updates on various parking schemes:

• West Hill/Town Ward: Stage 3 formal public consultations commenced on 26 February 2024 and will close on 21 April 2024.
• Princes Ward: Informal public consultation completed in January 2024, with further steps including response analysis and engagement with local Ward Members.
• Temple Hill Ward: Informal public consultation completed in February 2024, with subsequent steps similar to Princes Ward.
• Brent and Newtown Wards: Informal public consultation to end in March 2024, followed by response analysis and engagement with Ward Members.

Road Works in Dartford

Members reviewed the KCC Road Works update report, which listed approved schemes for construction in Dartford during the 2023/24 cycle. The report was noted without further discussion.

For more details, you can refer to the printed minutes of the meeting.