I'm not sure why the comments from AOwen and markymark2000 are so denegrating about the Herts CC BSIP funding . . . the new Herts Connect network is designed to do two things.
1. To provide new direct "round-the-corner" links around the County; not just for longer journeys, but sometimes cross-town links as well.
2. To enhance frequencies on major corridors, and at the same time to try to come closer to turn-up-and-go timings. Many links are now at 4 BPH, and at clock-face frequencies as well.
I was surprised at Route 907 (Stevenage-Brookfield), as this does duplicate Route 390 through a rural area, but having ridden on the route, there are a surprising number of passengers travelling . . . Stevenage-Ware doesn't sound like a useful route, but there ARE passengers making that journey!
I'm not sure how Route 721 will fare; Route 725 is already becoming useful; again from riding the route and listening to passengers comments.
I daresay that not all of the routes will work perfectly, but at least they're being tried. It is early days, though . . . wait and see how the routes perform during the summer . . .
Concerning the SaverCards . . . the concept dates back to the early-1990s, when commercial bus companies were charging adult fares during peak periods, and Herts CC devised the Savercard to enable scholars to access discounted fares. It has been expanded since then, with Savercards now being available for 11-19; 20-25; 26-59; 60-65 age ranges, with varying discounts. One of the comments often heard from rail travellers is that there is no help for travellers between 30 and 59 . . . it's full fare or nothing. The Adult Savercard (26-59) fills that gap nicely. Similarly, the 60-65 Savercard enables the not-quite-yet ENCTS generation to access cheaper fares.
Reimbursement to the operators comes from the Savercard fees being totalled up and divvied out by usage . . . each Savercard journey is captured by the ETM, so accurate ridership is known. Herts CC has form here . . . their ENCTS reimbursement is not driven by the DfT RAT (Reimbursement Attribution Tool), but by a scheme that is both easier and fairer to administer.
The continuing extension of the £2 single fare has muddied the waters here . . . but when fares return to normal levels, these new Savercards will come into their own.
I'm encouraged by this usage of BSIP funds . . . not just on "capital" projects, but by directly improving passenger journeys and fares; this seems to be what BSIP funding is intended for.
And I'm also old enough to remember the St Albans Gyratory of ?1987? or thereabouts. For those who don't know, St Albans has a couple of road junctions that are extraordinarily difficult to negotiate with even mid-sized vehicles, and one careless car can gridlock the town in seconds. The Gyratory was intended to remove the myriad of conflicting car movements, and created a one-way system that should've improved traffic flow considerably. Unfortunately, the job was only half-done, and chaos ensued, such that it was summarily stopped after about 3 days! As is the way with these changes, it needed to be run for at least two weeks, to give drivers a chance to see the benefits, but the City Council capitulated. If only . . .