Led by: Metro
Contact: Erica Ward
Tel. +44 (0)113 251 7358

Introduction
This project is concerned with transport access for socially disadvantaged communities to access jobs and other services. The project will develop partnerships between the PTE,  target communities, developers, businesses, government job agencies and other intermediaries to assist with access problems and solutions.

ACTIVITY UPDATES:-

Transport and Social Inclusion Good Practice Guide, January 2005
The UKs seven PTEs are pioneering innovative new ways to tackle social exclusion.  Erica, who has worked in the field of social exclusion through Objective 1 and Target 2 projects, was principle in compiling the new good practice guide and one of the many consultants PTEG (Passenger Transport Executive Group) called upon in producing this ground breaking report.

Chair of pteg, and Director General of Metro, Kieran Preston, said: 'The Government's Social Exclusion Unit has rightly highlighted better access to jobs, healthcare, retail and education, as key to unlocking opportunity for deprived communities.  This guide is part of the process....it aims to help raise awareness among transport planners and policy makers of some of the innovative scheme now underway in PTE areas, and the lessons that can be learnt from them.'

A pdf document can be viewed in Related Links: Social Inclusion Good Practice Guide

Partnership with Job Centre Plus, September 2004
A project has been developed in partnership with Job Centre Plus in the Wakefield district to provide free travel to job interviews and in the start up period of a new job. 

Job seekers from eligible areas in Wakefield and surrounding areas can obtain free pre-paid travel tickets from their local Job Centre Plus office to travel to a job interview or to a new job in the first week or month of employment.

An exchange study visit was arranged in July 2004 for colleagues from the West Midlands and South Yorkshire to learn about the project, specifically focussed on partnership arrangements with Job Centre Plus and delivery mechanisms.

Metro Connect 1 review. July 2004
A review of the Metro Connect Aire Valley service was undertaken following six months of operation.  The review included on-bus surveys with passengers, business survey, discussions with stakeholders and a review of overall patronage levels.

The passenger survey indicated a very positive response to the Metro Connect bus service both in terms of overall satisfaction with the service and the impact of the service on people's lives.  Of passengers surveyed:

> 40% stated that the service had enabled them to improve their employment position
> 64% do not have access to a car
> 8% previously made the journey by car, either as a driver or passenger
> 67% were travelling to/from work. 

As a result of the review a number of changes have been introduced in order to widen the area of operation and increase off-peak take up of the service.

The service changes aim to maintain and increase current usage for travel to work, whilst encouraging more 'community' type patronage for a wider range of journeys e.g. shopping, health care appointments, education and training, leisure etc. 

Survey Results: The response from the passenger survey indicates that the service has made a significant impact on the lives of passengers, with 40% of respondents stating that the service had enabled them to improve their employment position.   Further indications suggest: a model shift of 5% from car drivers and 3% as car passengers are using the bus; 64% of passengers do not own a car; 67% used the service travelling to/from work.  Over 90% rated the bus very good or good for reliability, frequency, hours of operation, convenience and personal safety.  

Access to Employment Group, a presentation of Metro Connect Services
May 2004  A best practice seminar organised by Centro in Birmingham attracted 29 delegates.  Who met to discuss the issues and barriers surrounding barriers to employment, health and education opportunities within the West Midlands. 

Metro's Community Liaison Officer gave a presentation on the Metro Connect project in West Yorkshire; and South Yorkshire presented the Target work relating to personalised travel for interviews and jobs.  Both presentations generating a great deal of interest as well as group discussion on best practice.  Delegates will be visiting  the Yorkshire and Humber region to experience the different schemes.

Metro Connect 2 links Europort workforce
February 2004  Another special bus service to connect disadvantage communities with jobs.  Metro Connect Europort was launched as a new bus service to make getting to work as easy as possible for people employed at companies on Wakefield Europort and neighbouring industrial parks. 

Many of the jobs available operate on a shift system basis, making access difficult for many of the 3,000 people employed in the area.  The Metro Connect Europort service is designed to meet the needs  of local people and helps to reduce the numbers of cars potentially used for these journeys.

Launch of Leeds Metro Connect 1, October 2003
Aire Valley is a major regeneration area in Leeds, estimated to provide 20,000 new jobs in the coming years.  With few public transport links, the Metro Connect bus service, developed in partnership with Aire Valley Leeds, Urban Bus Challenge, SRB and Target funding, links disadvantaged communities with this area of employed growth. The Metro Connect service provides:

• A direct link between communities and jobs
• Early services to facilitate access for shift work
• Buses that divert off route to pick up passengers
• Ticketing initiatives offering free travel to access job interviews and new jobs.