Forestalling a PTA
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by Carolyn H yams • Voluntary co-ordination of passenger transport facilities is well on the way in North East Lancashire. Now, after the publication of the area's first comprehensive transport services timetable (CM June 14), comes the news that the many undertakings involved are near to standardizing conditions in relation to children's fares and later it is hoped to do the same with old age pensioners' concessions.
When, following the publication of the White Paper, local authorities in the area formed their own co-ordinating committee, they realized that only good could come out of such co-operation. Be that as it may, the effect is likely to be that of forestalling any future plans Whitehall might have for setting up a Passenger Transport Authority in their area.
The North East Lancashire Area Coordinating Committee consists of representatives from all local authorities operating public transport in the area (Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Colne and Nelson, Darwen, Haslingden, Preston, Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall), Ribble Motor Services Ltd., Todmorden Joint Omnibus Committee, the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association and British Railways. They also invited a member of the North Western Regional Passenger Co-ordinating Committee, set-up in pursuance of the White Paper's proposals, to join them.
The committee has in turn appointed a technical committee consisting of the undertakings' general managers to get down to the hard work of implementing these co-ordination proposals and it was through the latter's efforts that the area-wide timetable was published. It is hoped that in future the 24-hour clock will be adopted throughout the region.
They hope for improvements with regar to bus /rail connections and better inter change between bus services, particular! with stage and express runs.
Traffic congestion is being studied i town centres and consideration is bein given to righthand-turning-only for buses i busy streets. Luggage facilities, and sign posting between stations and the nearest bu stops are other features receiving attentio and the thorny question of staggering hour in factories and schools is under review.