Combined evaluation of public transport packages of measures in Norwegian urban areas - 1996/97

From 1996 the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications has supported packages of measures in order to improve public transport. This report is a combined evaluation of the schemes in the four Norwegian urban areas Tønsberg, Hundvåg (Stavanger), Drammen and Nedre Glomma (Fredrikstad and Sarpsborg). The objective of this report is to disseminate results which may be of use in all parts of the transport sector. The packages of measures were implemented in a period with shifting external conditions. However, the schemes have dampened the negative impacts of those conditions. Corrected for this turbulence, the measures have brought about a passenger increase. We have found a strong relationship between people's level of satisfaction with the schemes and changes in travel patterns. There is a direct link between increased bus use and public transport improvements, with bus frequency being the most important factor. The positive effects on demand are greater with lager packages of measures than with single measures. Our study shows that increased knowledge of, and a positive attitude to, public transport result in more bus use and less car use. A cost-benefit analysis shows that the packages of measures as a whole have been beneficial.