Via Case Studies MK Connect: Revolutionizing Public Transportation in Milton Keynes

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	MK Connect: Revolutionizing Public Transportation in Milton Keynes Via

MK Connect: Revolutionizing Public Transportation in Milton Keynes

Via

Applicable Industries	Automotive Transportation
Applicable Functions	Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases	Public Transportation Management Smart City Operations
Challenge	Milton Keynes, a small city located about 50 miles northwest of London, had been grappling with the challenge of promoting public transportation for several decades. The situation worsened in 2020 when the global pandemic caused subsidies on supported bus services to surge from £2 to over £10 per journey. The city was faced with the daunting task of maintaining or even improving the essential supported services while also achieving significant cost savings. Read More
About Customer	The customers of MKConnect are the residents of Milton Keynes, a small city in England. These residents were previously reliant on subsidized bus services for their transportation needs. However, the high cost of these subsidies, especially during the global pandemic, posed a significant challenge. The introduction of MKConnect has provided these residents with a more efficient and cost-effective transportation solution. The service is designed to complement the existing commercial bus network, providing an on-demand solution for trips that cannot be accommodated by the commercial network. Read More
Solution	In October 2020, Milton Keynes Council, in collaboration with Via, launched MKConnect, a demand-responsive transport service that provided on-demand trips in a pilot area of the city. In April 2021, the council took the bold step of eliminating all subsidized bus services and expanded MKConnect to cover the entire city. The service was designed to complement the commercial bus network and was integrated with it, ensuring passengers only received an on-demand bus proposal if their trip could not be accommodated by the commercial network. MKConnect surpassed all ridership expectations, delivering over 100,000 rides within six months of its launch and currently serving around 5.5K rides per week. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Transportation

Applicable Functions

Logistics & Transportation

Use Cases

Public Transportation Management

Smart City Operations

Challenge

Milton Keynes, a small city located about 50 miles northwest of London, had been grappling with the challenge of promoting public transportation for several decades. The situation worsened in 2020 when the global pandemic caused subsidies on supported bus services to surge from £2 to over £10 per journey. The city was faced with the daunting task of maintaining or even improving the essential supported services while also achieving significant cost savings.

About Customer

The customers of MKConnect are the residents of Milton Keynes, a small city in England. These residents were previously reliant on subsidized bus services for their transportation needs. However, the high cost of these subsidies, especially during the global pandemic, posed a significant challenge. The introduction of MKConnect has provided these residents with a more efficient and cost-effective transportation solution. The service is designed to complement the existing commercial bus network, providing an on-demand solution for trips that cannot be accommodated by the commercial network.

Solution

In October 2020, Milton Keynes Council, in collaboration with Via, launched MKConnect, a demand-responsive transport service that provided on-demand trips in a pilot area of the city. In April 2021, the council took the bold step of eliminating all subsidized bus services and expanded MKConnect to cover the entire city. The service was designed to complement the commercial bus network and was integrated with it, ensuring passengers only received an on-demand bus proposal if their trip could not be accommodated by the commercial network. MKConnect surpassed all ridership expectations, delivering over 100,000 rides within six months of its launch and currently serving around 5.5K rides per week.

Impact #1	The implementation of MKConnect has significantly improved the passenger experience in Milton Keynes. The service has not only met its financial objectives but also provided a substantial uplift in passenger satisfaction. The average wait time for a bus after requesting a trip has been reduced to approximately 20 minutes, a significant improvement from the previous hourly service. This improvement in service efficiency and passenger satisfaction has led to an ever-increasing demand for MKConnect's services.

Impact #1

The implementation of MKConnect has significantly improved the passenger experience in Milton Keynes. The service has not only met its financial objectives but also provided a substantial uplift in passenger satisfaction. The average wait time for a bus after requesting a trip has been reduced to approximately 20 minutes, a significant improvement from the previous hourly service. This improvement in service efficiency and passenger satisfaction has led to an ever-increasing demand for MKConnect's services.

Benefit #1	MKConnect exceeded 100,000 rides within six months of its launch
Benefit #2	The service currently serves around 5.5K rides per week
Benefit #3	The council is on track to reduce supported bus spend by approximately £1.4m

Benefit #1

MKConnect exceeded 100,000 rides within six months of its launch

Benefit #2

The service currently serves around 5.5K rides per week

Benefit #3

The council is on track to reduce supported bus spend by approximately £1.4m

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Overview

MK Connect: Revolutionizing Public Transportation in Milton Keynes

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit