Bus Time Displays to be extended in Dorking

Last year Liberal Democrat County Councillor Hazel Watson drew up outline proposals for Real Time Passenger Information [“RTPI”] screens to be installed at bus stops throughout Dorking, identified potential funding for the project, and successfully pitched the idea to Officers at the County Council.

After successfully pitching the project to the County Council, Hazel Watson gained the support of the District Council’s Officers for the funding bid by demonstrating how the bid promoted the agreed objectives of the District Council. This bid has now been agreed by the District Council’s Cabinet.

The project will involve RTPI displays being installed at the busiest bus stops in Dorking where they will have the most impact - either side of the High Street by The White Horse / Superdrug, by Deepdene / KFC, by the Dorking Halls / Pippbrook, in South Street / Horsham Road by the Old Bus Station, and on Deepdene Avenue by Deepdene Station. They will be installed during 2024 either inside existing shelters (where available) or as “flag” displays on bus stop poles so they will by sympathetic to the Dorking Conservation Area.

The project will cost £100,000 and will be partly funded by the County Council with the balance from the Dorking Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy which is administered by Mole Valley District Council. 

Hazel Watson said, “The RTPI displays will show all bus routes from all operators serving the Dorking stops and will encourage the use of the local bus network and sustainable transport usage. They will complement the existing installations at Dorking Station, the South Street and Vincent Lane bus stops, and in Westcott. These additional displays will increase accessibility to the bus services, particularly for those with learning difficulties and visual impairments, whilst delivering infrastructure needed for the growth of the area. They will enable passengers to make informed decisions from the live updates and to have the security of knowing when the buses are due to arrive.”