Typesetting and Cartographic services for bus maps in Milton Keynes
Requirement
In August 2017, Milton Keynes Council awarded us a contract following a competitive tender process. They wanted us to help publicise bus services in Milton Keynes with typesetting and cartographic services, which involved creation, updating and pagination of existing bus service travel guides. On the cartographic front, both geographical and spider/schematic bus maps and bus information posters needed updating and amending.
Solution
The project began with our Production Team taking on all the existing files for the bus maps. We assessed the scale of the service required, and worked with the Milton Keynes Council every step of the way. They were involved at every relevant stage and supplied their own inputs, using spreadsheets of changes, to a timetable guide for bus services. We also collaborated on understanding and implementing amendments to specific routes or added detail on the maps.
In order to keep up with Publicity refreshes, we completed map amendments in just 5 days. Timetable changes were set up in just 3 days. The bus services guide and posters are reprinted every 6 months with potential to reprint other items at any stage.
Result
The contract has been running for nearly a year, with great success. Milton Keynes’ Public Transport Officer Janice McGowan commented, “Lovell Johns continue to provide Milton Keynes Council’s Passenger Transport Team with an efficient, professional service. Turnaround on work is quicker than stipulated at the start of the contract, and they are always available to handle our queries. Lovell johns have a good interpretation of what is required for new items of publicity. It is our pleasure to recommend them for similar projects’’.
For our part, we are very glad to see how mapping and indeed bus services continue to play an important role in educating and encouraging greater use of sustainable travel across the UK.