Executive
Decision Notice
Notice of: / EXECUTIVE / Decision number: / EX55/2011Earliest date for decision: / 16th NOVEMBER 2011
LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2011 - 2015 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND PROGRAMME
1.0 / Matter for consideration:1.1 / To consider the proposed four year Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan attached at Appendix 3a and associated works programme, to be implemented over the financial years 2011/2012 to 2014/2015.
2.0 / Recommendation(s):
2.1
2.2 / To recommend to Council to approve the proposed four year Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan and associated works programme 2011/2012 – 2014/2015.
To recommend that authority is granted to the Head of Transportation, following consultation with the Service Director Built Environment and the Cabinet Member for Streets and Transport, to vary the programme as required to deliver overall objectives and ensure spend of the allocation.
3.0 / Category grouping: / Corporate/Strategic
4.0 / Corporate Performance Plan Objective :
Goal 2: Develop a Safe, Clean and Pleasant Place to Live, Work and Visit
5.0 / Information
5.1 / This report presents a proposed Implementation Plan, programme of works and projects to deliver Blackpool’s Local Transport Plan 2011 - 2015. The Local Transport Plan Strategy document was approved following a previous report’s submission to Executive (EX27/201) and then placed on the Council’s website. As well as reflecting local priorities to promote sustainable transport while supporting neighbourhoods, the visitor economy and preserving Blackpool's environmental quality, it has been written in-line with Department for Transport (DfT) guidance and the Government’s stated national transport goals:
•supporting economic growth
•reducing carbon emissions
•promoting equality of opportunity
•contributing to better safety, security and health
•improving quality of life and a healthy natural environment
5.2 / The Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan and associated works programme is compatible with and supports the Council's wider corporate agenda, particularly in providing mobility for all, enhancing the environment and supporting economic growth. It has the following locally defined transport objectives:
•Objective 1 – Improve, maintain and make best use of Blackpool’s transport network; in particular its roads, footways and bridges.
•Objective 2 – Improve road safety by interventions that reduce the number of people, particularly children, killed and seriously injured on Blackpool’s roads.
•Objective 3 – Manage congestion levels on Blackpool’s roads, especially where it impacts on local economic performance.
•Objective 4 – Improve transport to and within the resort, particularly by more sustainable modes, to enhance the visitor experience and support the local economy.
•Objective 5 – Improve the efficiency and management of parking to support the local economy, especially for shoppers and visitors.
•Objective 6 – Improve access to healthcare, education, employment, shops, social/leisure opportunities and resort attractions, particularly by sustainable modes.
5.3 / Local Transport Plan capital allocations are divided thus:
•Integrated Transport Block (ITB) - investment in transport infrastructure to improve road safety, encourage sustainable travel (public transport, cycling and walking) and modify road layouts where necessary.
•Highways Capital Allocation (HCA) - repairing roads, footpaths and other transport infrastructure on a programmed basis to achieve maximum efficiency, integrating with improvement projects where possible for further savings.
5.4 / The Local Transport Plan capital allocations are determined by Department for Transport using a formula to determine need to spend. The local Local Transport Plan’s quality is no longer used to determine part of the allocation. Nonetheless, a Local Transport Plan is a statutory requirement.
5.5 / The Department for Transport has notified the Council of the following transport block capital allocations for the years 2011/12 – 2014/15. Allocations for 2011/12 and 2012/13 are firm; those for 2013/14 and 2014/15 are indicative, therefore the programme will be adjusted to accommodate allocations actually received for the later two years:
£,000s / 2011/12 / 2012/13 / 2013/14 / 2014/15 / Total
Integrated Transport Block (ITB) / 1285 / 1371 / 1371 / 1928 / 5955
Highways Capital Allocation (HCA) / 1694 / 1524 / 1491 / 1375 / 6084
Total / 2979 / 2895 / 2862 / 3303 / 12039
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5.21 / In previous years a top slice of un ring fenced grant has been proposed to assist with funding of the wider capital programme, a decision on whether top slicing will apply will be determined in the budget process for 2012/13, should any top slice be agreed, the budgets will be adjusted accordingly
Subject to the above, on the basis of firm and indicative allocations, £11.295m Local Transport Plan resources will be available 2011/2012 – 2014/2015. The Plan will contribute £0.744m to other corporate spend over this four year period.
Although Highways Capital Allocation levels have been maintained, Integrated Transport Board allocations have been reduced to approximately 50% of the levels enjoyed during the Local Transport Plan 2 period. Resources must be managed efficiently to ensure that the maximum benefit possible can be realised from them. To this end, it is proposed that where possible Local Transport Plan resources are matched with those expended under the Community Lighting Partnership Street Lighting and Traffic Signals Private Finance Initiative (PFI) and the Project 30 road maintenance programme. Additionally resources will be concentrated on relatively fewer project areas, avoiding the danger of dissipating resources to little effect. The programme will build on experience gained during the Local Transport Plan2 and CyclingTowns project implementation period.
The Private Finance Initiative will replace the majority of Blackpool’s traffic signals and controlled crossings over an initial five year core investment period which commenced in 2010. Using Local Transport Plan funding where appropriate to enhance the replacement of existing signals and crossings offers a one-off opportunity at relatively modest costs to obtain road safety, sustainable transport and traffic management benefits. For example junctions are refurbished on a like-for-like basis to current standards and best industry practice. However, where additional facilities such as pedestrian phasing are required, Local Transport Plan resources can be used to fund this, any additional maintenance being accrued to the Community Lighting Partnership contract. This approach offers excellent value for money.
Opportunities exist with the Private Finance Initiative contract to develop Urban Traffic Management and Control (UTMC) facilities based around the signals network. This will enable efficient control of signals, minimising congestion, and the possible deployment of bus priority and Variable Message Signs (VMS) to manage the network and parking facilities.
Integrating Local Transport Plan resources with the Project 30 programme offers further efficiencies. Where road surfacing is taking place, it makes sense if appropriate to conduct any layout improvements, street furniture provision and parking provision when this is underway.
Past experience has demonstrated the benefits of working directly with the community and community groups and it is proposed that this approach is used to identify community-led measures to target three or four local district centres and the surrounding neighbourhoods to identify transport issues. These may include road safety concerns, parking arrangements, and the ability to access facilities and measures could be developed to address these and encourage sustainable travel with neighbourhoods and wider communities. In addition, the Transportation Division will work directly with citizens to assist them in making best use of the sustainable transport options available to them, including the resort’s dense daytime bus network, ‘Explorer’ cycle routes and improving pedestrian environment to access employment opportunities and key shopping, leisure and medical facilities. Officers will be supported to provide transport advice and training to citizens, building on the Council’s long-standing Travel Planning programme.
Based on the six strategic objectives stated, a detailed programme spreadsheet breakdown with four year budget allocations is appended. The sums allocated are best estimates at this stage. Actual spend may vary depending on the outcome of detailed design and site conditions and it may be necessary to vire sums between allocations to ensure delivery. Also to ensure that the allocation from Department for Transport is spent within the two year timescale allowed, it may be necessary for the Head of Transportation, after consultation with the Service Director Built Environment and the Cabinet Member for Streets and Transport, to vary the proposed programme, substituting schemes where particular difficulties are encountered in delivering those indicated.
The general spend areas proposed for the 2011/12 – 2014/15 Local Transport Plan programme, based on the Local Plan’s strategic local objectives, are as follows:
Objective 1: highway maintenance - £6.084m
Project 30, the prudential borrowing funded road and footway repair initiative, will provide the bulk of funds to bring the resort’s highways to a high standard, a clear community priority. A proportion of Highways Capital Allocation resources will contribute to the prudential borrowing financial arrangement, the remainder acting as match funding or paying for other repair priorities or statutory requirements.
Bridges and structures - £1.120m
A detailed survey of structures in the Council’s control has been completed, its findings being reported separately. Several structures are in poor condition and negotiations with Department for Transport colleagues to seek additional funds are underway. The following bridges are of particular concern:
Lytham Road – weight restriction in place
Watson Road
Harrowside
Princess Street.
This allocation will provide for essential repairs or match for Department for Transport resources to replace or refurbish structures.
Principal Road Maintenance - £4.964m
This element includes the Highways Capital Allocation contribution to the prudential borrowing arrangement as outlined above.
Objective 2: road safety - £1.150m
Neighbourhood centre accessibility and road safety - £1.150m
It is proposed that the area-based approach to achieving road safety and sustainable transport benefits outlined above is adopted. This approach will incorporate previous initiatives including road safety schemes, walking and cycle routes, 20mph zones and public realm improvement measures. At the limited resource levels available, these measures must be focused to be effective.
The schemes will be focused on district centres as priority community destinations, but will not be major schemes as implemented at Layton or Waterloo Road. District centres may benefit from parking, street furniture and minor layout improvements, all efforts to combine works with Project 30 carriageway and footway resurfacing work being made. Most work will be carried out to ensure that routes between homes and destinations are as safe as possible, particularly for children and other potentially vulnerable pedestrians.
Possible centres are:
•Highfield Road
•BisphamVillage
•Red Bank Road
•Devonshire Road
It is proposed that community steering groups, determine the schemes’ priorities with assistance from Transportation Division providing transport policy advice, engineering support and secretariat services. Planning on a community basis will enable a consensus to be achieved, enabling rapid implementation with community support. The bulk of these schemes will be implemented towards the programme’s end, allowing a robust scheme to be planned.
Objective 3: congestion - £2.624m
It is essential that people and goods can enter and move around Blackpool easily therefore congestion has a direct economic impact. Government has prioritised congestion reduction as a way of boosting economic growth.
Blackpool tramway project - £0.122
Modal shift to the refurbished tramway system, to be completed in spring 2012, will help manage congestion. Further system extensions, including that envisaged between the Promenade and Blackpool North Railway Station, would enable further moves from car to tram transport, particularly favouring visitor access and commuting for work.
As this is the tram scheme’s last implementation year before completion, 2011/2012 will see the final Local Transport Plan contribution to the tramway scheme, according to the financial profile agreed with Lancashire County Council and Department for Transport.
Private Finance Initiative betterment - £1.480m
As discussed above, the Private Finance Initiative offers a one-off opportunity to achieve sustainable transport benefits cost-effectively by providing additional funding for complementary measures. The following locations are proposed for enhancement using Local Transport Plan funding:
- South Park Drive/Preston New Road – additional pedestrian facilities and traffic management/congestion reduction
- South Park Drive/Preston Old Road – additional pedestrian facilities
- Watson Road/Marton Drive/St Annes Road – pedestrian facilities, road safety and traffic management improvements
- Talbot Square/Promenade – improved pedestrian facilities, layout amendments to improve the public realm and road safety and traffic management
- Waterloo Road/Promenade – facilitate access to new headland
- Church Street junctions with Regent Road, Park Road, Grosvenor Street and Cookson Street – pedestrian facilities and improved traffic management
- Manchester Square – facilitate access to new headland and improved traffic management.
Bus stops, shelters and infrastructure - £0.332m
As reported separately, the Council has now assumed ownership and management of bus shelters, including advertising which provides a revenue stream for reinvestment. In addition to this, an Local Transport Plan budget to fund bus passenger waiting and other facilities is provided.
Previously it has been possible to implement quality bus corridor schemes, but there are insufficient resources for this approach to continue. However, provision of shelters and improvements to bus stop accessibility will be required over the programme’s life, for which an allocation is proposed.
It is intended that a bus priority system be established at traffic lights for late running buses to recover to their timetable. The Council’s 2007 research showed that bus service reliability is a primary concern for bus passengers, thus this scheme will contribute to modal shift promotion programmes. This system will be achieved in cooperation with the Private Finance Initiative arrangement, using the traffic management technology that it has made available.
Travel planning for neighbourhoods - £0.690m
The scheme will apply approaches tested within the national Sustainable Travel Towns programme and Blackpool’s own Cycling Towns initiative, to support citizens in accessing employment opportunities and shopping, leisure and health facilities using sustainable modes.
The initiative will work with individuals, community organisations, schools and large employers to support people in walking, cycling and using public transport. Removing transport barriers will help job seekers to access employment opportunities.
A small officer team with budgets for equipment and promotional material will deliver this scheme. The scheme may include creating a sustainable travel smart-phone ‘app’, providing travel support at users’ fingertips. Sustainable Travel Towns case studies demonstrate that ‘smarter choices’ is cost-effective in achieving modal shift, reducing congestion, improving road safety and controlling transport emissions.
Objective 4: visitor economy - £0.865m
Visitors provide most of the resort’s wealth and the Local Transport Plan programme will continue to address their needs. Blackpool suffers tourism peak time road congestion and car parking can present a poor gateway experience. Congestion reductions also benefit local communities.
There are insufficient funds to support very large projects, such as the recent Promenade scheme, although access to the new promenade headlands will be improved within the Private Finance Initiative betterment scheme.
Signage - £0.865m
Signage quality has been identified as a key visitor gateway and traffic management issue. It is important that visitors are directed to their optimum car park, rather than driving extra miles searching for this. Achieving this would take considerable pressure off the roads, particularly the new Promenade where a high quality pedestrian environment is desired.
To this end, a new signage scheme has been designed and is being implemented on the following corridors:
- C2: A5230 – Progress Way/Squires Gate Lane to the Promenade
- C3: Yeadon Way/Seasiders Way
- C4: A583 – Preston New Road.
Once out of their cars, the pedestrian environment becomes a key visitor concern. To this end, an urban way-finding scheme is being developed focused principally to guide visitors between car parks, transport hubs and attractions, the scheme will also encourage exploring to find ‘hidden gems’ such as the Grundy Art Gallery.
Objective 5: parking - £0.194m
Visitor, shopper, on-street and residential parking require ongoing management for which an annual allocation is made.
Objective 6: accessibility - £0.805m
Town centre accessibility and traffic management review - £0.325m
Talbot Gateway and emerging town centre strategy mean significant change in this crucial tourism and wealth generating area, providing offices and additional retail space.
The town centre must be accessible to all transport modes and be uncongested, particularly outside the travel peak. Transport arrangements must complement the ongoing environmental improvement programme that has been implemented.
This allocation will enable appraisal and transport measure implementation when an agreed programme is in place, supporting the transport improvements that the Central Business District scheme will bring.
North-South cycle routes including Public Rights of Way upgrades - £0.300m
Cycling Towns has provided four east–west ‘Explorer’ cycle routes connecting the promenade to Blackpool’s hinterland. This programme will connect these with a north-south route, exploiting existing Public Rights of Way improvement appraisal work to enable rapid implementation.
These routes will improve existing cycle routes as an effective network for commuting trips to work, education and for wide-ranging leisure rides, connecting work and education locations to neighbourhoods, being complementary to neighbourhood centre accessibility and road safety schemes.