Reading Transport Strategy 2036 Consultation Draft March 2020 Local Transport Plan Reading Transport Strategy 2036 Consultation Draft - March 2020 Reading Transport Strategy 2036 This is the most important Transport Strategy Already one in three vehicles on the Inner Foreword, by that Reading will ever produce. The Climate Distribution Road (IDR) does not even stop in Emergency is happening now and it is not central Reading at peak times, and could take a something any of us should ignore. The new more direct and appropriate route, avoiding the Councillor Tony strategy is our most radical yet and reflects the town centre, if better orbital links were available. fact that the status quo is not an option. It is not acceptable for the many thousands of Page vehicles and lorries who have no origin, destination Over the following pages you can read about how or purpose in Reading to continue to use the town our plans will help to combat the poor air quality as a short cut, causing additional congestion, polluting some parts of our town and how our polluting our air and damaging our health. This policies will help create a net zero-carbon Reading document will help tackle that injustice. It is a by 2030. It includes schemes some people may situation no responsible local authority can ignore. find controversial. I make no apology for that. The only way we can hope to tackle the congestion Our challenge is to successfully absorb the growth and pollution which blights some areas of Reading in housing, jobs and commuting, whilst protecting is by doing things differently. the health of residents. Our Transport Strategy to 2036 is a plan to do that. It has been designed Reading has one of the UK’s fastest growing following recent phases of public consultation economies. It is a major centre for employment, which produced a record number of responses leisure and education in the Thames Valley region and showed very strong support for a more and home to many national and international sustainable future. Thank you to the over three companies. Demand for new homes has never thousand people who helped shape it. been higher. But with that success come serious challenges in terms of pressure on our transport This strategy provides high quality and realistic infrastructure, commuter congestion and poor air alternatives to the private car through new and quality. upgraded railway stations, new park and rides and quick, reliable public and affordable transport The challenge will only intensify in the coming routes. It includes major new schemes to promote years with many thousands of new homes being and strengthen public transport links, like a Third built, particularly just outside of Reading. Many Thames Crossing and a new orbital route in the of those people will commute into Reading for north of the borough. It includes new pedestrian work and must be offered attractive and reliable and cycle routes, and the infrastructure to alternatives to the private car. support it. It also includes demand management schemes, to remove the most polluting vehicles from our streets, particularly those with absolutely 2 no business in Reading. This strategy also outlines We recognise that difficult choices will need to be how we will work with partners to fund and to help made to address the climate crisis and improve air deliver the vision. quality in our town. Embracing rapidly changing technology and being responsive to innovation will We are building on strong foundations. In be fundamental to achieve our vision for the town. recent years we have overseen the complete transformation of Reading Station, built This strategy is currently in draft form and is based Christchurch Bridge, the new pedestrian and cycle on feedback from the extensive consultation we bridge over the Thames, and created new park & undertook last summer. This is a further opportunity ride sites at Mereoak and Winnersh. Our investment for you to help shape the final strategy, to inform has resulted in significant increases in sustainable the decisions we take and improvements we travel in Reading. Bus use is the third highest in the deliver. This will ensure that together we can whole country and sustainable travel, including achieve a sustainable and prosperous future for walking and cycling, now accounts for over 75% of everybody in Reading. trips to and from the town centre. We have achieved a great deal, but we have As you will see, we want to transform travel much more to do. This is how we will do it. options in this period by delivering high-quality and realistic alternatives to the private car. This will bring significant benefits for the environment and climate crisis, the health and wellbeing of residents, enable sustainable economic growth, unlock local job opportunities and deliver new Councillor Tony Page homes to the highest environmental standards. Deputy Leader and Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment Planning and Transport Future travel in and around Reading must be affordable and accessible to reduce the Reading Borough Council considerable inequalities in our communities. It must improve residents’ health and wellbeing, whilst supporting a growing and inclusive economy. 3 Reading Transport Strategy 2036 4 Contents Appendices Executive Summary ..................................................... 6 Appendix A - Summary of Visioning Consultation Responses 1. Introduction ..................................................................12 Appendix B - Integrated Impact Assessment 2. Vision & Objectives ................................................. 16 3. About Reading .............................................................24 4. Challenges & Opportunities ................................... 48 5. Our Policies ...................................................................66 6. Our Schemes & Initiatives ....................................... 86 7. Funding & Implementation ..................................... 150 8. Partnerships & Stakeholders ................................... 158 9. Monitoring & Review ............................................... 162 Glossary ........................................................................ 166 References .................................................................... 168 5 Reading Transport Strategy 2036 Executive Introduction Our Vision and Objectives The Reading Transport Strategy 2036 is a statutory By 2050, we want Reading to be a great place Summary document that sets the plan for developing our to live, work, study and play. We have formed town’s transport network to 2036 and beyond. a vision for our town, by coming together with It includes the guiding policies and principles, local businesses, community groups and Reading alongside schemes and initiatives to be delivered, University to plan for Reading’s future. The result is to enable us to achieve our overall vision for the Reading 2050 Vision, an ambitious description a step-change in sustainable travel choices in of what Reading can be; a green tech city, a city Reading. of culture and diversity, and a city of rivers and parks. The strategy is focused primarily on improvements within Reading Borough for local residents. The Reading 2050 Vision identifies key elements for However, due to the compact geography its delivery, including a number in which transport of the Local Authority area, it also includes plays a major part. Transport will be critical to cross-boundary schemes and initiatives within enhancing the connectivity needed to facilitate neighbouring local authorities which form part of economic growth and enable everyone enjoy the the wider Reading urban area. multitude of assets the town has to offer. The way in which we deliver this will be key to low carbon This strategy has been developed in partnership living, and creating the green and healthy spaces with local residents, businesses and stakeholders to allow our communities to thrive. Technology will through an extensive consultation which was support our transport network, facilitating smart undertaken during summer 2019. It has been and efficient solutions, and maximising the impact informed by an integrated impact assessment, that transport can make. which has considered the impacts of the plan on the environment, health, and equalities issues. In The Reading Local Plan vision, which sets out addition to satisfying statutory requirements, this in more detail a vision for Reading in 2036, but has helped to shape the content of the Reading considers the context of the longer-term direction Transport Strategy in order to maximise beneficial of travel to 2050, is informed by the Reading 2050 effects for local communities and the environment. Vision. This is a draft strategy for consultation to ensure The Reading 2050 Vision and our Local Plan that you have the opportunity to help shape the have informed our approach to delivering the final strategy before it is adopted in late 2020. transport elements of the overall vision for Reading, 6 considering key factors including changing travel Supporting Healthy Lifestyles About Reading patterns and future technology, the climate Create healthy streets to encourage active change emergency, opportunities to enable travel and lifestyles, improve accessibility to key Reading is an important and strategic location in healthy lifestyles, promote sustainable economic destinations and increase personal safety the South East. The Borough was home to around growth and reduce inequalities by ensuring 163,000 people in 2018, with a