Durham City Integrated Transport Approach Durham County Council Executive Summary
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Contents Executive Summary 2 1 Introduction 4 2 Reducing the Need to Travel 8 Spatial Strategy for Durham City 8 Strategic Development Sites 11 3 Alternatives to the Private Car 14 Changing Travel Behaviour 14 Walking and Cycling Infrastructure 17 Bus Services and Infrastructure 28 Rail Services and Infrastructure 37 4 Managing Traffic 40 Urban Traffic Control 41 Parking Management 44 Highway Improvements 47 5 Conclusions of DITA 52 List of Maps Map 1 Strategic Development Sites in Durham City 11 Map 2 Proposed Cycle Super Routes and Secondary Routes 19 Map 3 Cycling Routes across Durham City 20 Map 4 Proposed Re-route of National Cycle Network 14 21 Map 5 Potential Strategic Pedestrian and Cycling Links at Aykley Heads 24 Employment Site Map 6 Potential Strategic Pedestrian and Cycling Links at Sniperley Park 25 Map 7 Potential Strategic Pedestrian and Cycling Links at North of Arnison 26 Strategic Site Map 8 Potential Strategic Pedestrian and Cycling Links at Sherburn Strategic 27 Housing Site Map 9 The Bus Station Re-location Site will improve the Transport 30 Infrastructure in Durham City Map 10 Bus Routes In Close Proximity to Aykley Heads Strategic Employment 33 Site Map 11 Bus Routes Near Sniperley Park and North of Arnison Strategic 34 Development Sites Map 12 Bus Routes Near Sherburn Road Strategic Housing Site 35 Map 13 Highway Improvements Planned Acrosss Durham City 40 Map 14 Urban Traffic Control in Durham City 42 Map 15 Park and Ride Sites & Housing Sites 44 Map 16 Sniperley Park and Ride Extension 46 Map 17 Transit 15 projects on bus corridors to Durham City 47 Map 18 Highway Improvements Related to the County Durham Plan 50 Durham City Integrated Transport Approach Durham County Council Executive Summary Executive Summary While the Council believe that the growth of Durham City can help be a catalyst for achieving an 'Altogether Wealthier' County Durham, it is vital that traffic congestion and the transport systems around Durham City do not undermine the our attempts to grow the County's economy and enable a thriving Durham City. This document is the 'Durham City Integrated Transport Approach' (DITA) which sets out some strategic Goals and a range of large and small projects to help the Council deal with the projected growth in car based travel. National traffic forecasting predicts that congestion and car use is set to rise. In addition to natural traffic growth, the County Durham Plan facilitates housing and employment growth in the City and provides for approximately 5000 new houses and a new strategic employment site in Durham City. While infrastructure improvements need to be put in place, a long lasting improvement in reducing congestion will only be realised if we can break the trend of car dominance in the Durham City travel to work area. Using the car is not wrong but this integrated transport approach is about giving existing and new residents more options so that getting in the car is no longer the default position. The DITA seeks to change residents travel behaviour by setting out 'softer' and 'harder' sustainable transport measures such as; Engaging in Workplace and School Travel Planning; Better Public Transport Information; More space for walkers and cyclists crossing Milburngate Bridge; Improvements to the National Cycle Network (Route 14) through the City Centre; Investment in 'intelligent' traffic signals to allow a smoother progression of vehicles and increase the reliability of public transport by giving priority to buses; Re-location of the bus station and removal of the roundabout at the top end of North Road, improving public transport accessibility and reducing the severance effect of the A690 for walkers; A bus priority corridor through Sniperley Park Strategic Housing Site; and Extensions to the Park and Ride facilities at Sniperley and Howlands Farm The DITA is structured around 3 aims; Reducing the Need to Travel (Durham City Spatial Strategy) In the Reducing the Need to travel section, we will set out why Durham City is the most sustainable development area in County Durham from a transport perspective and why this strategy reduces the need to travel. We will then look at the Strategic Development Sites and examine why these sites are sustainable. We will then consider traffic growth implications of the Plan in 2021 and 2030 (without relief road interventions). 2 Durham County Council Durham City Integrated Transport Approach Executive Summary Alternatives to the Private Car The key chapter for DITA focuses on what projects can be developed to reduce the car dominance in Durham City. The chapter starts with a section on changing travel behaviour so residents are more attracted to using alternatives to the private car. We will then focus on some of the specific 'harder' infrastructure projects we are undertaking in different modes to facilitate sustainable transport in and across the City. Of particular importance, is the relationship between sustainable modes of transport and the Durham City Strategic Development Sites. Managing Traffic Transport modelling for Durham City demonstrates that modal shift to public transport and active travel will only partially alleviate the congestion problems and that traffic will continue to grow regardless of sustainable interventions. Therefore, in the final section of DITA, we will set out a number of traffic management measures that we are proposing around the City to facilitate the development proposed for Durham City and to mitigate the impact of traffic growth. Delivery of significant levels of housing and employment in Durham City are partly dependent on this integrated package of measures. The DITA does contain some elements of strategy set, however, this version of DITA is more about practical actions that can reduce the need to travel, create alternatives to the private car and the highway interventions that can manage the residual traffic demand. The DITA is about large and small projects that can contribute to achieving these aims. The DITA is the continuation of previous good work on transport action plans for Durham City such as the 2004 'A Flexible Transport Strategy for Durham City'. The DITA is also a living document and its renewal process will contribute to delivering a more integrated approach to transport within the City. We would welcome comments from the public and from other stakeholders about how we can improve on the measures set out in DITA. Durham City Integrated Transport Approach Durham County Council 3 1 Introduction Introduction Durham City Integrated Transport Approach 1.1 The purpose of this document is to demonstrate an Integrated Transport Approach so that transport mobility by all modes is a credible option for the residents travelling in, out and across Durham City. This approach is about spatial vision, behaviour change, specific projects, services and information that can improve transport accessibility in Durham City. The overarching aims of reducing the need to travel, alternatives to the private car and managing traffic demand are set within the context of natural traffic growth and the County Durham Plan spatial approach (details set out in Section 2). A vital element of DITA is to promote the connectivity across Durham City, particularly between the Strategic Sites and the City Centre. 1.2 As part of this paper, we will set out an overall integrated transport vision for the City. This is the first iteration of DITA so it sets the direction for an integrated approach to transport in Durham City and pulls together various projects that all need to be co-ordinated to improve transport accessibility in the City. All the projects set out in this document are at different stages of development. Some of the schemes in this document are well established projects while others such as the walking and cycling projects are only initial ideas that need more detailed consideration with partners who would help deliver them. The projects outlined in DITA need to be deliverable which means they have a reasonable prospect of being funded over the lifetime of the County Durham Plan. What Travel Interventions Can DITA propose? 1.3 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Para. 29 states that 'The transport system needs to be balanced in favour of sustainable transport modes, giving people a real choice about how they travel'. 1.4 While the transport evidence demonstrates that traffic congestion will grow and some major infrastructure interventions are required, we must also seek to enable residents to alter their travel behaviour in Durham City and take smarter travel choices when moving around the City. 1.5 We have sustainable transport policies emerging in the County Durham Plan(i) that encourage developments to connect to walking, cycling and bus routes, incorporate electric vehicles, promote car share and embed travel planning as part of all new developments. We also have officers at the County Council that are focusing on changing travel behaviour especially when it comes to travelling on those everyday journeys to work and to school. Some of the 'softer' travel interventions such as travel plans and better public transport information can have a significant impact on changing travel behaviour and reducing residents dependency on the private car. Building on Past Success 1.6 We have, and will continue to plan and invest in a 'hard' (ii) sustainable transport infrastructure in Durham City. We have previously built three park and rides sites, invested in walking and cycling routes, allocated bus only lanes and have continuously been working with bus operators on our Transit 15 project to improve access and running times for buses on the 7 main corridors into Durham City. We now have plans to improve North Road and re-locate the bus station and we are committed to promoting modal shift for new and existing residents in Durham City.