THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT PLAN FOR SOUTH WEST WALES APPENDICES Introduction This document includes all the Appendices to Regional Transport Plan (RTP) prepared by the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (SWWITCH). The Appendices should be read in the context of the RTP because they provide much of the background evidence and detail for the RTP. They are published as a separate volume to ensure the main document remains as short and focused as possible. This is important because the RTP is a bidding document for (mainly capital) funds from a range of sources to improve transport and access in the region. Please note that there is no Appendix I or O. List of contents Appendix Content Page number A The South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium 3 B One Wales: Connecting The Nation - The Wales Transport Strategy 5 C Wales Spatial Plan Access Priorities 8 D The South West Wales Economy 13 E SWWITCH Travel Pattern Research 17 F Stakeholder Consultation and Workshop Activities 29 G Current Transport Issues in South West Wales 39 H Mapping Traffic Flows and Congestion in South West Wales 50 J Strategic Accessibility Assessment 60 K Key Settlement Connectivity Report 72 L Problems and Opportunities identified in the consultation 90 M Component Strategies 95 N Public Transport Information Strategy 98 P Traffic Management Act and Network Management Duties 102 Q Delivering Successful Transport schemes 106 R Planned Revenue and Capital Expenditure 110 S WelTAG Appraisal tables 119 Glossary of Abbreviations 234 2 APPENDIX A – THE SOUTH WEST WALES INTEGRATED TRANSPORT CONSORTIUM (SWWITCH) A1.0 BACKGROUND TO SWWITCH A1.1 The South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium (SWWITCH) was formed in 1998 and comprises the four South West Wales authorities: Carmarthenshire County Council, Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council, Pembrokeshire County Council and the City and County of Swansea. A1.2 Since its inception SWWITCH’s remit has included all forms of transport (bus, rail, private car, freight, ports and walking/cycling) and wider access issues including the role of Land Use Planning and the range of behavioural change options. A1.3 SWWITCH is one of four Welsh transport consortia supported by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) and is working to develop and promote improved access across the region as a means of facilitating: • Sustainable economic development • Social inclusion, and • Increased equity By working together members of the consortium share experience and best practice. In a diverse area like South West Wales, where common access problems require a range of local solutions, working together benefits residents, businesses and visitors. A1.4 SWWITCH is formally established as a Joint Committee of the four local authorities, which meets quarterly. This committee comprises elected Members with responsibilities for transport in their constituent authorities, with external partners such as transport providers, user and business representatives. A1.5 Each authority has three Members on the Committee, but only one vote. External partners do not have a vote, but are invited to contribute to discussions. SWWITCH Committee decisions are required to be unanimous under the legally binding constitution that underpins the SWWITCH partnership. However, local government legislation requires policy decisions, (including those necessary for the Regional Transport Plan) to be referred back to, and ratified by, each constituent SWWITCH local authority. A1.6 The Joint Committee sets the strategic direction for SWWITCH and endorses the necessary policies, proposals and programmes of work to achieve its regional transport vision. The work of SWWITCH is facilitated by capital and revenue budgets funded from WAG grants. A1.7 The Joint Committee is supported by a Management Group, comprising Chief Technical Officers, which meets monthly. This group develops SWWITCH policy and forward work programmes and provides an essential link to local authority corporate teams. A1.8 In turn the Management Group is supported by the SWWITCH Officer Working 3 Group (OWG), which meets at least weekly. This group comprises the Transport Planners from each local authority and is responsible for development and delivery of policy and programmes and all the associated work. A1.9 There are also specific task and finish groups which meet as and when required. These have included specific groups on Walking and Cycling, Concessionary fares, Parking etc. A1.10 The SWWITCH structure is shown in Figure A1 below, and has evolved since 1998 to reflect changing needs. This process of evolution will continue in order to ensure that SWWITCH is ready to meet future challenges and to facilitate the delivery of transport improvements in the region. FIGURE A1- SWWITCH Structure Rail and Bus User Welsh Assembly Government Groups Rail and Bus Business & Economic SWWITCH Joint Operators community Committee Sustainable Transport representatives Freight Representatives SWWITCH Management Group Links back to Local Authorities SWWITCH Officer Working Group Sub Groups Sub Groups Sub Groups 4 APPENDIX B – ONE WALES: CONNECTING THE NATION - THE WALES TRANSPORT STRATEGY B1.0 WALES TRANSPORT STRATEGY B1.1 The Transport (Wales) Act 2006 places a statutory requirement on the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) to prepare and produce a Wales Transport Strategy (WTS). The WTS demonstrates WAG’s long-term vision to promote and encourage safe, integrated, sustainable, efficient and economic transport facilities and services to, from and within Wales. B1.2 The WTS sets out how WAG can link transport planning more closely across policy areas, such as health, education and the economy. It works alongside the Wales Spatial Plan, as well as other high-level strategies, to contribute to achieving WAG’s One Wales agenda. B1.3 A key aspect of the WTS is to ensure that transport makes a positive contribution to equality of access. WAG has a duty to ensure that equality of opportunity is embedded in all its work. B1.4 The WTS does not include specific proposals and schemes. It is intended to provide a new strategic framework for subsequent plans at the local, regional and national level. In terms of impact, the WTS is framed by three sustainable themes, comprises 17 long-term outcomes and five strategic priorities linked to delivering One Wales. B2.0 DELIVERING THE WALES TRANSPORT STRATEGY B2.1 The WTS will be delivered: • At the national level, through the developing National Transport Plan (NTP) and integration with the wider policy agenda • At the regional and local level, through the Regional Transport Plans (RTPs) B2.2 The NTP is being developed by WAG and will set out in more detail how WAG will deliver the strategy objectives in the key areas for which it has responsibility, for example: • The trunk road network (the main roads and motorways) • Railways • Long distance public transport networks • Some funding for community transport Partnership working with local authorities and service providers will be an important part of delivery since WAG does not have direct control of all the levers for change in transport. For example, working in partnership with local bus companies helps to improve the physical accessibility and community penetration of services. B2.3 WAG expects the RTPs to set out how transport consortia intend to deliver the WTS outcomes and priorities for their areas, focusing on services and functions for 5 which local authorities have responsibilities. B2.4 The WTS has three main themes: • Achieving a more effective and efficient transport system • Achieving greater use of more sustainable and healthy forms of travel • Minimising demands on the transport system These themes provide the overarching framework for the WTS and the NTP. B2.5 The WTS long term aims are set out in outcomes as follows: Social Outcomes • Improve access to healthcare • Improve access to education, training and lifelong learning • Improve access to shopping and leisure facilities • Encourage healthy lifestyles • Improve the actual and perceived safety of travel • Improve access to employment opportunities Economic Outcomes • Improve connectivity within Wales and internationally • Improve the efficient, reliable and sustainable movement of people • Improve the efficient, reliable and sustainable movement of freight • Improve sustainable access to key visitor attractions Environmental Outcomes • Increase the use of more sustainable materials in the maintenance of Wales’ transport assets and in the provision of transport infrastructure • Reduce the impact of transport on greenhouse gas emissions • Adapt to the impacts of climate change • Reduce the contribution of transport to air pollution and other harmful emissions • Improve the positive impact of transport on the local environment • Improve the effect of transport on our heritage • Improve the impact of transport on biodiversity B2.6 WAG long-term outcomes are ambitious and will take time to achieve. There are also some actions which can support improvements towards more than one outcome; while other actions which may achieve one outcome, but reduce the likelihood of improvements in respect of another. A balanced approach will be required and developing this will need the full engagement of a range of partners involved in the delivery of a complex mix and match of policies and projects to ensure that the WTS and NTP result in improved access for all. B2.7 The WTS recognises the need to focus energy and investment on key areas, called strategic priorities,