Local Transport Plan Devon and Torbay Strategy 2011 - 2026 April 2011 3 2 3 Contents Introduction 5 Devon & Torbay Strategy 10 Transport Asset Management in Devon & Torbay 19 Devon & Torbay’s Strategic Connections Strategy 33 The Exeter Strategy 47 The Torbay Strategy 63 Market & Coastal Towns and Rural Devon Strategy 81 Devon County Council Torbay Council County Hall Town Hall Topsham Road Castle Circus Exeter Torquay EX2 4QD TQ1 3DR PREPARED BY PREPARED BY Gina Small David Whiteway Principal Transport Planning Officer Transport Planner AGREED BY AGREED BY Andrew Ardley Sally Farley Transport Planning Manager (Policy) Senior Service Manager, Environmental Policy ISSUED BY ISSUED BY Dave Black Les Crump Head of Planning and Transport Executive Head of Spatial Planning 4 5 Introduction The transport system plays an essential part in everyday life. When it works well, transport supports the economy, enhances the environment, contributes to sustainable communities and encourages healthier and active lifestyles. To meet the needs of people now and in the future, the transport system must support and assist economic development and growth and enable safe, sustainable travel. The Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) is a 15 year plan, covering the period 2011 – 2026. It aims to deliver a transport system that can meet economic, environmental and social challenges. It also seeks to deliver the aspirations of Devon &Torbay Councils, stakeholders, businesses and the public. The LTP3 comprises a Strategy (this document), an Implementation Plan and Evidence and Consultation Reports (SEA and EINA/HIA). At the time of developing the LTP3, the country is in a period of unprecedented change. Global economic challenges highlight the need for greater efficiencies and better use of resources, a growing population demands the development of new housing and employment. At the same time, in order to reduce non-renewable energy consumption and carbon emissions the transport system must play its part in achieving a low carbon future. Like other authorities and organisations, Devon & Torbay are reviewing how best to deliver the services people need whilst reducing spending. National policy is evolving, with an emphasis on local participation in developing and delivering services. In order to reflect this, the LTP3 presents a flexible framework which focuses on places and the needs of people who, live, work and visit here. This plan will also be reviewed reflect the emerging Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) and national transport policy. 6 Devon & Torbay’s role in local transport delivery Devon County Council & Torbay Bus patronage has increased against a falling Council are responsible for local national trend. In 2009 over 32 million passengers travelled on Devon and Torbay’s transport within their areas. All local buses transport authorities in England, Carsharedevon.com has over 7,600 outside of London have a statutory registered members - more Devon and Torbay duty to produce a LTP. The LTP residents are realising the benefits of sharing car guidance has five national goals journeys which have informed the We have supported new development proposals development of this Plan. In addition and economic growth, and delivered value for responsibility for public health and money in our transport investments: health improvement has transferred • Barnstaple Western Bypass, delivered on from the NHS to local authoritiesi. budget and on time, Consequently this LTP provides a • Better access to M5 for the East of Exeter through Cumberland Way and M5 junction positive link between sustainable 30 improvements travel and delivering health • Worked with the Highways Agency to improvements. deliver improvements at Whiddon Down Local Transport Plans 1 & 2 covered two five-year (A30), and Haldon Hill, (A38) periods respectively ending in March 2011. The • Kings Ash Hill widening to improve traffic previous plans have guided transport flow & Tweenaways Cross, Paignton improvements in Devon & Torbay. The decision • Preston traffic management, Paignton to produce a joint plan recognises the interdependence of Devon & Torbay and the A cycling culture has been established (in importance of strategic links into and out of the Exeter) - school pupils, commuters and people in area, and to the rest of the U.K. their leisure time are experiencing the benefits Over the last ten years both authorities and our of more activity through cycling in increasing partners have delivered innovative transport numbers. There has been an increase of 40% in solutions. The selected achievements here give a average daily cycle trips across the network and flavour of how transport has delivered a better 22% of secondary school children regularly cycle quality of life and stimulated the economy. to school against a national average of 2% i The Public Health White Paper ‘Healthy Lives, Healthy People: our Strategy for Public Health.’ available at www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/ Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_121941 7 Launched the Access Wallet for people with More people cycling for work and leisure, new communication difficulties to enable them to routes have been constructed throughout Devon travel on the buses and trains independently and Torbay. The new Exe Estuary Cycle Route with confidence is becoming a major asset for leisure and commuter trips Public spaces have been made more attractive and vibrant including: Barnstaple Peak commuter time cycle trips in Torbay Square & Strand, Exeter High Street, Torre in have increased by 53% between 2005 and 2009 Torquay and the internationally award-winning 100% of local authority schools have travel shopping centre at Princesshay in Exeter plans in place to support more children and 1.7 million passengers use the Park & Ride parents to walk, cycle, carshare and use public services in Exeter every year transport to get to school. Rail patronage has increased and dualling of the Over 100 employers have travel plans in place track at Axminster has enabled an hourly and three area-wide travel plans are in place at service from Exeter to London Waterloo Pynes Hill, Business Park and Sowton Business Park More than 39,200 Ring & Ride and 18,000 Fare Car passengers are carried every year Making our roads safer: since 2006 there has been a 40% decrease in the number of people Killed or Seriously injured (KSI) in collisions. In 2006-07 Devon was made a Beacon Authority for Road Safety. When surveyed 67% of residents felt safer travelling by road in Devon than elsewhere in the country In Torbay, the number of Child KSIs has fallen to below the 50% government reduction target, and 2009 saw no child KSIs Delivery of a new state-of the-art Highway Operations Control Centre (HOCC) which is part of a new Traffic Managers Unit (TMU) based at County Hall. The TMU aims to minimise delays to the travelling public and improve the reliability of journey times, especially for public transport. 8 Devon and Torbay Councils have delivered significant improvements in transportation over past 10 years. This has raised the profile of the two authorities as leaders in transport planning and delivery which has been recognised in a number of national awards: Devon County Council won ‘Transport Local Authority of the Year’ at the National Transport Awards in 2006 and 2009. We are one of only two local authorities to win it twice Torbay Council won ‘Most Improved Transport Authority’ at the National Transport Awards in 2006 In 2006-07 Devon County Council became a Centre of Excellence for Transport Planning and a Centre of Excellence for Transport Delivery Torbay’s last Local Transport Plan was judged as ‘Excellent’ Devon County Council was awarded the National Transport ‘Cycling Improvements Award’ in July 2010 for the Cycle Exeter project Barnstaple Western Bypass won a Green Apple Award Devon County Council was designated a Beacon Authority for Road Safety in 2008 by Department for Transport Devon County Council was highly commended at the National Transport Awards in 2010 for its work on Improving Access for All 9 Developing the LTP3 “Our vision is for a transport system that is an including the business community. The other engine for economic growth, but one that is also group is the public, either individually or at the greener and safer and improves quality of life in very local level including parish and town our communities.” Creating Growth, Cutting councils. Carbon Making Sustainable Transport Happen, The Comprehensive Spending Review + BIS (CSR) White Paper, January 2011. was announced during the time of developing The government’s transport priorities as set out LTP3. All local authorities and partners will have in the white paper are: to do more for less, and local communities, with assistance from public organisations, will need to • To help the economy grow, and do more to help themselves. This is an • Tackling carbon emissions opportunity as well as a challenge and requires a These priorities are underpinned by the need for new way of delivering transport. There will need transport to contribute towards better health to be a greater emphasis on the role of and wellbeing, promote safety, enhance the stakeholders and the public in deciding and environment and offer equality of opportunity delivering necessary transport solutions. for all. Looking to the future, the authorities will need The Evidence Report and Consultation Report to work closely with the emerging Local contain more information on the data, Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The business consultation results and policies that inform the community, working in conjunction with public LTP3 strategyii. In addition the plan has been sector partners, are leading the initiative to work appraised and found to be ‘sound’ by a Strategic on the new Heart of the South West Enterprise Environmental Assessment (SEA), Health Impact Partnership. Whilst the LEP has a strong business Assessment (HIA) and Equalities Impact Needs focus, support from the public sector includes Assessment (EINA)iii. A summary of the main Exeter and Plymouth Universities and other mitigation and other recommendations from the education establishments.