Plymouth City Council Plymouth Strategic High Quality Public Transport (HQPT) Network Route Development Report Plymouth Strategic High Quality Public Transport (HQPT) Network Route Development Report JOB NUMBER: 5028807 DOCUMENT REF: Draft Report Ver 1 02 Draft Final Report MH NT MH PR Mar ‘06 01 Draft Report MH BD MH Mar ‘06 Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date Revision Purpose Description PLYMOUTH STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK Network Development Contents Section Page Executive Summary iii 1. Introduction 1 Purpose & Study Brief 1 Approach 1 2. Background Policy & Previous Studies 3 National 3 Regional 4 Sub Regional/City 4 Consultant Studies 3 3. Why a Strategic Network? 5 The Vision for a Plymouth Strategic HQPT Network 5 Problems 5 Policy Objectives 6 Contextual Factors 8 Physical Opportunities and Constraints. 9 Supporting Data 10 4. Route Selection & Development 14 The Stops 14 The Routes 15 Comparison with Past Proposals 18 Other Alternatives 19 5. Delivering a Network 20 Junction Improvements 20 Infrastructure 21 Incorporation into the LDF 22 Phasing and Construction Timetable 23 6. Next Steps & Continuing Development 26 Process of RSS and LDF 26 Further Studies and need for supporting research 26 i PLYMOUTH STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK Network Development Appendix A Proposed Route Description 30 Appendix B Proposed Stop Descriptions 33 Appendix C Census Data Summary 37 List of Tables Table 3.1 – 2001 Census Data Analysis (Ward Ranking) 11 Table 3.2 – Broad Plymouth Area Commuting Patterns 12 Table 3.3 – Approximate Annual Footfall, 2004 13 Table 5.1 – LTP (2006-2011) Sequential development of the HQPT network 24 Table 5.2 – Expected Construction Phasing of Key Infrastructure/Hubs 25 List of Figures Figure 1 Schematic Map of Plymouth Strategic Network 28 Figure 2 Geographical Map of Plymouth Strategic HQPT Network 29 ii PLYMOUTH STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK Network Development Executive Summary This report details the initial development of a strategic network for High Quality Public Transport in the Plymouth Urban Area. The report briefly examines the policy and study framework which has led to its creation, and the need to provide sustainable transport opportunities for the next 20 year period. It is to be used within a number of future planning documents for the city including the Local Transport Plan (2006-11), the Local Development Framework and to inform the Regional Spatial Strategy and sub-regional transport strategy. The report is based upon the methodology included in the Commission for Integrated Transport’s (CfIT) report entitled “Affordable Mass Transit” and presents the case for a High Quality Public Transport network against the headings of Problems, Policy Objectives, Contextual Factors, and Physical Opportunities & Constraints. It demonstrates a clear case for the strategic network in forming part of the package of measures necessary for the sustainable growth of Plymouth. The selection of routes and stops has been derived using data from national and local sources including census data, public transport patronage and future predictions of employment and population. The network is designed to take forward provisional proposals devised by Plymouth City Council in 2003, and connects principal centres of employment, residential areas, retail, leisure and services. A primary aim is to ensure the sustainable urban expansion of the city east at Sherford, and north along the northern corridor. A network of 10 routes has been developed, which have 45 principal stops The network provides a clear statement of the commitment and intent of Plymouth City Council to enhance and modernise public transport provision within the city. It is in the infancy of its development and should be viewed as a robust qualitative assessment that will require future detailed analysis to determine financial viability and costs of work. iii PLYMOUTH STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK Network Development 1. Introduction PURPOSE & STUDY BRIEF 1.1 This report outlines a proposed strategic High Quality Public Transport (HQPT) network for the city of Plymouth for 2026 and beyond. It details the development and supporting material that has led to its formation. 1.2 The study brief was to provide a substantive bridge, in Strategic Transport and Spatial Planning terms, between LTP2 (covering the period 2006 - 2011), the LDF (2006 – 2016) and the RSS/SRTS (2026 and beyond). The study’s primary objective was to determine Strategic Transport Networks in sufficient detail to: ♦ Provide a credible and publicly challengeable evidence base to support the documents listed above. ♦ Enable land to be identified, which would permit transport corridors to be protected and major interchange sites to be constructed during the period to 2026. ♦ Enable the specified land to be allocated, in principle, for transport purposes on the forthcoming LDF site-specific proposals map. 1.3 An original proposal was developed by Plymouth City Council in 2003 and has been taken forward and included within transport and planning studies undertaken since. This next phase of work, as reported herein, seeks to further the original proposals and see their evolution into a network suitable for consideration in the following ♦ Plymouth City Council Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 (LTP2) ♦ Plymouth City Council Local Development Framework, 2016 (LDF) ♦ Sub Regional Transport Strategy 2026 (SRTS) 1.4 The further development of the proposed network is in response to the need to forward plan to ensure Plymouth is proactive and has the best opportunities to build a core network that fosters sustainable growth and modal shift away from the private car. It also will provide vision for residents, visitors and businesses alike as to Plymouth’s priorities and goals in relation to transport. APPROACH 1.5 The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) has recently published guidance entitled “Affordable Mass Transit”. The report is a direct response to a number of trends, decisions and policy goals that followed earlier targets set within the Transport White Paper, Transport 2010 to see 25 new Light Rail schemes operational by that year. Since its publication few schemes have progressed, and routes in Leeds, Liverpool and South Hampshire have seen the withdrawal of Government support due to escalating costs. 1.6 The CfIT report proposes a 3 phase approach to evaluating mass transit systems The 3 phases are: 1 PLYMOUTH STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK Network Development ♦ Strategic assessment- this is broken further into 3 stages, − Qualitative assessment, − Quantitative assessment, and − Ranking/Short listing of Preferred Options. ♦ Scheme Identification – development of the preferred option to enable economic and environmental evaluations to be undertaken. ♦ Scheme Refinement & Monitoring 1.7 This report is closely aligned to the first stage of the strategic assessment phase (Qualitative Assessment) resulting in the production of a draft network of HQPT corridors across the city. It has been produced in graphical form as a stylised map, but has also been translated into physical corridors on the ground so that new routes can be protected from development, and highway improvements and new developments can incorporate suitable measures. 1.8 Plymouth City Council will now take this draft forward and undertake wider consultation as part of the Local Development Framework, and sub regional transport strategy formulation. It is not intended to be the final solution but as the first step in a process, akin to that provided by the CfIT guidance. Where cross boundary issues are raised it is hoped in co-operation with those authorities, the report can be used by all parties concerned to ensure the successful development of a complete network serving the Plymouth Urban area. This will continue the successful work undertaken to date with South Hams and Caradon District Councils, Devon and Cornwall County Councils, The Highways Agency, and Government Office for the South West (GOSW). 2 PLYMOUTH STRATEGIC TRANSPORT NETWORK Network Development 2. Background Policy & Previous Studies 2.1 To set this report in context it is helpful to understand the policy background driving the proposal for a strategic High Quality Public Transport network. It is not intended to provide a detailed review, but provide a few salient highlights of documents that have led to the proposed creation of a HQPT and shape its form and nature. NATIONAL 2.2 Nationally transport policy has seen the evolution of transport planning to focus on a number of key areas. 2.3 Reducing Congestion: This includes encouraging modal shift, and the support of sustainable transport modes, through to selective road building and congestion charging. Journey time reliability is seen as a key determinant and is used as a measure throughout the country. The knock on effects includes environmental improvements, and can be equally to the benefit of buses as to the private motorist where services can be delayed by congestion as much as cars. 2.4 Improving Safety: The UK has one of the lowest accident rates in Europe and has made continuing progress to reduce the number of road related casualties. This continues to be a core policy target and should be addressed as part of the development of the HQPT network. 2.5 Increasing Accessibility/Reducing Social Exclusion: Improved choice and range of PT services can aid access to employment, whilst giving opportunities for education, leisure and social interaction to those with restricted means of travel otherwise. New transport investment is often cited to support regeneration benefits, and can in conjunction with wider investment help foster longer term benefits to areas that might otherwise not succeed. 2.6 Environmental. The need to improve and protect our environment has seen the introduction of Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) and supporting plans. And the wider encouragement to adopt sustainable travel habits. Land use planning through reducing the need and distance travelled has a key role in achieving such aims and has seen the rebirth of many central areas and revitalised mixed use neighbourhoods. 2.7 As all lower level policy (i.e.