Transport and Accessibility Part I
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Transport and Accessibility in the East Riding of Yorkshire Part I East Riding Local Development Framework September 2009 1 Version 1 September 2009 2 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION _________________________________________________4 2 KEY TRANSPORT PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES________________________5 3 HIGHWAYS ______________________________________________________6 East Riding Strategic Highway Network ____________________________________6 Freight ____________________________________________________________8 Future Investment ____________________________________________________8 Challenges__________________________________________________________9 Key Findings _______________________________________________________10 4 RAILWAYS______________________________________________________11 East Riding Rail Network ______________________________________________11 Future Investment ___________________________________________________12 Challenges_________________________________________________________14 Key Findings _______________________________________________________14 5 BUS SERVICES ___________________________________________________15 East Riding Strategic Bus Network _______________________________________15 Future Investment ___________________________________________________19 Challenges_________________________________________________________20 East Riding Community Transport _______________________________________20 Future Investment ___________________________________________________21 Challenges_________________________________________________________21 Key Findings _______________________________________________________22 6 INLAND WATERWAYS AND PORTS _________________________________23 Ports, Wharves and Harbours __________________________________________23 East Riding Strategic Waterway Network__________________________________24 Future Investment ___________________________________________________25 Challenges_________________________________________________________26 Key Findings _______________________________________________________27 7 STRATEGIC CYCLE ROUTES AND FOOTPATHS ________________________28 East Riding Cycle and Footpath Network __________________________________28 Future Investment ___________________________________________________30 Challenges_________________________________________________________30 Key Findings _______________________________________________________31 8 KEY TRAVEL CHARACTERISTICS ____________________________________32 Modes of Travel ____________________________________________________32 Car Ownership _____________________________________________________33 Distance Travelled to Work ___________________________________________34 Employment Destinations – Local Authority ________________________________34 Employment Destinations – East Riding ___________________________________36 Travel to Work Areas ________________________________________________38 Key Findings _______________________________________________________38 9 ACCESSIBILITY___________________________________________________39 English Indices of Deprivation 2007 ______________________________________39 Access to Services – State of the Countryside Reports ________________________40 Public Transport Accessibility___________________________________________41 Key Findings _______________________________________________________43 A APPENDIX A – POLICY FRAMEWORK ________________________________44 3 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The importance of access, movement and transport cannot be overestimated for an authority area such as the East Riding. Transport is an integral part of shaping the places where we live, work and enjoy. It can underpin economies, making the difference between those regions which are competitive and those that are less so. It connects people to jobs, to their families and friends, to vital services and to places they want to visit. 1.2 A well integrated and varied transport system can open up a wealth of opportunities for individuals and businesses. Yet, an inefficient, poorly funded and inadequate system can bring disadvantage, isolation and inequality. It is therefore crucial to recognise the important role transport and access plays within the planning system and in meeting the Government’s headline objectives for creating sustainable communities. 1.3 This paper brings together a range of transport and access information. It forms part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) evidence base, providing a foundation for considering the spatial options and development policies at the heart of the Core Strategy. 1.4 This evidence will allow us to identify where our transport strengths are and where we face particular challenges. It attempts to provide an objective appraisal of the role of transport in the East Riding, assessing the situation now, whilst acknowledging future programmed investment. It will be a key part in developing a way forward through the LDF. 1.5 This document is split into two parts. In this paper, Part I, we look at the issues in turn, examining the current transport situation and looking at investment opportunities and challenges. Part II (a separate document) provides the accompanying maps and data to illustrate some of the points made here. 4 2 KEY TRANSPORT PRIORITIES AND CHALLENGES 2.1 This is assessment is predominantly objective exercise, looking particularly at quantitative data. However, it is important to cast an eye over the key policy issues arising at the national, regional and local levels. Appendix A provides a review of the policy context, drawing out the Government’s ambitions for a modern and efficient transport system. The Government’s strategy for the future of transport is set out in Delivering a Sustainable Transport Strategy (November 2008). This strategy is founded on five goals for long-term transport planning, with particular emphasis on supporting economic growth and tackling climate change. 2.2 The regional transport dimension is provided through the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), whilst documents such as the East Riding Sustainable Community Plan (Our East Riding) and the Second Local Transport Plan (LTP2) provide the local context – highlighting the particular challenges for our area and translating the national and regional agendas into locally-specific approaches. 2.3 A review of all these documents has allowed us to pick out a number of key transport priorities and challenges for the East Riding. Of particular note are the challenges and priorities associated with: · Reducing the need to travel, especially by car, and facilitate a move to more sustainable forms of travel (modal shift); · Improving access to jobs, health, education, shops, leisure and community facilities, open space, sport and recreation; and · Locating new development where people can access services and facilities in close proximity and improving the opportunities to access these on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. 2.4 These provide a context for considering the assessment in the main part of this paper which follows. In addition, the Council’s LTP2 highlights a number of local challenges, four of which have significant implications for transport and development planning in the East Riding: · A growing and ageing population; · Remote and deprived communities; · Areas of deprivation; and · Tourism and seasonal surge. 2.5 There are other important non-spatial issues identified at the national and local level as key challenges such as improving safety and embracing technological innovation. Whilst they are important in their own right, they are not as relevant for the purposes of this exercise. 5 3 HIGHWAYS 3.1 Statistics show that the majority of personal travel and freight movement is made by road1. There are significant economic, social and environmental consequences associated with this particular trend. Congestion and unreliable journeys cause problems for businesses and individuals alike. The ease of using the car for short trips can be linked to issues concerning the health of the population – not just in terms of air quality but in relation to physical activity or lack thereof. And importantly, the carbon emissions associated with road travel is undeniably having an impact on the climate of our world. 3.2 Nevertheless, the highway network is a critical part of transport infrastructure – linking people and businesses together and providing access to all parts of the country. Consideration of the highway network is essential to formulating planning policy and developing a spatial approach. The presence or absence of a key highway route plays an important part in shaping the overall role and function of individual places. 3.3 At the national level, the Highways Agency is responsible for the management of the strategic road network. Their management strategy is based on the delivery of three core objectives, translating the Government’s headline transport policies into specific highway management aims: · improving road safety; · reducing congestion and improving reliability (more informed choices about when and how to travel); and · respecting the environment. 3.4 These objectives are also significant at the local level and are reflected within the Second Local Transport Plan (LTP2). In the East Riding, the vast majority of commuting is undertaken by car (69.5%) – higher than the national average (63.1%)2. This puts a considerable strain on our highway network with some parts identified as being at capacity during many parts of the day. East Riding Strategic Highway Network 3.5 There are