3rd Draft 17 June 2005 The Provisional LTP2 Preface by Chairs of MSTEG and MSTPC SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 1 Executive Summary To follow. SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 2 1. Vision and Objectives 1.1 The second Local Transport Plan for Merseyside restates the vision to develop: ‘a fully integrated safe transport network for Merseyside which supports economic and social regeneration and ensures good access for all, and which is operated to the highest standards to protect the environment and ensure quality of life’. The LTP will support the economic development of Merseyside by managing for economic growth through the following objectives (i) provide the right infrastructure to support economic growth; (ii) provide access for all to ensure an inclusive community; (iii) manage demand to provide an efficient transport network and support a healthier community by ensuring transport does not impair quality of life; and (iv) protects and enhances the environment. In seeking to deliver the agreed transport aspirations for Merseyside, the Local Transport Plan will take the following into account. It will: (i) support the vision, aims and objectives of the sub regional partnership; (ii) be set firmly within the wider Liverpool City Region framework and support regional and national policies and priorities; (iii) be realistic and pragmatic in its aims and objectives taking account of the availability of resources; (iv) be sufficiently flexible to be able to take account of changing demands and circumstances; and (v) be responsive to the needs of the Merseyside community at all times. 1.2 Implementation The LTP will put in place measures that will support the longer term strategy which is designed to create the economic growth of the Merseyside and wider Liverpool City Region. We will aim to support the following programme areas. SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 3 Support the economic growth areas – City Centre – Liverpool John Lennon Airport – Mersey Ports – Strategic Investment Areas (SIA’s) Support sustainable communities. Support Capital of Culture and tourism. Ensure Merseyside is well connected. The LTP will aim to ‘manage for economic growth’ through (a) Selective investment to increase quality and capacity in the network; (b) Managing demand for travel; and (c) Making best use of existing resources. 2. Supporting the Merseyside Renaissance 2.1 Progress and Changes since LTP1 2.1.1 Merseyside has undergone great change over the lifetime of the current LTP programme. This change has been greater than anticipated and is probably accelerating at the current time. Current projections see this accelerating change lasting until 2010. (Section 2.4 discusses this in greater detail). 2.1.2 Of particular note are the hoped extension of John Lennon Airport, freight traffic through the Mersey Ports, and the re- birth of the City Centre. 2.1.3 In transport terms Merseyside has benefited from a high level of national funding; in combination with the second round of European Objective One funding this has allowed a step change both to the areas infrastructure in general and transport in particular. 2.1.4 Merseyside has also been highly successful in drawing in other sources of funding to support transport development. These include Urban Bus Challenge, European Research funding, Neighbourhood Renewal and contributions from partners as diverse as Jobcentreplus and Primary Care Trusts. SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 4 This illustrates cross sector support for the importance of efficient and inclusive transport systems to facilitate and assist the regeneration of the area and the wider social agenda. This approach forms the foundations for what we are still to achieve in our second LTP. 2.1.5 We have achieved much in our first LTP. These achievements include: (i) Approval for Line 1 of Merseytram. (ii) The local franchising arrangements for Merseyrail. (iii) Rising patronage in Merseyrail (iv) The construction of Liverpool South Parkway. (v) The introduction and expansion of Joblink. (vi) The start of major investment and renewal via the City Centre Movement Strategy to support the renaissance of Liverpool City Centre. (vii) New arrangements for tolling the Mersey tunnels. (viii) Reducing certain types of road accident. (ix) The expansion of TravelWise. (x) 2.1.6 There are however areas where our progress has been less successful. Of particular concern are: (i) Failure to present the declaration of Air Quality Management Areas in the City Centre and at the Rocket Junction at the end of the M62. (ii) Cycling has not developed in the way and extent which was hoped for; and (iii) Perhaps most critically the continuing decline of bus use is a real concern. 2.1.7 The revised Merseyside Bus Strategy will seek to address this continuing decline, but is considered that structurally the bus industry on Merseyside may not be capable of reversing the trend without intervention. We are therefore examining how changes may be made. SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 5 2.1.8 These areas of failure will require continuing priority alongside the new challenges and opportunities presented by the areas regeneration. 2.1.9 As noted above this regeneration is probably happening at a quicker pace than may have been anticipated, and latest information suggests that some of the economic gaps between Merseyside and competitor cities may be closing. There remain large challenges. The consensus is that the Merseyside economy remains fragile. 2.1.10 The first LTP stated that congestion was not a particular issue for Merseyside, and therefore strongest demand management measures and in particular congestion charging were not appropriate. This policy would be reviewed in the light of economic growth during the lifetime of the first LTP. 2.1.11 This second LTP has some difficult balances to strike. The economic trajectory although upward is still considered to be some way from competitor cities; likewise traffic growth and congestion although growing are not considered to pose problems that require congestion charging. There is not political will for such measures at the present time, although it is recognised that it may need to be addressed in the future. 2.1.12 It is recognised that there are areas of growing concern, particularly the City Centre that will require packages of measures. (These issues are discussed in more detail in Section XX). 2.1.13 In order to meet these challenges and opportunities, the LTP partnership has undertaken a number of detailed studies in preparation for this second LTP. These have included: (i) A critical review of the successes and failures of LTP1; (ii) A review of potential major schemes. (This is discussed further in Chapter 12). (iii) The development of a Strategic Transport Model (this is described further in Chapter 3). (iv) An examination of the role of TravelWise (this is discussed further in Section 4.7). SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 6 2.1.14 The results of this work are reflected in this second LTP. There are a number of important points to highlight: (i) Notwithstanding the pace of change in Merseyside’s economy, the critical review has shown the strategy and policies contained within the first LTP to be robust and to remain relevant. This second LTP therefore illustrates strong continuity of policy adapted where necessary for changing circumstances. (ii) The Liverpool City Region Development Plan (LCRDP) and Merseyside Economic Strategy (MESAP) support polycentric development. The development of corridors and centres was at the heart of the first LTP, and notwithstanding the progress made over the first LTP, this approach will remain at the centre of the second LTP. (There is further discussion of the LCRDP and MESAP in Section 2.3. The corridors and centres approach is described in Chapter 4). (iii) The approach of corridors and centres is based on the agreed road hierarchy and a strong commitment to public transport and sustainable modes. This will continue (this is described more fully in Chapter 4). (iv) The LTP partnership fully endorses the DfT support for smart measures as an integral part of the development of the transport network. Following the extensive study the partnership have invested heavily in the Merseyside TravelWise programme. (This is described more fully in 4.7). (v) Of most concern on Merseyside at the present time is to ensure that all members of the community have equal opportunity to access job and training opportunities. Merseyside welcomes the opportunities to address these issues in the second LTP and Access Plan. Despite growing jobs and wealth created there are too many areas of Merseyside with particularly deep rooted deprivation and associated worklessness. (vi) Merseytravel was involved with the original social exclusion Unit in producing the ‘Making the Link’ report, and was a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for addressing the issue of transport and social exclusion. SU/MISC/TheProvisionalLTP2-Draft3-MG/LS 17.06.05 7 (vii) The LTP partnership consider that managing increasing travel demand within a growing economy must be supported by better integration with land use planning and locational choice. It is hoped that an SPD adapted by the Merseyside local authorities can be agreed by March 2006. (This is described in Section 4.2). Merseyside is developing a powerful GIS based management tool, Strategis, which it is planned to progressively implement from Autumn 2005. (This is described in Section 10.3) The Changing Context for the Second LTP 2.1.15 The second LTP will be developed and implemented within a changed regional structure that will involve greater regional decision making and devolved budgets. Largely driven by the Northern Way initiative, this LTP has to take account of a changed geography.