Transportation and Accessibility
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Black Country Core Strategy Transport Key Diagram 5. TRANSPORT AND ACCESSIBILITY TRAN1 Priorities for the Development of the Transport Network Spatial Objectives The delivery of an improved and integrated transport network both within the Black Country and in links with regional and national networks is fundamental to achieving theVision and in helping to transform the area, deliver housing growth and improve economic performance, and achieving Spatial Objective 7. ♦N♦ Policy ~h~. a~~s ieeenee. e No. tOD03211p9y2~q0~1p1 The development of transport networks in the Black Country is focused on a step sr+~9wr4~ ro q.~ ~ bunkdl wN~ dtlu~ change in public transport provision serving and linking centres, improving KEY •Strategic CenVes Canal sustainable transport facilities and services across the area, improving connectivity ~ Motorway ,._.~ Metro line to national networks and improving the efficiency of strategic highway routes. Land implementation of priority transport projects will be safeguarded in — — ~ HaM Shoulder Running) .~-s-ra Passenger Rail needed for the Management the Active Traffic r-,-+--a FrBight R2i1 order to assist in their future implementation. Rll new developments will address transport network and provide adequate access for all modes, including walking, ■ ~ t ~ Proposed Options for Motorway Link• Proposed Rapid Transit cycling and public transport. Residential development will be expected to meet the ~~ Road Network Proposed Freight Railway accessibility standards set out in Policy HOU2. •• - ~ ~ ~ National Cycle Route Proposed Passenger Railway Q Interchange Improvements +-++-+ Improvetl Passenger Railway Junctbn Improvements New Rail Shation Bus Quality Network 7~ Strategic Park &Ride Stop •CaNncf ffighweys Agency fw nn+e date0 ~ Proposed Metro 117 116 Justification Given uncertainty over the availability of future funding for major transport infrastructure over the longer term, continuing priority will be given to improving transport in key corridors through the roll out of the Smarter Routes initiative that embraces a range of techniques for improving public transport, traffic management (including localised junction improvements), road safety and facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. The improvements needed to deliver the transport strategy are shown on the Transport Key Diagram. The key transport priorities are: • Providing rapid transit extensions to the Midland Metro to connect the Black Country Strategic Centres to each other and to Birmingham —first priority being within the Walsall to Stourbridge corridor, providing high quality access to Merry Hill and Brierley Hill; • Improving Junctions 1 and 2 of M5; • Improving Junctions 9 and 10 of M6; • Active Traffic Management and Hard Shoulder Running on M6; • Delivering a Quality Bus Network across the Black Country, particularly Brierley Hilt; • Improving access from the Black Country to Birmingham International Airport; • New freight railways between Stourbridge and Walsall and Walsall to Lichfield; • Burnt Tree Junction; s.i Good connectivity to the wider region national transport networks and Birmingham • A41 Expressway / A4031 All Saints junction; International Airport for both passengers and freight has been identified as being necessary by • Wolverhampton Interchange; to support the regeneration of the Black Country. The economic growth will be supported • Metro Line 1 Improvements and Wolverhampton Strategic Centre Extension; improved access to major global economies. • West Bromwich Regeneration Road; • 1541ink; A strategic public transport"spine°comprising high quality, reliable, fast and high capacity rapid • Red Routes Package 1 and 2; transit between the strategic centres - Brierley Hill, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and • Darlaston SDA access scheme. Birmingham is considered as a crucial element of the Strategy and is necessary to support the expansion of these centres as a focus for employment,shopping and leisure. The Black Country Priority will also be given to the implementation of the priority public transport projects Public Transport Spine has been identified as one of the 9 Regional Transport Priorities. Currently identified in the West Midlands Local Transport Plan, particularly Smart Routes, local rail Metro line 1 provides the required standard of link between Wolverhampton, West Bromwich improvements, transport interchanges and Park and Ride sites, including: and Birmingham but it is important that the public transport modes of rail, metro and bus are better integrated to ensure that people can use them to travel where and when they need to. • Improved Rail Passenger Services; • Walsall to Wolverhampton passenger rail; s.3 It is vital that new development has access to high quality public transport facilities and • Walsall to Cannock rail line; services from the outset as this will ensure that people travelling to and from these areas do not • New railway stations at Aldridge and Willenhall. establish unsustainable travel patterns due to the initial absence of good public transport. Other corridors where the public transport demand would support rapid transit s.a The Core Strategy supports the delivery of an enhanced transport network for the Black Country include: to ensure a seamless integration of land-use and transport planning and to demonstrate the • Stourbridge to Brierley Hill; strong interdependency of future land-use decisions and adequate servicing by a variety of • A456 Hagley Road from Birmingham to Quinton; travel modes. The exact mode of public transport should reflect existing demand and also • A449 Stafford Road from Wolverhampton to 154; take account of potential future economic or housing growth points to ensure an integrated • A34 Walsall to Birmingham. approach to sustainable development and trevel patterns. This is essential to support the scale of growth proposed for the regeneration corridors and strategic centres and to create an effective transportation system to support sustainable communities. This transport network will provide communities with access to employment, leisure, education and health care and will facilitate improved access to employment sites. Public Transport will be at the heart of these proposals with a Black Country rapid transit spine connecting the centres of Brierley Hill, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Birmingham as well as delivering greatly improved accessibility to the Regeneration Corridors as shown on the Transport Key Diagram. 119 118 s.s International, national and regional reil connectivity is the subject of continuous improvement s.9 Buses will continue to dominate local public transport provision in the Black Country but needs to 6e enhanced as set out in the West Midlands Rail Utilisation Strategy (RUS) and Rail throughout the life of the plan period, delivering 85 % of passenger miles by 2026. Bus priority Network Development Plan. As Brierley Hill is not served directly by the national rail network will be delivered through the"Smart Routes Initiative; where a comprehensive approach to and West Bromwich is linked to the national rail network only by Metro there are significant building in bus priority together with walking and cycling measures at the same time as generel gaps in the Black Country's connectivity which are priorities for public transport investment. traffic management measures will be pursued to reduce congestion on the highway network and improve accessibility by walking and cycling and road safety. Specific local measures to help buses will be delivered in other locations where appropriate. Coaches have a role to play in providing affordable long distance connectivity and access facilities to major Black Country destinations and will be encouraged. s.io Centro in partnership with the local authorities will continue to develop and roll out the Transforming Bus Trevel initiative, including Bus Showcase and Partnership Routes, with operators, which will result in a step change in the provision of bus service quality across the West Midlands. s.i i The concentration of new employment, leisure, retail and housing in the four strategic centres of Brierley Hill, Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton will increase the demand for trevel to these centres. The strategy calls for this extra demand at peak travel times to be met primarily by use of public transport, cycling, walking and increased car sharing. This will require more buses to serve these centres than at present and this in turn will put pressure on existing bus stations and stops. This requires extra bus stand capacity in the strategic centres will need to be provided. s.iz While improvement of accessibility to bus services will be a priority, some people will have little choice but to make the first part of theirjourney by car. The success of Park and Ride in contributing to a sustainable travel pattern will depend on minimising the distance driven before transferring to public transport. Well located Park and Ride facilities can provide a realistic alternative for many car drivers and contribute to environmental improvement by reducing congestion on radial routes into centres at peak times and by improving public transport patronage. A new strategic Park and Ride site is proposed at Brinsford, adjacent to Wolverhampton in Southern Staffordshire and opportunities will be taken to expand existing network needs to be improved to support the growth and s.6 The operation of the highway local park and ride sites at rail stations and Metro stops. Local provision will