Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council Report Of

ROCHDALE METROPOLITAN BOROUGH COUNCIL REPORT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE OF TRANSPORT FOR GREATER MANCHESTER OUTSIDE BODY TO THE MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ON 23 rd JULY 2014 Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to Transport for Greater Manchester. Local Sustainable Transport Fund Update Rochdale Cycle Hub, a secure cycle parking facility with space for 42 bicycles accessed only by membership smartcard, has been completed and is fully operational. The Travel Choices Team continues to work across Greater Manchester and aim to concentrate efforts in several areas within Rochdale this year. Priority Bus Corridor Rochdale Road between Manchester and Middleton will benefit from bus priority and cycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Work is underway on the route, including carrying out utility diversion, kerbing, footway and carriageway works along the route, including work from Victoria Avenue to Middleton which is currently underway. Rochdale Metrolink line The Rochdale Town Centre Metrolink line is now operational and provides service linking Rochdale Town Centre, via Oldham Town Centre, and Manchester City Centre. From Monday 24 February, Victoria tram stop closed temporarily, to allow single line working at Victoria. The single line working is to facilitate a brand new station at Victoria including a new layout of the Metrolink stop. Reopening of Victoria from single track to twin track working is scheduled to be completed in winter. This will enable the connectivity with a gateway to the City Centre, and a radically improved station for passenger use. Local Link On 11 July 2014, TfGM released a statement regarding changes to Local Link services in Rochdale: “New operators will be taking over the Middleton/Firwood Park and Heywood services, while the Rochdale Shopping service will be covered by Ring & Ride and the Deeplish service will form part of the Kingsway Local Link service” The changes put in place will ensure that passengers are still able to make the same journeys. Rail TransPennine Express Rail Franchise and Northern Rail Franchise consultation Rail Executive (part of the Department for Transport) and Rail North (representing all the local transport authorities in the North of England) are now consulting on what is to be included in the next TransPennine Express and Northern rail franchises. Closing on 18 August 2014, the chosen consultation format provides a single consultation exercise covering both franchises because of the similar geographical areas which they serve. The consultation explores a number of issues on which views are welcome, as follows: whether and to what extent the Rail Executive might: • reduce Northern services with relatively few passengers; • increase fares in places where they are below average; and • reduce the hours during which ticket offices are open and staffed. The options above have been identified in order to pay for improvements such as: • more frequent trains; • higher quality trains in the northern franchise; • better customer service; and • more diverse range of ways to buy rail tickets. It is proposed that each Greater Manchester District responds separately to the consultation should they wish to. However, each GM District is also encouraged to contribute towards a joint response, that will be submitted on behalf of TfGM and GMCA that will be aligned to the key principles shared by the North of England LTAs, which form the basis of Rail North’s aims and objectives, and will include any shared Greater Manchester views, including views highlighted during the District briefing sessions on 8 July. Growth and Reform Plan Following the announcement of the GM Growth Deal on 7 July 2014, GM has been awarded LGF funding for all the remaining major transport schemes that were priorities through the GM. Local Transport Body process and an initial sum for minor works in 2015/16 and 2016/17. Subject to GMCA approval, there will be a 12 week public consultation on the broad programme starting at the end of July. This will include the South Heywood Junction 19 scheme, for which funding was secured in 2013 through the Local Transport Body process. Councillor Phil Burke and Councillor Shakil Ahmed Members of the TFGM Outside Body Thank you Mr Mayor, I will be pleased to answer any questions from Members of the Council about these or any other matter relating to the Outside Body .

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