Public Transport Strategy for Winchester District
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A Framework for a Public Transport Strategy for Winchester District A discussion on how improving public transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions 22 August 2013 1 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................ 3 Context ....................................................................................................................... 3 Vision ......................................................................................................................... 5 Aims ........................................................................................................................... 5 Objectives .................................................................................................................. 6 Funding ...................................................................................................................... 7 Practical Steps ........................................................................................................... 7 Trains ...................................................................................................................... 7 70% lower emissions than cars ............................................................................ 7 Achievements so far ............................................................................................. 8 Case Study: Southampton Metro ......................................................................... 9 Other possible case studies ............................................................................... 12 Rail Partnership .................................................................................................. 12 Buses .................................................................................................................... 13 41% lower emissions than cars .......................................................................... 13 Achievements so far ........................................................................................... 13 2 Service reduction................................................................................................ 13 Managing change ............................................................................................... 14 Service Information ............................................................................................ 14 The Bus Curfew.................................................................................................. 16 Secret Destinations ............................................................................................ 17 High Tech Information ........................................................................................ 17 Passenger Care ................................................................................................. 18 Case Studies for Possible Bus Service Improvements ....................................... 19 A: The Winchester – Fareham Corridor .............................................................. 19 B Winchester – Petersfield access to and from the National Park ..................... 20 Big Bus or Little Bus? ......................................................................................... 21 Coaches ................................................................................................................ 21 Trams? .................................................................................................................. 22 Taxis ...................................................................................................................... 22 89% higher emissions than cars......................................................................... 22 Community Transport ............................................................................................ 23 Good Connections ................................................................................................. 23 Between modes and operators .......................................................................... 23 Between routes .................................................................................................. 25 Between fares paid ............................................................................................. 25 Between timetables ............................................................................................ 26 List of Schemes ..................................................................................................... 26 Introduction This framework suggests issues that would need to be addressed by a Winchester District Public Transport Strategy. We hope it will stimulate discussion and demonstrate how a strategy would be a useful way of identifying priorities for the district. We believe public transport has a major role in reducing greenhouse gases associated with transport and provide examples of why this is so. Context Winchester City Council has adopted a target of a 30% reduction in CO2 emissions in the district by 2015 compared with emissions in 2004. Winchester has per capita transport emissions that are 58% above the national average. This is the main reason that overall emissions are 20% above the national average, so transport will have to make a significant contribution to the city council’s target. 3 Source Department of Energy and Climate Change Local Authority Emissions 2011 In September 2012 Hampshire County Council adopted a District Transport Statement reflecting the priorities of the Department for Transport’s White Paper ‘Creating Growth and Cutting Carbon: Making Sustainable Transport Happen’ published in January 2011. It applies the principles set out by the government to the Winchester District to help: Create growth and planned regeneration where needed. Improve travel choices to encourage the safer and more sustainable movement of people and goods. Reduce carbon emissions and the dominance of traffic through more walking, cycling and passenger transport use. This discussion document looks at how public transport could be developed and promoted in line with these policies. It is designed to be read in conjunction with sibling initiatives: Winchester District Walking and Pedestrian Strategy1 and Winchester District Cycling Strategy. For the shortest of journeys walking will often be the most appropriate transport mode and will have zero carbon direct emissions. For longer local journeys cycling will offer a zero carbon option. For many people many journeys will be beyond the scope of walking or cycling and in those cases public transport offers the best chance of a low carbon journey. Currently it is important that greenhouse gas emissions from transport be as low as possible. Once our fuel supply is decarbonised, on current plans there will be a major shortage of zero carbon power and a major lack of sufficient capacity in the electricity supply infrastructure. It will then be essential that we make full use of 1 Currently a draft is being proposed by WinACC 4 public transport to meet our transport needs in order to use as little energy as possible and avoid blowing the fuses. Vision It would be important for any strategy to have a clear vision of the type of Winchester it would wish to achieve. WinACC would like to see a Winchester District where: There is a high quality of life increasingly free of noxious gas and noise pollution Overall greenhouse gas emissions for transport are dramatically lower than they are to-day Most people are no longer forced to use their cars, and generally choose not to Public transport is perceived as offering a viable and enjoyable way of making all but the most remote journeys There is good integration both within public transport and with the two major forms of zero carbon transport (walking and cycling) to facilitate an efficient system of low-carbon transport to all parts of the district. Aims Similarly clear aims would help shape a strategy and set priorities. WinACC would welcome strategies that aim to: Accelerate the reduction of traffic levels on roads throughout the district Reduce levels of pollution and congestion in central Winchester Obviate the need for major road development schemes to increase capacity for cars Reduce the need for and cost of carriageway repairs necessary because of high traffic levels Reduce levels of traffic noise along major transport corridors and in central Winchester Free up land in central Winchester used for parking for low-carbon housing development, and/or other more socially useful purposes 5 Free up the public realm currently dominated by traffic and parked cars to facilitate a richer diversity of walking, leisure and business activities Remove ‘transport exclusion’ from those sections of the community that do not have the resources to run their own car, so that they can return to leading full lives with full geographic mobility. Objectives Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council have little or no direct control over public transport in the area. However, they can use their influence, and use related powers to encourage and facilitate practical steps to achieve the following objectives: Maximum use of the railway infrastructure in Winchester because of its 2 current potential of delivering the best gCO2e/pkm , and the ease with which an electrified railway system can make use of zero carbon electricity Upgrading of the image of bus services and the quality of the network