The Third Local Transport Plan for Halton Transport: Providing for Halton’s Needs 2011/12 to 2026/27 1 of 216 Page 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction Setting our Goals 3 What do we mean by “Transport – providing for 4 Halton’s needs” Planning for the Future 5 What we know 6 The challenges and opportunities 7 Links to other policy areas 8 Consultation Results Phases 1 and 2 9 Primary Transport Strategies 10 Major Schemes 11 Implementation Options 12 Integrated Assessments 13 Performance Management 14 Acronyms 15 Glossary of Terms Appendix 1: Implementation Plan 2 of 216 3 of 216 LTP3 Executive Summary Local Transport Plans are required of every transport authority. Halton Borough Council as a Unitary Authority is the transport authority for the area of Halton. Halton has a substantial transport network that is constantly undergoing improvement. During the period of LTP1 and 2 we have made substantial progress in delivering integrated and sustainable transport for Halton. This includes obtaining legal powers and initial funding for the prestigious Mersey Gateway Project that gained Ministerial approval in December 2010 following the public inquiry in 2009. There was also an announcement in June 2010 that the Government will provide £18.6 million of funding for the Silver Jubilee Bridge Major Maintenance Scheme. A large measure of our success has been due to the support of our many stakeholders and partners. Our collective ability to deliver improvements was acknowledged by the Government through the Department for Transport, (DfT) which recognises Halton as 'excellent' in the quality of delivery of transport as well as our forward planning. We now need to deliver LTP3 to the same high standard. Transport planning cannot be considered in isolation as its purpose is to serve society. The preparation of LTP3 therefore has been built upon wider policy documents such as the Sustainable Community Strategy. LTP3, which runs from 2011, presents itself in two parts; the first sets out a strategy for Halton until 2026. The second part lies beneath the long term strategy and it is an Implementation Plan, which sets out in detail how the strategy will be delivered in the first four years. We know, despite our extensive successes, there is much more to be done. The circumstances in which we find ourselves are very different to those of even a relatively short while ago. There will be much less public finance available, but we must ensure that Halton and the Liverpool City Region’s aspirations for regeneration and growth continue to be supported by a high quality, low carbon and efficient transport network. In January 2011 the Government’s Transport White Paper ‘Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon – Making Sustainable Local Transport Happen’ was published; the White Paper States: The Government will be targeting investment in new projects that can help build the dynamic low carbon economy that is essential for our economic prosperity. The White Paper is about providing the early reduction in carbon emissions that local action is best placed to deliver, whilst facilitating the access to local jobs that will boost economic growth. Halton recognises the Government’s main transport objectives of creating economic growth and reducing carbon emissions. In addition to these, Halton has set its own transport goals, these are: Ensure transport network resilience with particular regard to enhancing cross Mersey linkages, by the implementation of the Mersey Gateway project and the Mersey Gateway Sustainable Transport Strategy. 4 of 216 Ensure the transport system supports the priorities of the Halton’s Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Liverpool City Region (LCR). Provide and promote a clean and low carbon transport system. Ensure the transport system promotes and enables improved health and wellbeing. Ensure the transport system allows people to connect easily with employment, services and social activities. Ensure the transport network supports the economic success of Halton and the LCR by the efficient movement of people and goods. Maintain our transport and highway assets to a high standard. Following the Spending Review on 20 October 2010, which included the national totals for future transport grants, Ministers announced on 13th December 2010 the final local transport capital block settlement for 2011/12 to 2012/13, and indicative allocations for 2013/14 to 2014/15 for transport authorities and Integrated Transport Authorities. The settlement for Halton is as follows: Block – 2011/12 2012/13 Final £000s £000s Allocations Integrated 680 725 Transport Highways 1,983* 2,078 Capital Maintenance • This figure will have to accommodate the loss of £0.219m of grant funding previously available from the DfT for the maintenance of Watkinson Way. Block – 2013/14 2014/15 Indicative £000s £000s Allocations Integrated 725 1,020 Transport Highways 1,960 1,816 Capital Maintenance In the light of the above, final and indicative transport financial settlements for the following four year implementation programme have been derived. This has been determined in line with national and local transport goals and the Government’s priorities to enhance economic growth whilst reducing carbon emissions from transport. The table below gives a summary of the proposed four year implementation programme. 5 of 216 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 Total £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 Transport Integration • Halton Sustainable Transport Network Signage / Branding, 150 160 160 225 £695,000 Publicity & Promotion • Cycle Secure Parking Lockers Measures to Assist Walking • Neighbourhood Centres – Pedestrian Access, signage & 125 130 130 185 £570,000 Public Realm Improvements • PRoW Improvement Programme Measures to Assist Cycling • Neighbourhood Centre Cycle Access, signage & Public Realm 100 100 100 140 £440,000 Improvements • Halton Cycleway & Greenway Links Measures to Assist Buses • Halton Neighbourhood Centres Accessible Bus Stop Improvements 160 170 170 240 £740,000 • Bus Priority at Junctions • Widnes Road Bus Lane and Stops Local Safety Schemes • Residential Area 20mph Zones 125 140 140 180 £585,000 • Casualty Reduction • Safety Improvement Schemes Intelligent Transport Systems • Expansion of VMS 20 25 25 50 £120,000 • Improve traffic and travel information Total £680 £725 £725 £1,020 £3,150,000 For transport integration the following types of scheme will be considered for implementation: • Halton Sustainable Transport Network – Public Rights of Way, Cycleways and Greenways; and • Cycle Secure Parking Lockers. For measures to assist walking the following types of scheme will be considered for implementation: • Pedestrian access, signage & public realm improvements around neighbourhood centres; and • Implementation of the public rights of way improvement programme. For measures to assist cycling the following types of scheme will be considered for implementation: • Neighbourhood centre cycle access, signage and public realm improvements; and • Further improvement to Halton cycleway and greenway links. 6 of 216 For measures to assist buses the following types of scheme will be considered for implementation: • Halton Neighbourhood Centres Accessible Bus Stop Improvements; • Implementation of Widnes Road bus lane and bus stop improvements; and • Bus priority at junctions For measures to assist road safety the measures proposed include: • Residential Area 20mph Zones, this is a programme of works to implement 20mph speed limits in existing residential streets. In Halton, all new estates are having this 20 mph lower speed limit implemented in line with existing practice. For Intelligent Transport Systems the measures proposed include: • Expand Variable Message Signing and webcams to cover more of the network. Improvements to traffic signal installations to enhance efficiency and reduce energy consumption. The following highway maintenance schemes which are greater than £250K in estimated cost are to be funded through the highways capital maintenance block: • 2011/12 - A557 Weston Point Expressway, Weston Village to A5126 Link – Northbound and Southbound; • 2012/13 - A557 Widnes Eastern By Pass, Ashley Way to Traffic Light Gyratory – Northbound and Southbound; • 2013/14 - A557 Weston Point Expressway, Picow Farm Junction to Sandy Lane Bridge – Southbound; and • 2014/15 - A557 Weston Point Expressway, Weston Village to Bankes Lane – Northbound and Southbound. In addition to those highway maintenance schemes mentioned above there will be several of less than £250k in cost. The programme of bridge maintenance activity intended to be funded through the highways capital maintenance block allocation will include several schemes separate from the SJB major maintenance scheme. The Mersey Gateway Project received planning approval on 20th December 2010. This means that the project team is now able to commence with the preparations for the procurement process. The planning decision notice has also triggered a number of statutory processes including the Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO’s) which will allow the project team to acquire the necessary land required for the construction of the project. The team will now carry out work comprising of the development and implementation of both the commercial and procurement strategies. It is likely that the procurement process will last approximately two years during which the team enter into a competitive dialogue with potential concessionaires. DfT have given full approval for 5 year programme of major bridge maintenance