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Master Plan 2006–2030 www.eastmidlandsairport.com APPENDIX 6 Surface Access Strategy A.6.1 Background – Development Policy 1998 (DP98) A6.1.1 Surface access considerations featured strongly in the DP98. Under the heading of “sustainability”, details were provided of the coach and bus services providing access to and from the Airport and mention was made of what was then the new shuttle bus service between Loughborough railway station and the Airport. It was also noted that plans “are well advanced” to open an East Midlands Parkway Station. “Sustainability considerations” it was concluded, “are likely to increase in importance in future and the Company intends to respond positively to this agenda”. A6.1.2 Having considered the forecast level of traffic generation, the DP98 concluded that changes to the A453 were not anticipated in the medium term as a result of airport development. However, an access junction to serve the DHL parcels hub development was proposed and a new access from the highway was required into what was then the proposed Finger Farm Business Park. It noted that continuing support would be given to measures to discourage the use of sensitive local routes to airport-related traffic. Also identified was the need to modify and enhance the Airport’s internal road system to accommodate expansion, the reconfiguration of facilities, and to serve new areas of land use. A6.1.3 The DP98 assumed that the great majority of passengers and employees would continue to access the Airport by car. It considered, however, that it was likely that future measures to increase choice of access and reduce on-site car parking demand and road traffic volumes, would affect modal split, and that the volume of road traffic generated would therefore effectively reduce in relation to air traffic levels. It also noted that “the great majority of cargo- related vehicle movement and a large part of passenger-related traffic occurs outside normal peak hours, limiting its impact on overall road use and congestion.” A6.1.4 With regard to car parking specifically, the DP98 noted that the then current provision was 4,000 public and about 500 private staff spaces. Car parking requirements however were “not regarded as a serious constraint on the long-term growth of the Airport’s services; there is scope for further parking development, both surface and multi-storey, and measures are available both to reduce the amount of land required and to moderate the demand for space.” A6.1.5 Most importantly the DP98 proposed the creation of an Airport Transport Forum and the preparation of a Green Commuter Plan. As the Airport grew, it was expected that there would be an increasing emphasis on promoting the use of public transport through a range of initiatives - car-park pricing, employee-focused programmes, dedicated bus services and the improvement of access to the rail network. A6.1.6 The DP98 noted that major improvements to the highway network, including completion of the Stoke/Derby link, would strengthen the Airport’s strategic importance. Reference was made to the Government’s proposals to commission four Multi-Modal Studies (London to South Midlands, North/South Movements in the East Midlands, West Midlands to East Midlands and the A453 M1 to Nottingham), the findings of which would have major implications for the wider strategic accessibility of the Airport in the longer-term. Appendix 6 1 A6.1.7 Many of the proposals contained in the DP98 have been implemented. The two new accesses from the A453 to the Airport site have been constructed along with a new internal spine road. The North/South Movements, A453 and London to South Midlands Multi-Modal Studies have all reported. Within the East Midlands, their main recommendations to improve the M1 between Junctions 21 and 30 and the A453 from Junction 24 of the M1 to Nottingham, have been accepted by the Government. The M1 improvements entered the Targeted Programme of Investment (TPI) in April 2004. The A453 enhancement entered the TPI in May 2004. Both these proposals have been tested at an Airport passenger throughput of 8 million passengers per annum (mppa). A6.1.8 The EMA Transport Forum has been established and guided the preparation of the Airport’s Green Commuter Plan – the Surface Access Strategy. A6.2 Progress Report – Surface Access Strategy (2001 - 2005) A6.2.1 Introduction An Air Transport Forum (ATF) was established in 1999 and its first task was to develop the Surface Access Strategy (SAS 2001) through consultation with employers located on the Airport site, representatives from the local community, local authorities and transport providers. Its overall aim is to reduce the rate of growth in car traffic, particularly single-occupancy cars, and to promote the use of alternative travel methods such as buses, trains, cycling and walking. Initially the SAS 2001 focused on reducing the numbers of single-occupancy car journeys made by site employees, gradually increasing over time the priority given to initiatives to increase the use of public transport by the Airport’s passengers. The primary target for the SAS 2001 was to increase the proportion of journeys to and from the Airport made by employees using a mode other than as a single occupant in a car by 5% to a total of 26% by the end of 2005. Membership of the ATF has grown steadily over the past five years and now has over 40 member organisations. In order to ensure that the Forum has a targeted approach with regard to delivering improved sustainable transport, the ATF recommended the formation of two additional sub-groups: the Public Transport Sub-Group and the Cycling Sub-Group. These meet approximately quarterly as task-oriented working groups accountable to the Airport Transport Forum. The Airport Company employs around 250 people, an increase of just 20 on 2001 figures. However, on the Airport site, there are around 6,500 employees. Staff movements remain predominantly spread over 24-hour operating patterns rather than being concentrated at peak travel times. The great majority of employees on site continue to be employed by airlines, cargo companies, regulation authorities and support services. MASTER PLAN 2 Master Plan 2006–2030 www.eastmidlandsairport.com The Airport is determined to promote the growth of a more balanced transport split, in line with Government recommendations. However, the number of single occupancy car journeys (and pick-up/drop-off journeys) to the Airport is expected to rise over the next five years. It is our intention to slow this growth and increase the proportion of journeys made to the Airport by other means, such as by bus, cycling, car-sharing and walking. A6.2.2 Resources Since 2001, the Airport has significantly increased the level of resources dedicated to improving sustainable access initiatives. Various surface access initiatives have been funded by the Airport which include funding and pump-priming of bus routes and improvement to the Airport’s infrastructure. However in 2003 for the first time the Airport approved a dedicated Surface Access budget which included revenue support for buses as well as a range of marketing and promotion activities, and the Airport now contributes in the region of £400,000pa to bus revenue support. In 2003, the Airport recognised the need for a full time member of staff to take forward the various initiatives outlined in the strategy. A Ground Transport Manager was therefore appointed to focus exclusively on developing and improving sustainable transport links. A6.2.3 Infrastructure and Facilities In 2003 the link road between the Pegasus Park and the Thistle Hotel opened allowing all buses to use this road to access the site. At the same time, the footpath between the Holiday Inn and the Thistle Hotel which links up with the existing footpath network on site was completed. The Airport is committed to a programme of installing two bus shelters on site each year and has over the past few years significantly improved the bus waiting facilities at several key points. Four bus shelters were installed on site in 2002 and a further 3 in 2003. There are new bus shelters at DHL Cargo West, Building 34, Cargo East and Pegasus Business Park. In 2004 the bus waiting facilities at the Terminal Building were completely reconfigured. The access road at the front of the Terminal Building has been closed to private cars and redesigned to allow buses to stop directly outside Arrivals. Three new bus shelters were installed along the Terminal front, all with ‘real-time’ display boards. Appendix 6 3 A6.2.4 Information A large ‘real-time’ display board has been installed inside the Terminal Building in front of the Information Desk. This shows the actual arrival times for all buses currently serving the site. A wall has also been allocated opposite the Information Desk for the display of public transport information. This includes a ‘spider’ diagram of all bus routes currently serving the Airport, brief descriptions of the key services including start and finish times and frequencies, and individual service timetables. In addition, an Airport Access Guide was published in 2005 incorporating all relevant bus, coach and rail information. Improved information was a key element of the Strategy in order to raise awareness of the alternatives available to car commuters. Public transport information is now also included in various Airport publications as well as the Airport web site, with Internet links to national and local bus timetables as well as various council web sites. A6.2.5 Bus Services Prior to 1999 the Airport completely funded the operation of airline-shuttle - a regular shuttle bus transferring passengers from Loughborough railway station to the Airport site.