Fraserburgh & Peterhead to Aberdeen Strategic Transport Study Nestrans, Aberdeenshire Council, and Aberdeen City Council Part 1 Appraisal Report 77919 March 2016 FRASERBURGH & PETERHEAD TO ABERDEEN STRATEGIC TRANSPORT STUDY Description: Part 1 Appraisal Report Date: 21 March 2016 Project Manager: Emily Seaman Project Director: Bob Nicol Report Authors: Emily Seaman Chris Paterson Henry Collin Report Reviewers: Bob Nicol Dougie McDonald Paul McCartney Annie Say SIAS Limited 37 Manor Place Edinburgh EH3 7EB UK tel: 0131-225 7900 fax: 0131-225 9229 [email protected] www.sias.com \\coral\tpxneeng$\3 part 1 appraisal\3 reporting\77919 fraserburgh peterhead to aberdeen strategic transport study - part 1 appraisal report_revised_v2.doc FRASERBURGH & PETERHEAD TO ABERDEEN STRATEGIC TRANSPORT STUDY CONTENTS : Page SUMMARY 1 1 INTRODUCTION 41 1.1 Options for appraisal 45 1.2 Appraisal scoring 57 2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION 59 2.1 Geographical Context 59 2.2 Social Context 61 2.3 Economic Context 62 3 APPRAISAL OF OPTIONS AGAINST TRANSPORT PLANNING OBJECTIVES 67 3.1 Introduction 67 3.2 Option 1 69 3.3 Option 2 74 3.4 Option 3 79 3.5 Option 4 83 3.6 Option 5 87 3.7 Option 6 92 3.8 Option 7 97 3.9 TPO Appraisal Summary 103 4 APPRAISAL OF OPTIONS AGAINST THE STAG CRITERIA 105 4.1 Introduction 105 4.2 STAG Criteria Appraisal Methodology and Key Appraisal Points by Criteria 107 5 STAG APPRAISAL SUMMARY 113 5.1 Introduction 113 5.2 STAG Criteria Appraisal Overview 113 6 ESTABLISHED POLICY DIRECTIVES APPRAISAL 117 7 FEASIBILITY, AFFORDABILITY, AND PUBLIC ACCEPTABILITY 123 7.1 Introduction 123 7.2 Option 1 125 7.3 Option 2 129 7.4 Option 3 132 21 March 2016 7.5 Option 4 134 7.6 Option 5 136 7.7 Option 6 138 7.8 Option 7 150 7.9 Feasibility, Affordability, and Public Acceptability Summary 158 8 APPRAISAL SUMMARY AND OPTION SELECTION, REJECTION, AND PACKAGING167 8.1 Introduction 167 8.2 Appraisal Summary 167 8.3 Option Packaging 173 21 March 2016 FRASERBURGH & PETERHEAD TO ABERDEEN STRATEGIC TRANSPORT STUDY FIGURES : Page Options for Appraisal, Road 6 Options for Appraisal, Bus 7 Options for Appraisal, Rail 8 STAG seven point scale 9 Package 1: Road & Bus 30 Package 2: Rail & Bus 35 Figure 1.1 : Recommended road options for Part 1 Appraisal (Options 1, 2, and 3) 53 Figure 1.2 : Recommended bus options for Part 1 Appraisal (Options 4 & 5) 54 Figure 1.3 : Recommended rail options for Part 1 Appraisal (Options 6 & 7) 55 Figure 1.4 : STAG seven point scale 57 Figure 2.1 : Study Area 60 Figure 3.1 : Option 1 Indicative alignment 70 Figure 3.2 : Option 2 Indicative alignment 75 Figure 3.3 : Option 3 Indicative alignment 80 Figure 3.4 : Option 4 Indicative alignment 84 Figure 3.5 : Option 5 Indicative alignment 88 Figure 3.6 : Option 6 Indicative alignment 93 Figure 3.7 : Option 7 Indicative alignment 98 Figure 6.1 : PAF Scoring 117 Figure 8.1 : Package 1: Road & Bus 174 Figure 8.2 : Package 2: Rail & Bus 179 21 March 2016 21 March 2016 FRASERBURGH & PETERHEAD TO ABERDEEN STRATEGIC TRANSPORT STUDY TABLES : Page Transport Planning Objectives 3 Options for Appraisal, Description 5 Journey time comparisons (2012 vs. 2023 vs. 2023 with option in place) Northbound 13 Journey time comparisons (2012 vs. 2023 vs. 2023 with option in place) Southbound 14 Affordability Summary Options 1 – 5 19 Affordability Summary Option 6 20 Affordability Summary Option 7 21 Appraisal Summary Scores and Risk Ratings 25 Key Advantages and Disadvantages , Options 1 and 2 26 Key Advantages and Disadvantages, Options 3, 4, and 5 27 Key Advantages and Disadvantages, Options 6 and 7 28 Option Packaging, Package 1: Road & Bus (Table 1 of 3) 31 Option Packaging, Package 1: Road & Bus (Table 2 of 3) 32 Option Packaging, Package 1: Road & Bus (Table 3 of 3) 33 Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 1 of 4) 37 Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 2 of 4) 38 Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 3 of 4) 39 Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 3 of 4) 40 Table 1.1 : Recommended options for Part 1 Appraisal, Option 1 47 Table 1.2 : Recommended options for Part 1 Appraisal, Option 2 48 Table 1.3 : Recommended options for Part 1 Appraisal, Option 3 49 Table 1.4 : Recommended options for Part 1 Appraisal, Options 4 & 5 50 Table 1.5 : Recommended options for Part 1 Appraisal, Option 6 51 Table 1.6 : Recommended options for Part 1 Appraisal, Option 7 52 Table 1.7 : Complementary Active Travel Measures 56 Table 3.1 : Transport Planning Objectives 67 Table 3.2 : Option 1 TPO Scores 73 Table 3.3 : Option 2 TPO Scores 78 Table 3.4 : Option 3 TPO Scores 82 Table 3.5 : Option 4 TPO Scores 86 Table 3.6 : Option 5 TPO Scores 91 21 March 2016 Table 3.7 : Option 6 TPO Scores 96 Table 3.8 : Option 7 TPO Scores 102 Table 3.9 : Option Appraisal Scores against Transport Planning Objectives, Summary 103 Table 4.1 : STAG Appraisal Criteria 106 Table 5.1 : Option Appraisal Scores against STAG Criteria, Summary 115 Table 6.1 : Option PAF appraisal against National Policy Objectives (Table 1 of 3) 119 Table 6.2 : Option PAF appraisal against National Policy Objectives (Table 2 of 3) 120 Table 6.3 : Option PAF appraisal against National Policy Objectives (Table 3 of 3) 121 Table 7.1 : Option 1 Approximate Cost Range 126 Table 7.2 : Option 6 Approximate Capital Costs 143 Table 7.3 : Option 6 Revenue Summary: Method 1 147 Table 7.4 : Option 6 Revenue Summary: Method 2 148 Table 7.5 : Option 7 Approximate Capital Costs 152 Table 7.6 : Option 7 Revenue Summary: Method 1 155 Table 7.7 : Option 7 Revenue Summary: Method 2 156 Table 7.8 : Feasibility and Public Acceptability Summary 158 Table 7.9 : Affordability Summary Options 1 – 5 161 Table 7.10 : Affordability Summary Option 6 162 Table 7.11 : Affordability Summary Option 7 163 Table 7.12 : Affordability CAPEX, OPEX and Revenue implications cost banding 165 Table 7.13 : Affordability Summary 166 Table 8.1 : Selection or Rejection, Overall Appraisal Summary, Scores and Risk Ratings 169 Table 8.2 : Key Option Advantages and Disadvantages, Options 1 and 2 170 Table 8.3 : Key Option Advantages and Disadvantages, Options 3, 4, and 5 171 Table 8.4 : Key Option Advantages and Disadvantages, Options 6 and 7 172 Table 8.5 : Option Packaging, Package 1: Road & Bus (Table 1 of 3) 175 Table 8.6 : Option Packaging, Package 1: Road & Bus (Table 2 of 3) 176 Table 8.7 : Option Packaging, Package 1: Road & Bus (Table 3 of 3) 177 Table 8.8 : Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 1 of 4) 181 Table 8.9 : Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 2 of 4) 182 Table 8.10 : Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 3 of 4) 183 Table 8.11 : Option Packaging, Package 2: Rail & Bus (Table 4 of 4) 184 21 March 2016 SUMMARY Nestrans (The North East Scotland Transport Partnership) Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) Refresh was approved by Scottish Ministers in 2014. The RTS vision is for “A transport system for the north east of Scotland which enables a more economically competitive, sustainable, and socially inclusive society”. There was strong support during consultation on the RTS Refresh to examine the costs and benefits of re-opening the Formartine & Buchan railway line. In response to this, the RTS Refresh contains a commitment to carry out an all-modes study of the corridor from Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen. In collaboration, SIAS Limited (SIAS), Peter Brett Associates LLP (PBA), and Energised Environments, together the Consultant Team, were appointed by Nestrans to undertake the Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen Strategic Transport Study. The purpose of the study is to identify and examine the options for improving strategic transport connections between Fraserburgh, Peterhead, and Aberdeen including incorporating the Energetica Corridor. The study is being undertaken in line with the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), and the study covers the Pre-Appraisal and Part 1 Appraisal stages of STAG. Pre-Appraisal Summary The Pre-Appraisal stage of the study was reported in Fraserburgh & Peterhead to Aberdeen Strategic Transport Study Pre-Appraisal Report (SIAS, PBA & Energised Environments, SIAS Ref. 77316, October 2015) and covered: An introduction to the study, its purpose and the study area Analysis of the Problems and Opportunities for the study area, informed through a wide ranging engagement programme and baseline data analysis (with the baseline data analysis reported in Fraserburgh & Peterhead to Aberdeen Strategic Transport Study - Baseline Report (SIAS, PBA & Energised Environments, SIAS Ref. 77322, August 2015) Transport Planning Objective (TPO) setting Option Generation, Sifting and Development The Pre-Appraisal stage of the study provided an appreciation of the economic and social context of the study area allowing for a clearer understanding of why and for whom transport improvements are needed. This understanding has been key to: establishing the transport problems the study should seek to address; setting the study objectives; developing transport options for appraisal; and the appraisal of options. The analysis at the Pre-Appraisal stage highlighted economic and social motivation for transport improvements, with the analysis highlighting a clear north-south divide in the study area, with a lower economic rate, educational attainment, and recent lower growth in the northern areas when compared to the regional figures, highlighting the inequalities gap between the study area and the wider affluent Aberdeenshire region. There is a clear economic rationale underpinning the need for transport improvement in the study area with analysis highlighting the dominance of the primary industries in the area, driven by the oil & gas, fishing, and farming sectors.