Freight in Merseyside and the role of the ITA Alan Stilwell Director of Integrated Transport Merseytravel 1 Context • Merseyside a major port area • City centre ports declined in 20th Century • Port activity moved to new site at Seaforth in 1970s • Other active ports at Garston and Birkenhead • Freight / logistics key sectors of economy • Freight also has downsides – Air quality problems – Noise / congestion / community severance Context: Rail Freight Multimodal Terminals 3 Merseytravel’s remit over Freight • LTP formerly joint responsibility of Merseyside LAs and Merseytravel – Merseytravel’s role was primarily passenger transport aspects • Under LTA 2008 Merseytravel became an ITA • Remit widened - responsibility for coordination of LTP – Freight policy thus an ITA area of responsibility – But LA / HA / NR / private sector etc role • In April 2011 the third LTP became operational – led by Merseytravel – Supports wider city region objectives – transport does not sit in isolation – delivered in partnership with Merseyside LAs and other partners 4 Vision of the Local Transport Plan “A city region committed to a low carbon future, which has a transport network and mobility culture that positively contributes to a thriving economy and the health and wellbeing of its citizens and where sustainable travel is the option of choice.” • Movement of goods vitally important • Supports the Local Enterprise Partnership – aims to create a thriving international city region based on global trade, science & innovation, manufacturing and tourism. • Freight Strategy a key element of the LTP 5 Key Issues for the Freight Strategy • Port of Liverpool • Liverpool SuperPort and Atlantic Gateway • Air quality and the low carbon agenda • Rail Freight • Waterways • Deliveries and Vans • Maintaining the Strategic Freight Network • Intelligent Transport Systems • Linkages with Land Use Planning 6 Merseyside & Halton Freight Quality Partnership • FQP originally set up in 2001 under the first Local Transport Plan • Raise the understanding of the role of local authorities in facilitating more effective movement of freight • Helped highlight the merits and accessibility of rail freight among businesses • Ensured the promotion of sustainable distribution principles across Merseyside • The FQP is currently being enhanced to ensure that it is relevant and fit for purpose for LTP3 • FQP supported by staff member based at Sefton MBC 7 Liverpool SuperPort • LTP Freight Strategy support delivery of the Liverpool SuperPort particularly transport infrastructure or surface access impacts • SuperPort one of the LCR’s “transformational economic activities” • The Liverpool SuperPort prospectus was published in 2008 • The vision is: “to bring together and integrate the strengths of the Ports, Airport and Freight Community to create a SuperPort for freight and passenger operations within the Liverpool City Region that will become a key driver of its economy. It will create the most effective and cost efficient environment for freight cargo logistics and passenger transit in the UK.” 8 Liverpool SuperPort • Port of Liverpool of major economic significance to Liverpool and the NW. • Port carried 30 million tonnes of freight in 2009 - ranked 4th in the UK for container traffic. • “Liverpool 2” In-River Post Panamax Container Terminal at Seaforth due for completion 2015. • Peel International Trade Centre in West Float (Birkenhead Docks). • 3000 people employed in 200 organisations within docks complex • Port, airport and freight infrastructure contributes 34,000 jobs and £1.1 billion of GVA to the LCR every year. 9 Atlantic Gateway • LTP Freight Strategy supports the delivery of the Atlantic Gateway and its implications for transport. • Atlantic Gateway is a framework for collaboration between Liverpool and Manchester to enhance sustainable growth. It focuses on four strategic themes: – Innovation – Global Gateway – Sustainable Infrastructure and – Talented Places. • The Global Gateway theme is particularly relevant for the Freight Strategy and Liverpool SuperPort. • There are three enterprise zones in the Atlantic Gateway (Mersey Waters in Liverpool / Wirral, Daresbury and Manchester Airport). 10 Low Emission Strategy • Merseyside has been designated a regional champion for Low Emission Strategies • Freight traffic is a significant contributor to air quality and carbon reduction agendas • The Freight Strategy supports delivery of the Low Emission Strategy including freight fleet management, alternative fuels, air quality and the low carbon agenda • Longer term possibilities include consideration of electric vehicle infrastructure, freight delivery plans and freight consolidation centres • This also supports the Low Carbon Economy Action Plan (2011- 2015) published by the Mersey Partnership in 2011 11 Freight and Land Use Planning • Freight not just about the port, but supports a wide range of sectors such as construction, retail and automotive industries. • Issues relating to vans, construction traffic, delivery traffic (retail, mail / parcels etc) significant – Significant growth in LGVs during previous LTP period • Freight issues need to be integrated with land use planning system – implementation of planning conditions to ensure better management of deliveries – electric vehicle infrastructure – in the longer term consideration of consolidation centres 12 Low Carbon Agenda 13 ECOLOGISTICS European Project • Merseytravel is part of a successful partnership that won a funding bid in 2012 for the ECOLOGISTICS project. • Project partnership led by the University of Mons and includes partners in the UK, France, Luxembourg, Germany and the Netherlands. • ECOLOGISTICS aims at raising awareness and opportunities for companies to optimise their freight operations – use ICT to reduce traffic congestion, waiting times and create a greener transport system • Merseytravel’s role in the project will be to set up and lead a City Reference Group, to input on issues relating to ‘last mile’ delivery in urban areas • Act as a dissemination channel to freight industry partners 14 Case study: supporting rail freight Olive Mount Chord Rail link • Missing Olive Mount Chord rail link identified as major problem in last LTP • c. £10 million solution to replace missing chord • NR supportive, but couldn’t fund in its entirety • Not possible to secure ‘major scheme’ funding Case study: supporting rail freight Olive Mount Chord Rail link • Merseytravel commitment to lead project • Commitment to draw funds from various sources from wide range of partners: – Merseyside Local Transport Plan funding – ERDF funds from Merseyside Objective 1 programme – Northern Way growth funds (via NWDA) – Network Rail Discretionary Fund – Peel Holdings (gauge enhancements) • A true partnership solution 16 17 In summary • Importance of freight agenda to the wider economy within the Liverpool City Region • Reflected in new LTP • Merseytravel responsible for leading the LTP • Partnership approach critical 18 Freight in Merseyside and the role of the ITA Alan Stilwell Director of Integrated Transport Merseytravel 19 .