STAG Report Access to Laurencekirk Prepared for June 2015 City Park 368 Alexandra Parade Glasgow G31 3AU Tel: 0141 552 2000 www.ch2m.com I Contents Section Page Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. i Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Scope of the Study ............................................................................................................ 1-2 1.3 Structure of Report ........................................................................................................... 1-2 Methodology....................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction to the Guidance ........................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Existing and Future Conditions ......................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 The Role of Consultation .................................................................................................. 2-1 2.4 Problems, Issues, Opportunities and Constraints ............................................................ 2-1 2.5 Objectives ......................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.6 Option Generation ........................................................................................................... 2-2 2.7 STAG Part 1 Initial Appraisal ............................................................................................. 2-3 2.8 STAG Part 2 Detailed Appraisal ........................................................................................ 2-3 Existing and Future Conditions ............................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Previous Studies ............................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2.2 Strategic Transport Projects Review 2009 .......................................................... 3-1 3.2.3 A90 Laurencekirk Road Safety Review 2009 ....................................................... 3-1 3.2.4 Laurencekirk Expansion – A90 (T) Appraisal of Aberdeenshire Council Local Development Plan Main Issues Report 2010 ...................................................... 3-2 3.2.5 A90 Laurencekirk Junctions – Cost Refinement Exercise for Grade Separation Associated with Future Development 2011 ........................................................ 3-3 3.2.6 A90 (T) Laurencekirk Junctions 2012................................................................... 3-3 3.2.7 A90 Laurencekirk Road Safety Scheme Monitoring Study 2014 ......................... 3-4 3.3 Laurencekirk in Context .................................................................................................... 3-4 3.3.1 Population Growth .............................................................................................. 3-4 3.3.2 Employment Characteristics ............................................................................... 3-5 3.3.3 Travel Characteristics .......................................................................................... 3-6 3.3.4 Montrose and Brechin ......................................................................................... 3-7 3.3.5 Accessibility ......................................................................................................... 3-9 3.4 Environmental and Engineering Constraints .................................................................. 3-16 3.4.1 BP Forties Pipeline ............................................................................................. 3-16 3.4.2 Dundee to Aberdeen Railway Line .................................................................... 3-16 3.4.3 Laurencekirk Cemetery ..................................................................................... 3-17 3.4.4 Trunk Road Junction Spacing............................................................................. 3-17 3.4.5 Flooding ............................................................................................................. 3-17 3.5 Baseline Data .................................................................................................................. 3-17 3.5.1 Traffic Flows ...................................................................................................... 3-17 3.5.2 Network Operation ........................................................................................... 3-31 3.5.3 Traffic Speeds .................................................................................................... 3-38 3.5.4 Vehicle Composition .......................................................................................... 3-42 3.5.5 Laurencekirk Parking Study ............................................................................... 3-44 3.6 Safety and Accidents ...................................................................................................... 3-51 3.6.1 A90/A937 North Junction .................................................................................. 3-51 3.6.2 A90/B9120 Centre Junction .............................................................................. 3-52 3.6.3 A90/A937 South Junction .................................................................................. 3-53 II CONTENTS, CONTINUED 3.6.4 Accident Summary ............................................................................................ 3-54 3.6.5 A90 and A937 Accident Analysis ....................................................................... 3-54 3.7 Future Conditions .......................................................................................................... 3-55 3.7.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 3-55 3.7.2 Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan ........................................................... 3-55 3.7.3 Aberdeen Local Development Plan – Report of Examination 2012 ................. 3-57 3.7.4 Angus Local Development Plan......................................................................... 3-58 Understanding the Problems, Issues, Opportunities and Constraints ................................................. 4-1 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Consultation ..................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.3 Problems and Opportunities ............................................................................................ 4-2 4.3.1 Safety .................................................................................................................. 4-2 4.3.2 Driver Behaviour ................................................................................................. 4-3 4.3.3 Efficiency of the Network and Economic Development ..................................... 4-4 4.3.4 Sustainable Travel ............................................................................................... 4-7 4.4 Issues and Constraints ..................................................................................................... 4-8 4.5 Rationale for Intervention ............................................................................................. 4-11 Setting the Transport Planning Objectives .......................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Transport Planning Objectives ......................................................................................... 5-1 5.2.1 Objective Themes ............................................................................................... 5-1 5.3 Links to STAG Criteria and other Established Policy Directives ....................................... 5-4 5.3.1 STAG Criteria ....................................................................................................... 5-4 5.3.2 Government Economic Strategy ......................................................................... 5-4 5.3.3 Scotland’s National Transport Strategy .............................................................. 5-6 5.3.4 NESTRANS Regional Transport Strategy ............................................................. 5-7 5.3.5 Aberdeenshire Local Transport Strategy ............................................................ 5-8 5.3.6 Summary ........................................................................................................... 5-10 Option Generation, Sifting and Development ....................................................................................