FOREWORD FROM THE MERSEYSIDE STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION AND PLANNING COMMITTEE (MSTPC) he advent of the Government's T1998 White Paper on Transport signalled a new era in transport policy. At the heart of the White Paper was the concept of integration: e want transport to contribute to our In this context, the Local Transport Plan and our aim of building a “Wquality of life, not detract from it. The Transport Plan, and in transport system to rival any in Europe. way forward is through an integrated transport particular the first five year policy. By this we mean integration within and programme, presents a between different types of transport - that each major opportunity to co- contributes its full potential and people can ordinate transport investment move easily between them; integration with the to achieve the regeneration environment - so that our transport choices vision for Merseyside and the support a better environment; and integration objectives that we have set with land use planning - so that transport helps for the LTP - to ensure to make a fairer, more inclusive society”. INCLUSIVE, SUSTAINABLE ollowing publication of the White FPaper, Local Authorities and REGENERATION Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) in the UK were asked to prepare Local and to provide Transport Plans setting out a 10 year Transport Strategy and within it a 5 OPPORTUNITIES Year Plan for transport investment and FOR ALL improvement. On Merseyside, with the benefit of who live and work in, or Objective 1 funding the last 5 years has visit Merseyside. seen considerable investment in transport - in April this year the region This Local Transport Plan provides full was awarded Centre of Excellence details of the programme including the status by the Government for it's public role that the Local Authorities, transport improvements. But much still Merseytravel and other organisations remains to be done. Over the next and interest groups have played in its seven years, Merseyside is once again development. Most importantly, it classified as an Objective 1 area and is highlights the role the public of eligible for over £800 million of grant Merseyside has had in shaping the support. In addition Liverpool Vision Strategy. This has resulted in a set of provides a focus for the regeneration of targets and performance indicators Liverpool City Centre. The growing role which will be used as a measure of of the ports and airport are also success and as a means for on-going recognised as is Merseyside's role public participation in the development within the wider North West region. and implementation of our Local merseyside LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2001/2-2005/6 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL JULY 2000 STATEMENT OF SUPPORT ll of the Partners recognise the l A wide range of employment l Improved safety and security on the Aneed to ensure that we meet, opportunities; transport network; through the delivery of INCLUSIVE l Low levels of crime and disorder; l Measures to improve access to key and SUSTAINABLE REGENERATION, facilities and employment the overarching Vision for l High quality housing and opportunities; Merseyside as : infrastructure; and l Improved pedestrian and cycling A world class city l Healthier, inclusive and self- opportunities; region that attracts sustaining communities. l Better freight routes; and people to live, work, To this aim the Local Transport Plan for invest and visit. Merseyside will develop a fully l Improved maintenance of our road integrated and sustainable transport network, lighting and car parks. network through a balanced package of measures, including: which can boast the following key The Partners all fully endorse the LTP assets: l A single integrated public transport and will, as far as possible, support the network which puts the passenger actions required to deliver the l A thriving City Centre; first; programme over the next five years. l Increasingly prosperous town and l Improved access for ALL the district centres; community across Merseyside; merseyside LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2001/2-2005/6 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL JULY 2000 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION next 5-10 years. These are: vision: l Merseyside's continuing Objective 1 status for European funding to aid regeneration of A world-class city- he Government's Transport the region; TWhite Paper A New Deal for region that attracts Transport: Better for Everyone, set l Other funding opportunities including Single people to live, work, out a new agenda for integrated Regeneration Budget (SRB), and Kensington transport planning. A direct result New Deal; invest and visit. of this is the requirement to l Liverpool Vision - a regeneration company produce a Local Transport Plan established following publication of the Emphasising its complementary role the (LTP) covering a 5 year period Urban Taskforce Report on Urban LTP's vision statement states: (2001/2 - 2005/6). Renaissance, which aims to regenerate Liverpool City Centre; “The aim of the Plan is to develop a On Merseyside this task has been fully integrated and sustainable l Developments in Merseyside's Ports undertaken by the five local authorities including a new facility at Twelve Quays on transport network for Merseyside, (Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens the Wirral; which supports economic, social and and Wirral) and Merseytravel (the environmental regeneration and Passenger Transport Executive and l The continuing expansion of Liverpool ensures good access for all in the Authority). These partners have Airport; community.” developed the LTP by undertaking l The Government's Transport Bill which will extensive research and studies and a place LTPs on a statutory footing and To meet this aim the LTP has four main comprehensive public participation and support improvements for buses and the objectives: consultation programme. The LTP is railways; l To ensure that transport supports also the result of a series of l Re-franchising of the Merseyrail Electrics sustainable economic development and partnerships with operators and interest network; and regeneration groups led by the Integrated Transport To moderate the upward trend in car use Forum. l New investment in the local bus network. l and secure a shift to more sustainable forms The LTP has been developed to play a of transport such as walking, cycling and complementary role to the wider aims of public transport THE OPPORTUNITY the Objective 1 programme to regenerate Merseyside. This l To secure the most efficient and effective The aim of the LTP is to present an programme results from a series of use of the existing transport network ambitious but affordable and realistic economic, social and environmental l To enhance the quality of life of those who programme which will maximise the problems facing the region. The live, work in, and visit Merseyside benefit of a series of opportunities that Objective 1 Single Programming are available to Merseyside over the document has established the following merseyside LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2001/2-2005/6 OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL JULY 2000 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY THE CHALLENGE PROGRESS THROUGH SSDAs; and for public transport which PARTNERSHIP serves the City, Town and District In April 2000 Merseyside was awarded Centres and improves linkages between Centre of Excellence status for public The partners have developed the LTP the Pathway areas and SSDAs. transport by the Government in with the involvement of a wide range of The LTP Strategy consists of: recognition of the developments and stakeholders and interest groups investment in the network over the last including operators, the Police, l COUNTY-WIDE MEASURES; 5 years. However, much remains to be Highways Agency, Chamber of CENTRE AND CORRIDOR PROPOSALS; AND done. Bus passenger journeys have Commerce, Environment groups, the l declined and the quality of the local rail Women's Forum, Advisory and Access l MAJOR SCHEMES. network is falling despite increased Panels, representatives of the 38 passenger numbers. The partners' Objective 1 Pathways areas and other research shows a high dependency on community groups on Merseyside. THE 10 YEAR STRATEGY public transport with over 40% of In addition, an extensive public households having no access to a car. consultation and participation A long term 10 year transport strategy The partners have produced a Road programme has also been used to has been developed to provide a Traffic Reduction Act report which identify the key issues and themes to be transport system to equal the best in forecasts increases in traffic of over 30% incorporated within the LTP. The Europe. The strategy includes: over the next 10 years. This will result programme has included the distribution from traffic growing from it’s current low of newsletters and questionnaires, a l implementation of the Centre of base and the traffic that will be series of exhibitions and presentations, Excellence programme. generated by the increased economic and a web-site for information. Focus activity associated with the Region's groups and on-street surveys were also l a fully integrated public transport regeneration programme. As part of this used. In addition, the proposals for system including a network-wide programme, a series of Strategic Spatial Liverpool City Centre were also the series of improvements to the Development Areas (SSDAs) have been subject of a separate questionnaire Merseyrail network following identified as the focus for investment and survey and exhibition. refranchising including new trains, creation of new jobs. These include the station enhancements and new Ports (Liverpool, Garston, Twelve service and punctuality standards. Quays) and the expansion of freight STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT Extensions of the network in traffic through the Region. In total a Woodchurch, St Helens and Kirkby further 56,500 new jobs are forecast to The overall strategy developed by the with new and refurbished stations be created as a result of the partners proposes a package of will be proposed together with regeneration programme. measures to aid regeneration and improvements to the service on the control the anticipated growth in traffic.