Contact: Kevin Travers, ext 7763

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the methodology and results of the monitoring programme established by the County Council to assess progress towards the transport targets set for the Western Hampshire Transport Strategy (WHTS) area.

2. Targets

2.1 Headline targets for Hampshire have been adopted which address a range of major issues, including reducing the rate of traffic growth and increasing walking, cycling and public transport use. Parallel headline and more detailed local implementation targets have also been set for WHTS and will be developed through this Panel as the local strategy emerges.

2.2 An iterative 'top down/bottom up' approach was adopted to the setting of targets, with the county-wide ones reflecting policy aims and the local provisional targets more closely reflecting the local circumstances of Western Hampshire.

2.3 The local headline targets for Western Hampshire will:

(i) reduce traffic growth by one third from 1998 levels by the year 2020, with a reduction of 20% of single occupancy journeys;

(ii) achieve a 5% reduction in total casualties on County Council roads on 1993-97 levels by the year 2020;

(iii) achieve the objectives of the National Air Quality Strategy;

(iv) improve levels of use of alternatives to the car;

(v) improve satisfaction ratings of non-car modes as measured through TRANSPOL;

(vi) establish partnerships with parish councils and others to improve the local environment;

(vii) increase the use of public transport (bus and rail) by one third by 2010;

(viii) increase walking by one third by 2020;

(ix) contribute to the national target of doubling cycle usage by 2002 and doubling again by 2012;

(x) increase participation at public consultations; and

(xi) provide a minimum level of bus services to all villages.

3. Approach to Strategy Monitoring

3.1 Monitoring is recognised as an intrinsic part of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process. It is used to assess performance against Hampshire's objectives and targets and to inform the ongoing review of policies and programmes. It is particularly important given the scale of the capital programme the County Council has to deliver.

3.2 The monitoring programme for Western Hampshire has therefore been devised so as to assist in reviewing progress on achieving the targets identified for the area through the provision of a safer and integrated transport network.

3.3 Surveys are undertaken in Western Hampshire as part of the County Council's monitoring programme on a coordinated basis. In the past surveys have been limited to single transport modes, usually road traffic, and localised issues. As this only provides the minimum of data required for the LTP and the monitoring of transport strategies, a new framework of modal surveys is being undertaken at representative locations in the area. These surveys cover not just traffic flows but consider traffic speeds in rural towns and villages, bus and train usage, cycling and walking. In addition, the surveys also try to provide information which could be used to help appraise economic and commercial activities in the area. It is proposed that the programme of surveys be carried out every two years. This will fulfil the objective of monitoring for the LTP and will be coordinated in line with surveys organised by Test Valley Borough Council.

3.4 Baseline surveys were carried out in July 2001 on a range of transport modes as indicated above. The information from these surveys will be used as the point from which progress in meeting the local targets identified above will be measured. However, as this is the first time the WHTS area has been surveyed comprehensively there is no historical data with which to compare trends. The results of the surveys are considered in more detail in section 5.

4. Travel Attitude Survey (TRANSPOL)

4.1 The framework of strategy monitoring outlined above is supported by the County Council's travel attitude surveys (TRANSPOL). Each district of the county is targeted every five years to collect data on the nature of households, travel patterns and factors influencing travel choices, together with perceptions and attitudes concerning transport related issues. TRANSPOL surveys were last undertaken for the Western Hampshire area during November 1997.

4.2 Analysis of the TRANSPOL survey results confirmed that the dominant mode of transport for all journey categories is the car. Over 80% of all journeys were made by car compared with 11% by public transport and 3% either on foot or by bicycle.

4.3 The surveys highlighted many of the problems perceived by people using public transport in a predominantly rural area. These include limited frequencies and services, provision of shelter facilities and railway station car parking charges. Items of bus service provision which were rated highest included stop location and finding a seat. The rating of cycle facilities was very low in comparison to ratings of other modes of travel. The perception of cycling related to lack of safety on roads and provision of cycle lanes. These issues can be addressed through the capital programme being developed for the WHTS area.

4.4 Comparisons will be made with the results to establish changes in travel trends when these surveys are repeated. The programmes for TRANSPOL surveys are currently being revised to bring them into a four-yearly cycle which will allow closer comparison and coordination with the strategy monitoring programme. The current programme is for the TRANSPOL surveys to be carried out in Western Hampshire in 2002.

5. Results of the Area Strategy Monitoring

5.1 The results of the WHTS monitoring survey are shown in the attached appendix, together with a plan indicating where the surveys were carried out. The modal surveys were undertaken by collecting data on the volume of vehicles passing certain points on the network. Cycle and pedestrian usage data is collected on appropriate routes. The manual traffic counts are supported by data from permanent automatic counters.

5.2 Manual counts of traffic were carried out at eight locations. The number of vehicles passing a particular point between 7 am and 7 pm were surveyed, categorised by mode and direction of flow. In addition, eight permanent traffic counters are located in the area, providing a snapshot of the levels of traffic at 16 locations throughout Western Hampshire. The levels of flow range from 34,000 on the A303 west of the A3057 to 1,500 on the B3084 at Mottisfont.

5.3 Pedestrian and cycle counts were carried out in Stockbridge and Kings Somborne to provide an indication of the levels of movement in two of the principal communities within the strategy area. In total, nearly 500 pedestrian and cycle movements were recorded during the 12-hour period at the two sites and this will be used to contribute to the baseline information for the appropriate targets.

5.4 Bus patronage to Andover and Salisbury from Weyhill and Middle Wallop was surveyed, counting the number of people on board and boarding and alighting from services. In total 577 passengers travelled on 70 buses passing through these villages. Passengers using the stations at Dean, Dunbridge and Grateley were counted, with 287 passengers being recorded during the 12-hour period between 7 am and 7 pm. This information can be used to provide a snapshot of public transport usage, but will be supplemented by patronage data held by bus and rail operators to provide a more comprehensive picture.

5.5 Traffic speed monitoring was carried out on the A30 west of Stockbridge within the 30 miles per hour (mph) speed limit of the village, with a temporary counter monitoring traffic speed over a seven day period. A total of 75% of vehicles exceeded the speed limit. The 85%ile speed was recorded at 40 mph.

6. Conclusion

6.1 This round of surveys has been undertaken to establish a benchmark for usage of different transport modes and facilities. The identification of the emergence of particular trends will be possible following the next surveys, to be undertaken in July 2003.

Recommendation

That the results of the 2001 surveys be noted and further surveys be undertaken in 2003 to monitor changes as part of the Local Transport Plan monitoring exercise.

6781/KT

APPENDIX

Table 1: Traffic Flows: Permanent Traffic Counts (Total Flow 7 am-7 pm)

* factored from 24 hour data

Table 2: Traffic Flows: Manual Classified Counts (Total Flow 7 am-7 pm)

Table 3: Bus Patronage (7 am - 7 pm)

Table 4: Rail Patronage (7 am - 7 pm)

Table 5: Cycle and Pedestrian Usage

Table 6: Traffic Flows and Speeds, A30 West of Stockbridge