Contact: Jonathan Crabb, ext 6047

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides an update on the transport monitoring undertaken for the South West Hampshire Transportation strategy (SWHT) for the purposes of monitoring the Road Traffic Reduction Act (RTRA) and Local Transport Plan (LTP).

2. Introduction

2.1 Strategies to monitor the impact of measures included in SWHT are a requirement of the LTP submitted to Government in July 2000 and will be an important way of assessing the impact of the overall strategy. Such monitoring is also a statutory requirement of the RTRA 1997 which stipulates the assessment of current and forecast traffic levels for purposes of reducing these or the rate of traffic growth. Transport monitoring and evaluation is an essential element of the ongoing consideration of transport issues in the SWHT area and will play a fundamental role in the future direction of the strategy. It is important to collect sound base data upon which to judge the success of the strategy proposals and fully inform the decision-making process.

2.2 The monitoring strategy has been designed in a way that facilitates the assessment of the SWHT programme against the targets set for the strategy.

2.3 The LTP and RTRA both require clear indications of how transport investment is influencing travel patterns and reducing the number of journeys made by car. To achieve this, the monitoring strategy already established will be developed to cover all modes and related activities.

2.4 The report summarises the approach to biennial cordon count surveys undertaken for the first time in November 1999 and repeated in November 2001 which complement the TRANSPOL survey findings. The biennial strategy monitoring will be undertaken again in September 2003.

2.5 The TRANSPOL travel attitude surveys were previously reported to the Panel in October 2000 and will be repeated in 2005.

3. Results of the 2001 Biennial Strategy Monitoring Programme

3.1 The first round of monitoring at cordon count points to collect base data for SWHT took place in November 1999. Data from permanent automatic counters and manual classified counts was collected at a cordon of sites across the SWHT area that took account of the findings of local and strategic studies within the area. Manual surveys provide more detailed information about the split between light and heavy goods vehicles as well as numbers of cars, cycles and buses.

Surveys Undertaken

3.2 A range of sources was used to provide information, including the following:

(i) Road traffic counts were carried out at several sites in the SWHT area. Where appropriate equipment exists, automatic counts were carried out, supplemented by manual classified counts. In addition, some vehicle occupancy counts were made to assess how vehicles are being used.

(ii) The number of bus users was obtained by counting people boarding and alighting from buses at selected locations.

(iii) Counts were made of the numbers of people boarding and alighting from trains at Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway, Totton, Romsey, Netley, Hamble and Bursledon rail stations. In addition the number of cycles parked at stations was recorded.

(iv) Cycle counts were undertaken at selected locations.

(v) Pedestrian flows were measured at key locations.

(vi) The number of heavy commercial vehicles was observed through manual classified count surveys.

(vii) Interview surveys of pedestrians in the shopping centres of Romsey and Eastleigh provided valuable insight into local trips in the car.

Traffic Flows

3.3 The location of the survey sites in SWHT are shown in Figure1,attached. The following tables show the traffic flows recorded at each survey site in 1999 and 2001.

Table 1: Permanent Count Site Traffic Data (AADT)

Table 2: Morning Peak Flows (8 to 9 am)

(manual classified count data, 12 hour two-way flows)

Table 3: Daily Totals (7 am to 7 pm)

(manual classified count data, 12 hour two-way flows)

Table 4: Vehicle Occupancy at Selected Locations

Bus Passengers

3.4 The surveys of bus services provided the following results:

Table 5: Number of Passengers

(two-way count, 12 hour period)

Rail Data

3.5 The surveys of rail services provided the following results:

Table 6: Rail Passengers

(two-way count, 12 hour period)

Table 7: Cycle Carriage on Trains

(12 hour period, cyclists included in Table 6)

Cycling

3.6 The surveys provided the following results:

Table 8: Cycle Flows at Cordon Sites

(two-way count, 12 hour period)

Pedestrians

3.7 The surveys provided the following results:

Table 9 Pedestrian Flows at Cordon Sites

(two-way flow, 12 hour period)

Heavy Commercial Vehicles

3.8 The surveys provided the following results:

Table 10: Heavy Commercial Vehicles as Proportion of Total Traffic Flow

(two-way count, 12 hour period)

Town Centre Interviews

3.9 Interview surveys of pedestrians in the shopping centres of Romsey and Eastleigh provided a valuable insight into local trips.

Results for Romsey

Modal Split Journey Purpose

Route Description/Destination

Results for Eastleigh

Modal Split Journey Purpose

Route Description/Destination

3.10 Arrivals in each town were evenly divided across all major access routes to the towns, with the car parks at the main retail outlets being most popular for car drivers.

3.11 The bus results highlight that Solent Blue Line Route 15 into Romsey and Route 48 into Eastleigh carried 31% and 50% of bus passengers into the respective town centres. Both of these routes are the subject of a Quality Bus Partnership.

3.12 In Romsey, the majority (68%) had arrived by car, with 6% arriving by bus, 0.5% by train, 3% by bike and 14% on foot. The majority (56%) of journeys were for shopping. At Eastleigh fewer arrivals were by car (58%), with more by bus (21%). Arrivals in each town were evenly divided across all major access routes to the towns, with the car parks at the main retail outlets being the most popular for car drivers.

4. Other Issues

4.1 Freight movement is a particular issue of concern in certain parts of the SWHT area. A partnership will be developed with the Freight Transport Association to look at heavy vehicle movements through local communities. Particular data can be collected regarding vehicle routing, loads and ownership.

4.2 Air quality data collected by the district councils from monitoring stations located in the area will be incorporated within future monitoring reports.

4.3 To develop a comprehensive monitoring approach requires input not only from the County and Borough Councils and the listed above, but also from public transport operators, local cycling groups and other special interest groups.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The basis exists for a robust and comprehensive monitoring strategy to cover the SWHT area which fulfils the obligations under the RTRA and LTP. Both require widespread partnership working to assess how transport strategies are performing against their objectives and targets. Significant resources will be required to support a monitoring strategy to involve a range of stakeholders and data sources.

Recommendation

That the results of the 2001 South West Hampshire Transportation Strategy Monitoring be noted.

6989/JC