Archived decisions

Contact: Andy Wren, ext 7500 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out progress made in developing and implementing the MIRACLES Project. Members are asked to note progress.

2. Background

2.1 Winchester is one of 19 cities throughout Europe where integrated measures to overcome the environmental problems caused by traffic congestion are to be demonstrated and evaluated. This work has been part funded by the European Union under the CIVITAS (CIty VITality Sustainability) programme, which was developed to implement bold, innovative and integrated action for the radical improvement of urban transport. The MIRACLES project (Multi Initiatives for Rationalised Accessibility and Clean Liveable EnvironmentS) was conceived under this CIVITAS initiative.

2.2 Winchester's involvement in MIRACLES commenced in February 2002, to run for four years. MIRACLES also involves the cities of Rome, Cork and Barcelona. Stakeholders in the project include the County Council, Winchester City Council, the University of Southampton, Atkins, the Meteorological Office and Stagecoach. Regular consultation is also being carried out with the Winchester Commuter Forum and Winchester Freight Forum. The main aim is to introduce integrated demonstration projects to improve energy efficient transport and encourage a shift from motorised to non-motorised transport, thereby reducing emissions and improving air quality. The MIRACLES project builds on the work of the Winchester Movement and Access Plan and the Clear Zones initiative. A report setting out the aims and objectives of the project was presented to the WMAP joint Members panel on 4 March 2003. The outcomes of the project will be used to provide advice and guidance to other cities throughout Europe.

2.3 The County Council's allocation from the EU within the MIRACLES project is €1.2 million (approximately £740,000). In addition, funding allocations for MIRACLES from the Local Transport Plan settlements of £240,000 in 2002/03 and £880,000 in 2003/04 have been made. On 14 January 2003 the Executive Member for the Environment gave approval to a series of measures funded from the 2002/03 capital programme involving the improvement of bus service quality and information, the reduction of emissions from bus engines and the purchase of alternative fuelled vehicles to be trialled with local businesses. There are 13 separate measures being implemented within Winchester contained within eight work packages. A description of the work is as follows.

3. City Centre Clean Zone

3.1 The aim of this measure is to reduce the number of poorly maintained vehicles in Winchester. Studies have shown that 10% of vehicles contribute 50% of emissions in urban areas. As part of reducing emissions and promoting a city centre clean-zone, it is proposed to monitor exhaust emissions from traffic entering the city on a number of arterial routes.

3.2 Using portable remote sensing equipment located at the roadside, individual vehicle emissions and vehicle characteristic data will be recorded as they pass by the site. The project proposes to develop a database that will be used to identify "gross-polluting" vehicles and subsequently to provide drivers with information and advice on maintenance, and ultimately conduct standard roadside emissions checks in association with the Vehicle Standards Agency. Detailed discussions have been held with potential suppliers of this leading-edge equipment and it is anticipated that an order will be placed in the Autumn.

3.3 This measure will contribute to the development of policy advice and enforcement strategies, aimed at reducing emissions from the vehicle fleet. It is strongly linked to the environmentally linked parking changes and awareness measures considered below.

4. Flexible Parking Policies and Environmentally Linked Charges

4.1 The aim of this measure is to demonstrate that both policy and technology can be used to encourage the take-up of energy efficient vehicles in Winchester, contributing to an overall reduction in emissions in the city centre. It is considered that data collection from this trial will assist the development of future parking policies, within the lifetime of the project and afterwards.

4.2 It is proposed to raise awareness of the benefits of 'clean' vehicles and provide an incentive for those considering the purchase of an environmentally friendly vehicle. To produce significant improvements in vehicle emissions it is also necessary to reduce the number of high polluting vehicles entering the city centre. The strategy will therefore need to be both highly visible and generate positive publicity, provide real benefits to owners of 'clean' vehicles, and promote the Park and Ride sites as viable alternatives for those with high polluting vehicles. This work will be carried out in conjunction with measures to monitor vehicle emissions to reduce the number of high polluting vehicles in the city.

4.3 To influence those considering the purchase of 'clean' vehicles a significant discount on parking is proposed. Those with electric vehicles would be offered free on and off-street parking. Due to the very low numbers of vehicles within this category the costs should be minimal, however, this would generate high publicity for the campaign and will help to highlight the benefits of alternative fuels.

4.4 For those with very clean vehicles in either AA or AAA vehicle road fund licence categories a discount of 50% would be offered for both season ticket holders and short-stay car park users, following registration of vehicle details.

4.5 For the purpose of this trial the reduced cost of parking would be limited to those car parks which have been converted to 'Pay on Foot'. This would allow owners to be issued with a smart card, which for short-stay parking will be programmed to provide a discount at the pay-point. Alternatively, season ticket holders will pay a reduced charge on purchase of their card.

4.6 This work will be carried out in conjunction with measures to monitor vehicle emissions to reduce the number of 'high polluting' vehicles within the city.

5. Improving Bus Service Quality and Information

5.1 Within this work package there are two measures that improve bus service quality and the information provided to travellers. As part of a Quality Bus Partnership between the County Council, City Council and Stagecoach the parties are developing high quality, reliable bus services with reduced emissions. This measure has introduced:

(i) 76 new modular bus stop flags and poles on services 1 and 5 in the city, identifying the bus stop name, service numbers, low floor bus services, fare information and the Traveline telephone number;

(ii) new stop specific timetables and route maps covering services 1 and 5 in the city; and to be introduced in October 2003;

(iii) an innovative urban public transport map providing information on bus services in the city centre;

(iv) 12 new, high quality, easy-access low floor buses, which will be branded for Services 1 and 5;

(v) a trial increase in frequency on Service 5 to every ten minutes;

(vi) the training of bus drivers to NVQ standard, and

(vii) improvements in integration between bus and rail, including ticketing initiatives.

These improvements will contribute to the project's aim of increasing bus patronage by 8% and an overall improvement in the satisfaction of public transport users.

6. New Cycling Opportunities

6.1 Cycling opportunities will be promoted to assist WMAP with its goal of quadrupling cycling by 2012 (compared to the 1996 base). The aim of this measure is to stimulate the use of sustainable transport for residents and visitors by increasing the level of cycling in Winchester, both in terms of modal split and the number of journeys being made by bicycle.

6.2 Following a user survey undertaken in May 2003, it is planned to introduce a pilot bike-about (cycle hire) scheme with 50 bicycles. This scheme will be developed in cooperation with local educational establishments and offer users access to bicycles to undertake various journeys around the city centre. Further opportunities involving commuters, to bring about a modal shift from modes other than walking and public transport, will be explored. The following key nodes have been identified:

(i) King Alfred's College;

(ii) West Downs Student Village, Romsey Road & Erasmus Park;

(iii) Winchester railway station; and

(iv) City Centre.

6.3 To encourage the use of bike-about scheme and cycling in Winchester, new route signing and information will be introduced and a new cycle map developed and made available. Additional cycle parking is also being provided by Winchester City Council.

7. New Concepts for the Distribution of Goods

7.1 Through liaison with the Winchester Freight Forum a coordinated urban delivery service is to be designed to raise the efficiency of freight deliveries in Winchester, and so improve energy efficiency and reduce overall emissions in the city centre.

7.2 Detailed surveys of over 450 shops and businesses in Winchester examined freight patterns and developed an understanding of the problems encountered. It is proposed to pilot a system based on an unattended delivery solution whereby distributors, parcel carriers and field support organisation can deliver non-perishable goods to a secure locker-bank logistics system. The system will enable deliveries to be made outside normal opening hours, reducing the impact of peak-hour loading restrictions.

7.3 A locker-bank consists of several locker-doors of different sizes connected to an intelligent central console, which in turn is connected, via a communication network, to a central management server. The lockers are accessed using electronic codes which can be entered through a key pad or scanned through a bar code reader. Possible trial locations include City Council car parks (including park and ride) and the Romsey Road corridor, in conjunction with major employers. Links to a pilot distribution centre and the use of electric vehicles are also being considered.

7.4 A new freight map covering the whole city is also being designed to help road freight operators and derivers of commercial vehicles find the most appropriate routes to the main freight delivery destinations in Winchester. Trading estates, commercial and industrial areas, shopping centres and retail superstores will be identified, together with the current road hierarchy, using national classifications and advisory routes. Restrictions on vehicle weight, height and width and other relevant access restrictions will also be included to provide as comprehensive a picture as possible to a driver who is unfamiliar with the local highway network.

8. Innovative Soft Measure and Awareness Programmes

8.1 Awareness and education form the hub of any programme of changes. The MIRACLES project will introduce a community involvement programme building on existing campaigns, such as the County Council's HEADSTART and Central Government's 'Are you doing your bit? ', both of which aim to raise awareness of sustainable travel. Information will be disseminated through a media and public relations strategy, consultation exercises and participation in events. The project exhibited at, the Winchester Bike Week in June, providing information on the project and at the Winchester Alternative Transport Day in September where a Citroën electric van, a Volvo bi-fuel car and a prototype bike-about bicycle were on public display.

8.2 The benefits of clean engines and improved air quality will also be highlighted. This will be supported by a pollution forecasting model, developed by the national meteorological centre, which will be enhanced to provide forecasts of air quality via the ROMANSE on-line web-site and other media such as radio. The information will also be transferred to roadside Variable Message Signs (VMS) also to be introduced by the project.

9. Improved Traveller Information Systems and Network Management

9.1 Improved multi-modal traveller information is to be provided in the form of large information displays located in the offices of two large employers on Romsey Road. These will give details of real-time information on air quality, bus and train departures, and journey times on strategic routes out of the city. A new bus departure information system and four new electronic information kiosks will be installed. Four VMS will be installed on strategic routes entering the city, displaying air quality and travel, and information.

9.2 Network management has been improved through the introduction of the first phase of an Automatic Number Place Recognition (ANPR) system that enables journey time data to be collected in real-time for both public and private transport.

10. Clean Public and Private Fleets

10.1 There are three measures to be taken, which will result in:

(i) cleaner buses being used on the network;

(ii) clean technology fleet vehicles being used by the County and City Councils and private businesses; and

(iii) a clean fuel support service being established.

10.2 Working with Stagecoach through the Quality Bus Partnership, new buses will be introduced in October 2003 that use state-of-the-art technology to deliver improvements in the emissions performance of diesel-fuel buses serving Winchester. Mid-life buses already operating in the city will be fitted with new, more environmentally friendly, engines and particulate traps and exhaust oxidisers to make the emissions as clean as possible.

10.3 The County Council and Winchester City Council are to review the cost-effectiveness and operational differences of a range of clean technology vehicles, and develop a path to the introduction of new clean engines as part of their fleet renewal programmes. Seven liquid petroleum gas (LPG) powered vehicle and 30 Euro IV diesel cars were recently introduced as part of the replacing of County Council's Network Management fleet. The MIRACLES Project will monitor the use of the LPG powered vehicles and draw comparisons with the other vehicles, with the aim of developing a business case to support the implementation of clean vehicles.

10.4 The clean fuel support service attempts to break down current barriers and increase exposure to the use of alternative fuel vehicles by businesses. A range of vehicles, with different types of clean engines has been purchased. These vehicles will be loaned to businesses for up to one month. Assistance and information will also be supplied to develop business cases for the conversion/replacement of existing fleet stocks.

11. Summary

11.1 The implementation of the various measures identified as part of the MIRACLES project is planned over the next eighteen months. The use of technological innovation in conjunction with transport policy, to reduce energy consumption, congestion and noise and air pollution, is an ambitious approach.

11.2 Schemes aimed at reducing the environmental impact of transport, increasing accessibility to the urban area and improving economic efficiency through better transport management, will be implemented throughout this period and reports on progress will be made.

Recommendation

That this report be noted and regular progress reports be presented to the Winchester Highway Management Advisory Panel.

8308/ACW