Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER-POLICY AND RESOURCES

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT

A3 PORTSMOUTH-WATERLOOVILLE-HORNDEAN

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY CORRIDOR

SECTION 2A PURBROOK VILLAGE

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2004

COMPLETION DATE:

JULY 2004

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Jun 03

(at Jun 03

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Section 2a

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

1,338

1,338

Fees

475

475

1,813

1,813

Section 2b (Updated from September 2002)

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

4,680

4,680

Fees

764

764

5,444

5,444

Section 2(a+b) Total

7,257

7,257

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme Integrated Block Allocation

1,370

(b) Capital Programme Major Scheme Funding

5,887

7,257

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

Nil

TOTAL

7,257

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

(Network Management to confirm)

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1

0.002

Capital charges

175

0.188

TOTAL net expenditure

176

0.190

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The local and national need to develop sustainable transport and reduce and manage traffic growth has created a clear demand for public transport alternatives to car and road travel. Transportation studies and investigations have resulted in the South Hampshire Rapid Transit (SHRT) network, which is a system of public transport schemes for southern Hampshire to help relieve and supplement the existing road network. The A3 corridor has been identified by SHRT as a route requiring a high quality public transport service to help manage travel demand in line with corporate strategy aims.

Section 1, Widley to Purbrook, of the A3 corridor was approved by the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 22 January 2001, together with the proposal to use an innovative Term Contract to procure the construction of all sections of the route. The details of the Project Term Contract were approved by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources in January 2002 and the contract was subsequently let to Dyer and Butler. The project appraisal for Section 2b, Purbrook to Waterlooville, was approved on 12 September 2002, the advanced diversionary works started in March 2003 and the main works in June 2003. Section 2a Purbrook links Sections 1 and 2b to create a single coherent stretch of the corridor approximately 3 kilometres in length.

The A3 corridor project and SHRT have recently been drawn under the larger `umbrella' of Solent Transport, which is promoting the development and integration of public transport over the whole south Hampshire area.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The promotion and enhancement of public transport is one of the key methods of achieving a sustainable transport network, which is one of the founding principles of the Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport. The creation of improved, high quality bus services and infrastructure is identified in the County Council's Road Traffic Reduction Act Report 2000 as the type of measure necessary to achieve this objective.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

Section 2a of the A3 corridor starts at the Ladybridge Road roundabout junction in Purbrook Village and extends approximately 500 metres north to the village boundary. Purbrook is a natural bottleneck for the A3, where all existing spare carriageway space is well used for on-road parking by local residents, traders and their customers. There is no scope to reallocate this space to buses without drastically affecting the amenity and viability of local residents and traders. Therefore the proposal focuses on improving the facilities for pedestrians and waiting passengers, improving the general street environment and rationalising the current on-road parking and deliveries. Traffic management north of the village (a traffic signal `bus gate') provides the main priority measures for bus services. The proposals consist of the following general elements:

(i) widened and reconstructed footways;

(ii) new bus shelters (not full size due to the limited space available), repositioned along with the existing Pelican crossing (upgraded to a Puffin) to better complement existing accesses. To include real-time passenger information when the A3 corridor system has been established;

(iii) environmental improvements: street lighting and street furniture to complement the adjacent Conservation Area;

(iv) structural repairs and resurfacing to the carriageway;

(v) surface water drainage system improvements and SU diversions;

(vi) waiting and loading restrictions to suit the rationalised parking layout; and

(vii) improved pedestrian access via a new permitted access through The Woodman public house to the free but under-used public car park at the rear (potentially with closed circuit television (CCTV) surveillance to improve security).

The design adheres to national and Hampshire County Council standards and specifications.

Environmental Impact

The proposed works will make negligible changes to the existing street layout and operation, but the new materials, maintenance work and street furniture to complement the adjacent Conservation Area will greatly improve the overall character of Purbrook. This, combined with the clarification of the carriageway alignment and parking areas, will improve the street environment.

Land Requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory Procedures

Traffic Regulation Orders are required to create the proposed waiting and loading restrictions. Appropriate plans and details were advertised for public comment in March 2003. Significant consultation was held with local residents, businesses and the local Member to determine the proposals. While it was not possible to meet all the sometimes conflicting demands, a reasonable compromise has been proposed. Two objections were received, which are summarised along with the responses in Appendix 3, and it is proposed that the Orders are to be made under delegated powers if this Project Appraisal is approved.

Public Consultation

Regular progress reports have been made to the South East Hampshire Transportation Panel over the past three years about the principles and progress of the A3 corridor. Additional reports have been presented to the SHRT Future Developments Working Party and the Havant Highway Management Advisory Panel.

Frequent Steering Group meetings have been held with representatives from Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Havant Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire Constabulary and First (the main bus operator for the route) to discuss and develop the project proposals.

All residents and businesses fronting this section of the A3 or living locally were invited to a public exhibition of the preliminary proposals at Deverell Hall, Purbrook during three days and evenings in October 2001. This was the third in a series of exhibitions being carried out (one for each section of the route). The event was relatively well attended by approximately 60 local residents, 77% of whom were in support of the proposals.

Following on from this, meetings have been held with local residents and businesses to discuss their needs and concerns relating to the proposals and the parking and delivery requirements. It has proved very difficult to provide the footway and bus shelter improvements, carriageway realignment and rationalised parking areas without affecting some of the existing on-road parking. This has resulted in one property owner (who has no way to park off-road and no way to create off-road parking) no longer being able to park directly outside her property. On-road parking has been provided within 20 metres but this cannot be improved without removing the bus shelter and Pelican crossing improvements.

Newsletters are being used to keep individual local residents aware of what is happening and what will happen next, which include contact details for the project management and construction staff. PAWES is assisting in the newsletter delivery. A project web site has also been established, where the public can obtain information and submit email inquiries.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor McIntosh, has been involved for much of the consultation process and supports the scheme proposals. With his help meetings are being held with representatives of the local residents' group PAWES to further discuss the proposals and liaise about the progress and development of Section 2b.

Facilities for the Disabled

The local Access Group in Havant has been consulted on the principles of the project and the typical features being included. All bus stops are being upgraded to include raised kerbs for level access to buses, and an audio version of the real-time passenger information will be provided for the visually impaired. Generally, the footway surface and kerb crossings will be improved as part of the works.

Maintenance Implications

Structural carriageway repairs and upgraded street lighting are being carried out as part of the construction to avoid the need for further road works in the near future.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

In order to improve public safety all new bus shelters use clear side wall materials for conspicuity and include lighting. All materials are vandal-resistant and telephones will be included at busier stops. CCTV cameras will be used to monitor traffic conditions but can also cover the bus shelters, with a link to Havant Borough Council and Police control rooms. Design features, such as not creating new walls for people to hide and loiter behind, are being included through advice from Havant Borough Council.

The Police has been consulted regularly about the development of the project and has not raised any issues about crime and disorder.

Sustainability

The creation and enhancement of the public transport network is a key principle in delivering a sustainable transport strategy.

The A3 corridor project features as a leading highway construction scheme within Hampshire County Council's Corporate Strategy for Sustainable Development. It has developed and is employing methods of recycling existing materials in situ, waste reduction, recycling and sourcing materials locally and in an environmentally-sensitive manner.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Various options for a north-south link between Porstmouth and Horndean were studied as part of the transportation studies undertaken for the SHRT network. Neither an off-road solution nor an on-road tram-based system was very feasible and an on-road bus system with priority features using the A3 corridor was recommended as the most suitable solution.

The proposed scheme is the smaller part of the second section that goes towards the creation of a public transport corridor along the A3. It is a practical and viable solution for highway and pedestrian improvements in Purbrook that complement the other work already under way in Section 2b.

Land was safeguarded for some time along the A3 for the construction of a dual carriageway. The construction of the A3(M) has resulted in this changing to a safeguarding for public transport improvements, although this project does not include the use of any of this land.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

13/3/33 Project Files

Environment Department

Room 427