Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER-ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE RAPID TRANSIT

A3 PORTSMOUTH-WATERLOOVILLE-HORNDEAN

PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY CORRIDOR

SECTION 3 WATERLOOVILLE (Advanced works only)

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2004

COMPLETION DATE:

APRIL 2005

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04 AND 2004/05

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at June 03

(at June 03

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Advanced construction

2,372

2,372

Fees

446

446

2,818

2,818

Total

2,818

2,818

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(b) Capital Programme Major Scheme Funding

2,818

2,818

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

Nil

TOTAL

2,818

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

68

0.070

TOTAL net expenditure

69

0.072

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. This will help relieve and supplement the existing road network, provide improved accessibility and aid economic regeneration. 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 was approved in November 2003 and links Sections 1 and 2b to create a single coherent stretch of the corridor approximately 3 kilometres in length. Section 3 is the proposals for Waterloville town centre, which is the main destination point for this part of the route.

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

This project appraisal is only for the advanced works associated with the town centre proposals for Section 3 (see attached location plan). It does not cover the actual main proposals for the town centre since these have yet to be concluded and will be the subject of a separate project appraisal in 2004.

The investigations, consultations and design so far have identified areas of advanced works that are common to the alternative proposals that are being ratified for the town centre. These must be carried out before the actual main works can take place and they require significant time to be completed. Therefore to avoid a corresponding delay to the main works approval is being sought to allow the advanced works to be undertaken before the final proposals have been approved.

The advanced works encompassed in this project appraisal would be needed for any significant changes to Waterlooville town centre and there is now great expectation for an improvement scheme here. Now that major scheme funding has been granted for the project by the Department for Transport there is a time-limited, not to be repeated opportunity to carryout such a scheme. Approving the advanced works will allow this opportunity to be taken. Failure to undertake this work as proposed will delay the main works, jeopardise the funding available and so the ability to do the main works in this section.

The estimated cost to undertake these works was included in the major scheme bid and so this is an expected part of the overall scheme costs. The advanced works covered by this project appraisal are:

(i) The excavation, diversion and relaying of public utility company (PU) underground services that would clash with the new layout. This is a very common occurrence with widening and major reconstruction work as required in the town centre, with many PU companies affected. While the design has been tailored to minimise these costs they can be expensive, especially BT who has a major national fibre optic service within the scope of the works.

PU Company Estimated Diversion Cost

(£000)

BT £947

Scottish and Southern Energy £40

Scottish and Southern Energy (trees) £87

Southern Water £3

Southern Water (trees) £25

NTL £15

Transco(trees) £18

Portsmouth Water £59

Southern Electric £75

TOTAL £1,269

The estimates shown are provided by the PU companies and if necessary are subject to variation if the final cost is different. The items for `trees' refer to diversions to allow the planting of trees as part of the final design.

(ii) Accommodation works are being agreed with residents along the west side of the A3 at Forest End to overcome problems associated with existing on-road parking and bus lane proposals. This area is an approach to a key junction on the A3 and so of high importance for bus priority measures. The existing parking must be managed and reduced to create the space for bus priority and the advanced provision of off road parking will clear the road space ready for the main works. Up to 18 properties are affected and the maximum estimated cost of the accommodation works is £100,000.

(iii) The existing junction from St George's Walk into Maurepas Way is a left only turn, which forces right turning buses to u-turn at the Maurepas Way/Hambledon Road roundabout junction. This generates `dead-run' time for services and significant delays at peak times. The creation of a right turn facility here for buses only is a feature independent of the town centre proposals and of immediate benefit to the A3 services. This improvement will deliver a significant proportion of the time savings for the route. The estimated construction cost of this feature is £1,003,000, which allows for the potential impact to the supporting earth embankment and pedestrian subway beneath.

(iv) Ancillary works such as new street lighting, drainage improvements, CCTV and RTPI that are already needed and common to any proposals that will be carried out in the town centre.

The attached location plan shows the extent of both Section 3 and the proposed advanced works. The design adheres to national and Hampshire County Council standards and specifications.

The estimated cost for Section 3 is being managed to complement the estimated budget included in the major scheme bid. While the main works are still being finalised the current estimated costs of the various elements of Section 3 are:

Advanced Works (£000)

Item

Works

Fees

Total

PU diversions and general fees (3 Gen)

1,269

337

1,606

Accommodation works (3a)

100

30

130

Right turn junction (3d)

1,003

79

1,082

Total

2,372

446

2,818

Section 3 Main Works

Item

Works

Fees

Total

General investigation, consultation and design (3 Gen)

499

662

1,161

Forest End (3a)

574

47

621

Maurepas Way Roundabout (3b)

232

47

279

Town Centre (3c)

2,269

378

2,647

Total

3,574

982

4,708

Section 3 Waterlooville TOTAL

5,946

1,428

7,526

The fees shown for the advanced works include a proportion associated with the development of the main works they link to. The cost estimating and expenditure for Section 3 is being managed along with those of the rest of the project to meet the funding provided by the major scheme bid. Refer to the appendix for summary details.

Environmental Impact

The proposed advanced works will make negligible changes to the existing street layout and operation and will pave the way for the improvements that will be provided with the main works.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

The PU diversions have been determined through the NRSWA procedure. Accommodation works to property adjoining the A3 is permitted development that does not require planning permission. A Traffic Regulation Order is required to restrict the new right turn to buses only and consultation to date, including the local Member and Police, has not generated any objection. Following approval to proceed the formal advertisement and notice will be given, any objections received and reviewed and the Order resolved before construction is started.

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.

The Town Centre Consultative Panel has assisted for over two years in the investigation, development and identification of Section 3 and helped determine the principles used for the main scheme proposals. It now continues this support as the details of the proposals are finalised. The Town Centre Manager is a member of the panel and acts as a liaison for local businesses.

All residents and businesses are being consulted about the final design although the PU diversions are only a consequence of this and of no real material impact to either. Initial public consultation about the main proposals found 70% support for the concept, and further consultation about the detailed proposals will take place in early 2004. Residents have been consulted extensively about the off-road parking accommodation works and these cannot be carried out without the property owners support. The bus only right turn does not affect any property directly and is the creation of a new manoeuvre rather than a new restriction.

Newsletters have been used to inform and update local residents and businesses during the construction phase and this will be continued for Section 3.

Local Members' View

The proposals for Section 3 affect the wards of two local Members, Councillors McIntosh and Beagley; they are actively involved in the project development and the Town Centre Consultative Panel. They both support the principles of the proposed improvements and continue to be consulted as the main works proposals are finalised.

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 in the main works. The advanced works have a very limited impact to the existing layout but will include any requirements that have already been established from the design of previous sections.

Maintenance Implications

Structural carriageway repairs will form part of the main works and upgraded street lighting will be carried out as part of the advanced works.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The advanced works will have little impact on public safety but will prepare the area for the improvements that will be included with the main works.

The Police have 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 transportation 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.

Originally the proposals for the town centre were to redirect all buses from London Road South to the adjacent Swiss Road. However, this would result in the lose of over half of the car parking area here, which ASDA consider most valuable to vulnerable customers. Since ASDA own the lease to this land it is not possible to proceed without their agreement and it has not been possible to find alternative parking of the same quality in lieu of what would be removed. Therefore while this is shown as the preferred layout in the Havant Local Plan it cannot be delivered at this time.

All bus services could be removed from London Road south by diverting them via Stakes Hill Road and Rockville Drive. However the Town Centre Panel consider this an undesirable junction to retain, especially since it would require an area of shared bus and pedestrian use

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

The Integrated A3 Bus Priority Corridor

Project Expenditure and Cost Estimate Monitoring

Nov-03

Expenditure to date (£000)

Section

1999/00

2000/01

2001/02

2002/03

Total

1 Widley to Purbrook

73

575

559

2,897

4,104

2a Purbrook Village

0

0

28

211

239

2b Purbrook to Waterlooville

0

29

50

1,061

1,140

3 Waterlooville Town Centre

0

3

39

110

152

4 Waterlooville to Cowplain

0

0

0

2

2

5 Cowplain to Horndean

0

0

0

2

2

Total

73

607

676

4,283

5,639

Estimated costs (£000)

Section

2003/04

2004/05

2005/06

2006/07

Total

1 Widley to Purbrook

366

115

0

0

481

2a Purbrook Village

318

1,216

40

0

1574

2b Purbrook to Waterlooville

3,246

600

458

0

4,304

3 Waterlooville Town Centre

446

4,586

2,242

100

7,374

4 Waterlooville to Cowplain

22

532

2,529

2,341

5,424

5 Cowplain to Horndean

33

410

1,390

4,110

5,943

Total

4,431

7,459

6,659

6,551

25,100

PROJECT TOTAL

30,739