Archived decisions

Contact: Andy Wren, ext 7500 email: [email protected] email: @hants.gov.uk

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out progress to date 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 The main aim of MIRACLES is to introduce integrated demonstration projects to reduce transport related impacts at the local level, particularly congestion and pollution in Winchester city centre. This has been achieved through improving accessibility to the city centre via sustainable transport modes, reducing the emissions of vehicles currently operating within the city centre and promoting and assisting a shift to low-emission vehicles for fleet and private vehicles.

2.3 Winchester's involvement in MIRACLES commenced in February 2002 to run for four years and 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.

2.4 The importance of MIRACLES in Winchester was highlighted by the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), in November 2003, for the city centre. This designation followed air quality modelling, which was part funded by MIRACLES. The results of this survey advised that standards of air quality were not being met in the City, particularly with regard to Nitrogen Dioxide, with the main sources of the pollutants being road traffic. It was concluded that the MIRACLES initiatives are "crucially important if Government standards are to be met". Following the declaration of an AQMA, an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) has to be submitted, and MIRACLES has provided a significant input into the development of this plan. MIRACLES also builds on the work of the Winchester Movement and Access Plan and the Clear Zones initiative, which set out objectives for transport within the City, and have also contributed to the development of the AQAP.

3. Funding

3.1 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, £880,000 in 2003/04 and £100,000 in 2004/05 were made.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation

4.1 The project has a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation programme that is addressing the impact of the measures being trialled in Winchester against a series of targets for the applications being demonstrated. The work is being undertaken by project partners, the Transportation Research Group at the University of Southampton.

4.2 Baseline surveys were carried out in 2003 and 2005, involving 16,000 households each time, from which the impacts of the project will be assessed. A more detailed travel diary was completed in October 2003 and October 2004, by a panel of 1,650 respondents selected from the baseline survey. A series of surveys, questionnaires, and data collection exercises are taking place, which focus on individual workpackages both to assist in the development of the initiatives, and to evaluate their effect.

4.3 The results and outcomes of the project will be presented in a final evaluation report, to be produced at the end of 2005. The outcomes of the project will then be used to provide advice and guidance to other cities throughout Hampshire, the UK and Europe.

5. Project Progress

5.1 There are 13 separate measures being implemented within Winchester contained within eight work packages. These work packages (WP) are as follows:

_ WP5 - Emissions Monitoring and Reductions

_ WP6 - Environmental Parking Strategy

_ WP7 - Public Transport Services and Information

_ WP8 - Bikeabout and Cycling

_ WP9 - Freight Efficiency

_ WP10 - Community Involvement, Awareness and Publicity

_ WP11 - Network Management and Traveller Information

_ WP12 - Cleaner Fleet and Private Vehicles

5.2 During the first three years of the project significant progress has been made in developing and implementing this package of schemes. A description of progress on the work is as follows.

6. Emissions Monitoring

6.1 The aim of this measure is to reduce the number of poorly maintained vehicles in Winchester, thereby reducing the level of emissions and pollution. Innovative remote sensing equipment has been developed for this task, and a number of technical issues had to be overcome during production. It is now fully operational and, since August 2005, emissions have been monitored from traffic entering the city on a number of arterial routes, creating a database of vehicle emissions and characteristics. This database will identify the level of "gross-polluting" vehicles entering the city, and will be used to develop an appropriate strategy to reduce these numbers.

7. Environmental Parking Strategy

7.1 An environmental parking strategy was developed by the project and adopted by Winchester City Council in May 2003. The aim of the strategy is to influence those considering the purchase of a new vehicle to opt for a 'low emission' model. As such, significant discounts are being provided on the cost of Winchester City Council season tickets. These discounts relate to the vehicle road fund license categories, which are based on the level of CO₂/km emitted by the vehicles. For owners of vehicles in the cleanest two categories, discounts of 50% and 75% are available on the cost of a season ticket. As an added incentive, for owners of electric or hybrid vehicles, free season tickets are being provided through the MIRACLES Project. The scheme was officially launched in September 2004, and has generated many enquiries, with 25 owners already benefiting from discounted or free permits. In addition, city-centre season ticket holders were offered a free trial of Park and Ride, in order to encourage a move out of town to the Park and Ride facility. This proved very popular, with 51 owners taking up the free trial, and 47 of these converting to Park and Ride use.

8. Public Transport Services and Information

8.1 The Quality Bus Partnership covering Services 1, 5 and Park and Ride is continuing successfully, with improvements to infrastructure, frequency, and information. Patronage for the three routes has increased 6% overall since September 2003, with service 5 seeing an increase of 19%. Overall satisfaction of the services has also increased.

9. Cycling Measures

9.1 The 'Bikeabout' (free cycle loan) scheme has been operating since June 2004. The aim of Bikeabout is to bring about a shift from modes other than walking and public transport, and to increase public acceptance of cycling.

9.2 Bikeabout currently operates from two sites, and has a total of 50 bicycles available for loan. The first site is at University College Winchester, allowing access by students and staff. The second site is located close to the railway station, thereby involving commuters, as well as local residents and visitors. Users pay a one-off registration fee, and can then borrow a bicycle as often as they like, at no additional charge, for up to 24 hours. A further compound has been installed at Park and Ride and an additional node is to be opened at the Tourist Information Centre in October 2005. The scheme has proved very popular, with over 170 members, and is currently operating at full capacity.

10. Freight Efficiency

10.1 A new Winchester Freight Map was produced to help road freight operators and drivers of commercial vehicles find the most appropriate routes to the main freight delivery destinations in Winchester. This map includes vehicular restrictions and highlights advisory routes. This has been distributed, as required, since September 2004.

10.2 A partnership has been developed with a local recycling collection company called Dove Recycling. MIRACLES has loaned an electric battery powered van to Dove Recycling, in order for them to carry out their collections of recyclable waste in the city in a more environmentally friendly way. Dove have been so pleased with the van and the feedback from customers that they are now looking to purchase their own electric vehicle to continue this service.

11. Community Involvement, Awareness and Publicity

11.1 Information has continued to be disseminated through media such as leaflets, posters, website, newspaper advertisements and press releases. The dissemination strategy has generated a good level of coverage of the Project, with initiatives being reported by several newspapers, radio and television stations.

11.2 MIRACLES has supported Winchester Bike week and Alternative Transport day events for the past three years, and has exhibited at various events, including a number of local conferences. Awareness of the project is also raised through regular surveys and consultation exercises.

11.3 MIRACLES continues to work closely with Winchester City Council on the development of the AQAP.

11.4 A pollution forecasting model has been developed for MIRACLES by the National Meteorological Office. This will be used to provide forecasts of air quality via Hantsweb website, and the ROMANSE online website, as well as through other media such as radio. It will also highlight the benefits of clean engines and improved air quality. The information can also be transferred to roadside Variable Message Signs (VMS), which have been introduced by the project.

12. Network Management and Traveller Information

12.1 This work package aims to improve the quality and quantity of traveller information available for all modes, including car travel, in order to allow users to make informed transport decisions, and to improve management of the transport network.

12.2 Network management has been improved through the introduction of an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. This identifies vehicles entering the city area, and at various points along their journey into and through the city. This information enables journey time data to be calculated in real-time for both public and private transport. Journey time information from this system is now being displayed on four new Variable Message Signs, located on strategic routes entering the city, which can also be used to advise drivers about incidents or delays ahead and air quality problems.

12.3 Four new electronic information kiosks were installed at various sites around the city at the end of September 2004. These provide public transport, journey planning and local information.

12.4 Bus departure information displays were installed at the bus station and railway station, improving information for passengers.

12.5 Three large information display screens have been installed at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester City Council reception and Hampshire County Council. They will provide real-time information on air quality, bus and train departures, and will be linked to the ANPR System to provide real-time journey information for strategic routes out of the city.

13. Clean Fleet and Private Vehicles

13.1 Various measures have been implemented to reduce the level of emissions from the local bus fleet and from Hampshire County Council fleet vehicles. The project also hopes to influence private businesses in their fleet purchasing decisions.

13.2 Working with Stagecoach through the Quality Bus Partnership, 13 new buses were purchased for Services 1 and 5. These buses use state-of-the-art engine technology to deliver improvements in the emissions performance of diesel-fuel buses serving Winchester.

13.3 A programme has been underway since May 2004, to fit new environmentally friendly engines, exhaust after-treatments and particulate traps to mid-life buses operating in the city, to make the emissions as clean as possible. Once complete, this will result in Winchester having one of the cleanest bus fleets in Europe. Stagecoach have taken the opportunity to update other aspects of the buses concerned, providing a better travelling environment for the passengers.

13.4 Through MIRACLES the County Council joined the `Motorvate' scheme in March 2004, and benchmarking of selected fleet vehicles was carried out. The County Council has since met the target of 12% reduction of CO2 from these vehicles, and has reduced fuel consumption by 3%. Data is awaited on mileage.

13.5 A Toyota Prius hybrid, Honda Civic hybrid, Volvo S40 LPG/petrol duel fuel, Vauxhall Zafira LPG/petrol duel fuel, and two Citroen Berlingo electric vans were purchased by the MIRACLES Project. Since December 2003 these vehicles have been loaned to local businesses, for up to one month, in order to break down barriers and increase exposure to alternative fuel vehicles. Over seven year's worth of data has now been generated from these trials, and feedback from users has been very favourable. Several users are now examining whether to purchase or convert to alternative fuel vehicles for their businesses.

14. Summary

14.1 Within the MIRACLES Project, the use of technological innovation in conjunction with transport policy, to reduce energy consumption, congestion, noise and air pollution, is an ambitious approach. The implementation of schemes aimed at reducing the environmental impact of transport, increasing accessibility to the urban area and improving economic efficiency through better transport management, have been taking place throughout the life of the project.

14.2 The implementation stage of the Project is now almost complete and significant evaluation work has been taking place in order to evaluate the impacts of the initiatives and provide guidance for future work. The results from the evaluation work are currently being analysed, and a full report on these and overall impact of the project will be made in the coming months.

15. Impact Assessments

15.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has not been undertaken.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

661/ACW