Archived decisions

                APPENDIX 4

TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS

SOUTH HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY

1. The Context

1.1 A long term transport strategy for South Hampshire is being developed. Its aim is to improve accessibility, increase quality of life and promote economic prosperity. This recognises a widespread concern that the transport system across South Hampshire needs to be improved, to tackle a previous legacy of underinvestment and continuing growth in demand for travel. It is clear from the Solent Strategic Transport Model, commissioned by the local transport authorities, that the level of demand for travel on the existing road network will cause increasing congestion by 2026. The number of car journeys is forecast to rise by 26%, with delays increasing by more than 50%.

1.2 The Local Transport Plans of the three authorities, Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth, shared a common philosophy to address the growing transport problem. This is a policy of Reduce, Manage and Invest. That is, firstly to try and tackle problems at source, for example, to tackle congestion by removing unnecessary journeys. This might be to Reduce the need to travel, by changes to travel behaviour and lifestyle. If this approach is not sufficient on its own, transport should be improved by Managing the existing networks to make best use of current road and public transport. If neither of these approaches fully address the problems then it will be necessary to Invest in new services and infrastructure.

1.3 The transport interventions that follow are consistent with this approach. Central to this thinking is the PUSH vision in seeking to concentrate development and employment around the two cities, in preference to more dispersed distribution and travel requirements.

2. The Strategy

2.1 A hierarchy has been developed to structure the definition of transport interventions, schemes and measures, which builds upon the concept of transport Hubs and Spokes. The major hubs of Southampton and Portsmouth city centres are linked to more local transport interchanges by a series of spokes, featuring high quality public transport services.

    Overall Aims

    · To enhance the economic performance of South Hampshire.

    · To address the `infrastructure deficit' in the transport network.

      · To preserve and enhance quality of life for South Hampshire residents.

      Strategy Approach

      · Maintain the strategic transport network for longer distance journeys, recognising the importance of the international gateways (the Ports and Airport).

      · Encourage shorter journeys, by the concentration around the two cities.

      · Develop the Reduce, Manage and Invest approach.

                  · Adopt and implement the concept of Transport Hubs and Spokes.

3. The Schemes

3.1 A range of schemes is proposed as a minimum level necessary to provide access to the development areas and tackle the growing problems of congestion. A combination of Reduce, Manage and Invest measures will be required to provide a balanced approach and the package of measures listed below is estimated to cost in the region of £1.6 billion over the twenty year period to 2026. The problems of growing congestion will not be cured, but these measures will reduce the worst effects of traffic growth, based on the evidence and estimates that are currently available.

    REDUCE

      · Smarter choices, such as travel planning and measures to discourage less sustainable journeys. Cost £40 million, but with scope to attract significant income levels.

      MANAGE

      · Strategic traffic management, such managed motorways £30 million.

                  · Strategic transport interchanges £60 million.

                  INVEST

    · Local roads and bypasses, £500 million. This would include access to employment areas (Chickenhall Lane Link Road) and tackling local pinch points.

    · Motorway improvements, including selective widening and junction improvements, £430 million.

    · Park & Ride, five schemes on the periphery of the two cities, £60 million.

    · A Premium Network of high quality bus services to link the area at high frequencies, £100 million.

    · Rail improvements, including the rail freight gauge enhancement and infrastructure upgrades to provide more frequent passenger services, £250 million.

    · New Ferry Services along the Solent, serving intermediate communities, £20 million.

    · Access to the Strategic Development Areas north of Fareham and Hedge End, £80 million.

4. The Delivery

4.1 A delivery agency, based upon the Solent Transport partnership, would need to be developed, to provide it with spending powers across the local transport authority boundaries, perhaps in the form of a Ringmaster. A bid for pump priming funding under the Transport Innovation Fund has been sought, to allow a detailed study to be undertaken of the changes and powers that would be necessary.

NORTH HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY

1. The Context

1.1 The emerging transport strategy for North Hampshire shares many of the concepts of the South Hampshire Transport Strategy. It has similar aims - to promote quality of life and economic growth. It also uses the concept of "reduce, manage and invest" to prioritise interventions. It has a similar overall strategy of strengthening both strategic transport routes and more local journeys. The concept of the premium bus network is common to both transport strategies, although the role played by park and ride may differ.

1.2 One key difference between the two strategies is that the North Hampshire strategy is a part of a wider sub-regional area: the Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley area. By contrast, the South Hampshire area is relatively self-contained with fewer transport authorities.

2. The Strategy

2.1 The strategic approach is to:

      · Reduce the need to travel through land-use strategies and the promotion of smarter choices.

      · Make the best use of existing networks.

      · Encourage shorter local journeys by enhancing transport links within urban areas, including the premium public transport concept.

      · Strengthen long distance, strategic transport links, including links to Heathrow and Gatwick airports, to London and to the rest of the country.

3. The Schemes

3.1 The complete strategy for the Western Corridor/ Blackwater Valley will include a large number of schemes outside Hampshire. The schemes affecting Hampshire currently include:

      Rushmoor: £128.5 million for local transport improvements. This includes:

      · Pedestrian enhancements £10 million

      · Bus priority/Quality Bus Partnership measures £30 million

      · Improved access to A331 £25 million

      · Junction improvements on A325 £30 million

      Hart: £19.7 million, including £12 million for a junction safety improvement at Hartford Bridge Flats.

      Basingstoke and Deane: £380 million. This includes:

      · Smarter choices and travel plans £11 million

      · Town centre environment and pedestrian improvements £37 million

      · Bus (including four park & ride sites and priority lanes) £53 million

      · Road £230 million, includes A33 capacity enhancement, Brighton Hill and Winchester Road roundabouts, M3 junction Black Dam capacity improvement

      · Rail £45 million, including new stations at Chineham and Green Park

4. Delivery

4.1 As with South Hampshire, a delivery vehicle would be a useful way of ensuring implementation of these and any other measures that may emerge. However, unlike South Hampshire, there is no obvious existing mechanism on which to base a delivery vehicle.