Contact: Helen Merrills, ext 5204 email: [email protected]

Jonathan Ryder, ext 5162 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides a progress update on transport schemes within the 2005/06 Capital Programme together with schemes for the 2006/07 Capital Programme that were approved by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management on 18 January 2006. A summary of schemes is shown at the attached appendix. The report also provides a progress update on schemes started in earlier programmes.

1.2 The table below shows the county-wide improvement programmes for 2006/07 and where applicable to the Gosport area, the item numbers are given for reference.

	County-wide Allocation
County-wide programme 2006/07	£000's LTP	£000's EF	Report Item
Casualty Reduction Programme	2,753		10
Community Safety Initiative	60		12
Community Transport	300		13
Passenger Transport Information	180		13
Safer Routes to School Programme (spend programme)	1,000		11
Minor Schemes inc Traffic Management	600	100	8 & 9

1.3 Schemes in the Capital Programme are financed from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and/or external funding (EF) received from developers or other contributors.

2. Capital Schemes 2004/05

Broom Way, Fareham - Cycleway - EF £424,000

2.1 This scheme provides an off-road cycle route on the western side of Broom Way between Peel Common roundabout and the new Cherque Farm Development has been substantially completed. The improvements include a new shared footpath and cycleway, new street lighting and equestrian facilities. In addition, the two cycle crossings at Peel Common roundabout have been upgraded to Toucan crossings to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians. To improve traffic management at the approaches to the Peel Common roundabout revised lane markings and signing has also been implemented.

2.2 Landscaping work has been undertaken along the route and the hedge on the western side of Broom Way has been reinstated. On completion of minor works including fencing it is proposed to undertake an official opening of the cycle route.

Fareham-Gosport Quality Bus Partnership - Bus Infrastructure Improvements - £145,000 LTP £50,000 EF

2.3 This scheme includes the provision of a Real-Time Passenger Information System (RTPI) along the main bus route between Fareham and Gosport. The provision of this proposal will improve the quality of up to date service information for passengers along the route. First Bus has been consulted and various bus stops along the route have been identified and prioritised for the provision of the RTPI display. The central RTPI system is in place and buses operating along the A32 corridor are fitted with Portsmouth City Council's automatic vehicle location technology.

2.4 Works to integrate Hampshire County Council and Portsmouth City Council's RTPI systems, through the development of server to server links, for the tracking of buses along the route are still ongoing. Subject to the successful integration of the two systems, up to 24 new style displays are now intended to be installed. These RTPI displays will be installed within 20 existing Adshel bus shelters and 4 new shelters along the route thus improving the coverage of information along the bus routes.

2.5 Procurement of the works to modify the existing bus shelters and install the new bus shelters is currently underway, as is the resolution of the server to server links to enable the operation of the RTPI displays. Subject to contractor availability work is expected to commence in May 2006.

2.6 A schedule and plan identifying the locations of the bus stops will be tabled at the meeting.

Fareham-Gosport Quality Bus Partnership - Gosport Bus Departure Information System - £105,000 LTP

2.7 The installation of the Bus Departure Information System (BDIS) at Gosport Bus Station has been completed. The system provides information about bus departure times, destinations, departure bays and any variations to the timetable. The system was fully commissioned during October 2005.

3. Capital Schemes 2005/06

A32 Mumby Road Pedestrian and Cycle improvements Stage 1 EF £28,000

3.1 Provision of two new pedestrian refuges, a prohibition of waiting order and extension of the cycle facilities on the A32 Mumby Road has been completed. The new pedestrian facilities provide access across Mumby Road in the vicinity of the new doctors surgery and adjacent flats currently being constructed.

3.2 The works commenced in September 2005 and were completed in November 2005.

A32 Mumby Road Pedestrian and Cycle Improvements, Gosport Phase 2 EF £30,000

3.3 This proposal aims to provide a pedestrian refuge in Spring Garden Lane to improve access across the road for pedestrians and cyclists. The existing pedestrian and cycle route follows alongside the former railway line, crosses Spring Garden Lane and continues into Mumby Road. A school crossing patrol has recently been employed to assist school children crossing at this location.

3.4 The preliminary design has been progressed, however measures to improve conditions for the school crossing patrol are being incorporated into the scheme. To ensure adequate visibility for pedestrians and the school crossing patrol is maintained it is proposed to introduce parking restrictions in the vicinity of the crossing area as part of this proposal. Statutory consultations about the parking controls are currently underway, and subject to the satisfactory completion of this process, and project appraisal approval in March, work is expected to commence in May 2006.

Gosport Urban Centre Improvements - £100,000 LTP, £50,000 Safer Routes to School

3.5 Gosport Borough Council prioritised a number of localised pedestrian improvement schemes within the borough, and the five priority schemes are being progressed as part of the County Council's capital programme. The five schemes are:

(i) Grange Lane footway improvement (east side between Cornwall Close and Samson Close);

(ii) Jellicoe Avenue pedestrian refuge (south side of Western Way)

(iii) Privett Road/Military Road/Gomer Lane roundabout - enlarged traffic islands/pedestrian refuges and off-road cycle improvements;

(iv) Marine Parade East/Portsmouth Road pedestrian refuge; and

(v) Browndown Road/Portsmouth Road - enhanced crossing facilities.

3.6 To improve visibility at the junction of Jellicoe Avenue and Western Way a prohibition of parking is required, and the statutory consultation process has been completed. The final consultations with County Council and Ward Members has been completed and the order will come into effect on 13 March 2006.

3.7 A project appraisal was approved by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management on 8 November 2005. Work commenced during February 2006 and is expected to be completed during April 2006.

Tukes Avenue £80,000 LTP (Casualty Reduction Programme)

3.8 This proposal has been designed to alleviate the occurrence of injury accidents in Tukes Avenue, Bridgemary. The recorded injury accidents principally involve vulnerable road users including pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

3.9 The scheme proposals introduce uncontrolled pedestrian crossing points, an upgrade of school crossing facilities and improvement in access to bus services in the vicinity of Woodcot School and The Parade.

3.10 Following a public consultation involving two public exhibitions undertaken in February, a project appraisal was approved in February 2006. The work is programmed to commence before the end of March 2006 and take approximately six weeks to complete.

4. Capital Schemes 2006/07

Lee-on-the-Solent Sustainable Suburbs £150,000 LTP

4.1 The aim of these proposals is to improve road safety and improve access for pedestrians in the Lee-on-the-Solent shopping area. The proposed improvements include;

(i) Milvil Road - provide a build-out at the junction on the south east side of the junction to improve pedestrian crossing facilities

(ii) Pier Street - to reduce the existing traffic lanes to one lane to assist pedestrians to cross the road, and to improve visibility.

(iii) Marine Parade - conversion of the existing parking bay to a loading only bay together with waiting restrictions outside 1-3 Flower Buildings.

(iv) High Street - provision of build-outs at key points along the High Street to improve pedestrian crossing facilities. This includes the provision of build-outs at the junctions of the High Street with Manor Way and Pier Street.

(v) Beach Road - to reduce the existing traffic lanes to one lane to assist pedestrians to cross the road, and to improve visibility

4.2 At the southern junctions of Pier Street and Beach Road it is proposed that the reduction of road space is trialled on a short term basis to determine the impact on traffic movements on Beach Road and Pier Street. Consultations will be carried out with local Members to discuss the details of the trial.

4.3 Following the development of the scheme through the detailed design stage, the scheme is anticipated to be submitted for Project Appraisal for approval in the Summer 2006. Implementation of the work will follow in autumn after the summer holiday period.

5. Impact Assessments

5.1 This report provides a position statement only on the progress of schemes in the Capital Programme, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has not been undertaken. Such assessments are carried out for each scheme to ensure the County Council's policies on equalities are not compromised.

Recommendation

That Members note the progress with the schemes in the Transport Capital Programme and support those approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2006/07.

780/HM

APPENDIX

2005/06 CAPITAL PROGRAMME

2006/07 CAPITAL PROGRAMME