Archived decisions

Agenda Item 6

Report to the

Transport for South Hampshire Joint Committee

Date: 28 January 2009

Report by: Keith Willcox

tel: 01962 846997

email: [email protected]

Subject: South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit

Purpose of the Report

This report updates Members on progress of the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). It covers the significant progress on Phase 1 between Fareham and Gosport and outlines the wider scheme development.

Recommendations

1. That the progress on Phase 1 between Fareham and Gosport be noted.

2. That approval be given to undertake studies on the development of the further phases of the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit.

Introduction

1. Since the last meeting of the Joint Committee, there has been much progress associated with this scheme. In relation to Phase 1 between Fareham and Gosport, the initial conceptual public consultation has been conducted, the Full Business Case has been submitted to Government, advance works contract let and the pre-planning application consultation been undertaken. (The outcome will be reported verbally at the meeting).

Phase 1 Fareham-Gosport - Progress

2. Phase 1 of the South East Hampshire BRT consists of the provision of a two-way dedicated unguided busway between Tichborne Way, Gosport and Redlands Lane, Fareham. The busway uses the disused railway branch line corridor to provide a reliable alternative route for buses to avoid the A32 corridor, which currently leads to service delays and reduction in journey time reliability.

3. It is intended that the busway will be operated under an open-access quality agreement with the South Hampshire Bus Operators Association (SHBOA) to ensure the high quality required. First Group, the main bus operator in the area, is supportive of this approach to the project. It has been informally agreed that the buses will be high quality single decker buses, similar in type to those operated on the A3 Zip Corridor. Vehicles and stops will also be fully compliant with Disability Legislation, etc.

4. The Phase 1 works consist mainly of the following:

Along Route Length

(i) 6.2 metres wide unguided busway;

(ii) high quality, accessible bus stops at regular intervals and at all key junctions;

(iii) street lighting at bus stops only;

(iv) CCTV provision (subject to agreement with the Borough Councils);

(v) Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor illegal use of the busway (subject to agreement).

(vi) various minor off-line improvements as required to enhance local facilities to maximise use of the busway.

Redlands Lane Junction with A27

Revisions to traffic signal operations to facilitate bus priority into and out of Redlands Lane.

Access/Egress at Northern End (Redlands Lane)

Temporary ramp from busway to a new junction on Redlands Lane. (This feature will be removed under future phases of the South East Hampshire BRT scheme).

Newgate Lane/Palmerston Drive

(i) busway will pass through Palmerston Drive at-grade, requiring the demolition of the existing bridge;

(ii) a new signal junction will be provided at Palmerston Drive to enable local traffic to cross the busway;

(iii) a new bridge is to be constructed to enable the busway to pass underneath Newgate Lane. This new structure will have 5.3 metres headroom.

Wych Lane

(i) existing bridge to be demolished and the carriageway widened to two lanes. The carriageway will also be raised and the Busway lowered to form a new at-grade signal junction enabling traffic to cross (subject to landowner agreement);

(ii) access will be provided for northbound buses from Wych Lane to access the busway, thereby avoiding the need to use the A32.

Gregson Avenue

The new busway is to be lowered to provide a 5.03 metre clearance beneath the existing overbridge carrying Gregson Avenue.

Tichborne Way

(i) the new busway is to be lowered (if required) to provide a 5.03 metre clearance beneath the existing overbridge carrying Tichborne Way;

(ii) a new junction will be formed to enable buses to access and egress the busway in both directions, as this junction forms the southern end of the main works.

Cycle Facilities

Whilst every effort will be made to integrate the busway and associated works with the existing cycle network on the Peninsula, no dedicated route for cyclists will be provided along the corridor due to constraints on the available width, particularly at existing bridges.

Extension from Tichborne Way to Military Road

(i) extension of the 6.2 metre wide unguided Busway to Military Road (subject to additional available funding);

(ii) a new junction will be formed at Military Road to enable buses to access and egress the Busway in both directions

5. An option is being considered to widen an existing footpath to a shared use pedestrian/cycleway on the eastern edge of the Busway, from the northern edge of the Holbrook recreation playing field to Forest Way (subject to land availability).

Outcome of October Public Consultation

6. Initial public consultation took place on 16 to 18 October 2008 in Bridgemary, with a follow up exhibition at Fareham Borough Council offices during the following week. The exhibition was advertised in the local press, with a further 7,000 letters of invitation being sent out to stakeholders and residents. Posters and leaflets were also distributed to local centres and community hotspots. Over 400 members of the public attended the first dates at Bridgemary.

7. Feedback from the 244 questionnaires returned were mainly positive, with 88% thinking there is a need to improve public transport on the peninsula, and 70% stating bus rapid transit would help improve access and address some of the areas raised as concerns. The key issues raised as comments are grouped into:

(i) environmental - landscape, trees, noise, pollution and wildlife;

(ii) car parking - residents are concerned that car parks will be needed in order to service the BRT bus stops;

(iii) concern for antisocial behaviour/security along back gardens/privacy;

(iv) concern this is a "waste of tax payers' money"/white elephant scheme that will never happen.

Full Business Case

8. As approved by Hampshire County Council Cabinet (as lead authority for Phase 1) on 27 October 2008, a Full Business Case seeking £20 million to progress Phase 1 of the South-East Hampshire BRT Scheme between Fareham and Gosport has been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) and Department for Communities and Local Government.

9. Funding restrictions on the Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) require that works are completed and all monies expended by 31 March 2011. This decision is sought to enable the scheme to progress in line with these constraints.

10. In early December the DfT asked a number of supplementary questions relating to the Full Business Case submission. These covered strategy, employment in Gosport, operational aspects and economic questions.

11. A response to these questions was submitted to DfT on 19 December 2008. During the dialogue, DfT have asked whether it would be possible for Transport for South Hampshire to arrange a site visit early in the new year. This is being progressed.

Planning Application

12. A Planning Application is required for Phase 1 of the scheme, which will include the section of the railway corridor between Redlands Lane, Fareham and Military Road in Gosport.

13. The application will be submitted in March 2009 and determined by Hampshire County Council's Regulatory Committee, as Planning Authority, which has been agreed with Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council.

14. Further public consultations took place in mid January, enabling local residents, the travelling public and stakeholders to view more detailed plans and proposals for the scheme in advance of the submission of the Planning Application in March 2009 (the outcome will be reported verbally at the meeting).

15. A communications strategy for the planning and implementation of the project has been developed, which identifies clearly what is required between leading up to the Planning Application in March 2009, and also wider issues relating to the overall BRT project.

Advance Works

16. An initial advance works limited vegetation clearance was undertaken along the disused railway line between Redlands Lane and Military Way, during the second half of November 2008. It was necessary to clear some vegetation in order for surveyors to be able to access the corridor, to provide access for ecology experts to undertake wildlife surveys along the route and for engineers to survey the land boundaries and levels.

17. Additional advance clearance work commenced in early January 2009 and will continue for approximately two months. The further clearance needs to be completed before the start of the bird nesting season in March, and will enable further more thorough site investigation and ecological surveys to take place. The works will involve cutting down vegetation to a height of 150 millimetres above the ground over a sufficient width to enable the removal of the railway lines and sleepers to take place between March and May 2009 once the reptiles have come out of hibernation.

Wider Scheme Development

18. The concept for the wider South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit scheme involves the development of a viable public transport system which will connect key towns and destinations in South East Hampshire including Gosport, Fareham and Portsmouth, the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Port Solent, Tipner and ultimately Havant, Waterlooville, Segensworth and Whiteley.

19. The scheme will also be designed to connect with proposed major new development sites including the North Fareham Strategic Development Area. Key interchanges will be developed along the route tying in with rail stations and the ferry terminals. The scheme will be developed in stages.

20. Improvements to the public transport network are designed to meet existing travel demand and to cater for additional planned growth. BRT will help reduce traffic flows on routes throughout South East Hampshire.

21. The scheme will improve access to existing employment sites as well as proposed new employment at North Fareham and Gosport Waterfront and town and city centre areas.

22. Ultimately the wider BRT scheme will directly benefit people who live 1 kilometre near to the scheme, by providing a viable, alternative means of transport to the car.

23. The scheme will improve public transport access to education and health services and in particular it will provide direct access to the Queen Alexandra Hospital at Cosham which is currently being redeveloped and expanded. As this redeveloped hospital will be such a major attractor for journeys within the sub-region, meetings have already taken place between TfSH, Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, the major Bus Operators, Portsmouth Hospitals Trust and the Primary Care Trust to discuss both strategic and detailed transport accessibility issues. The proposed BRT will be central to this ongoing dialogue.

24. In parallel therefore with the detailed planning, engineering and procurement for Phase 1, it is essential that rapid progress is made on the future phases in order to deliver a complete sub-regional network of BRT services. This will require transport planning, transport operations (in conjunction with SHBOA) planning, engineering feasibility, environmental, economic and marketing/communications input.

25. Briefs for the various strands of the above development work will be produced shortly, but Members are asked to give approval in principle to undertake future studies.

Conclusions

26. Since the last meeting of the Joint Committee in October, significant progress on Phase 1 of the BRT scheme has been made. It is now hoped that DfT/Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) make a positive decision on the outcome of our £20 million CIF bid in the near future.

27. Regarding the further phases, it is considered timely and necessary for further development work to be commissioned.

Summary Recommendations

1. That the progress on Phase 1 between Fareham and Gosport be noted.

2. That approval be given to undertake studies on the development of the further phases of the South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit.

1889Rpt/KW