6 Congestion & Network Management Duty
Summary
This chapter provides information on a wide variety of measures undertaken to reduce congestion in the Greater Manchester area.
Our aim for LTP2 is to:
- prevent any significant worsening of traffic congestion
- to ensure that area wide traffic flow growth on local roads is no more than 2%, against a background of increasing car ownership and planned economic growth.
Our strategy for tackling congestion has been to use Local Transport Plan funding to manage and make best use of existing road and public transport networks and to try and reduce unnecessary car trips so as to limit any further increase in congestion.
We have achieved
- An overall reduction in congestion on 15 routes (3.3% improvement in person journey times on key routes in the last year) in line with meeting the LTP target of no increase in congestion over 15 target routes by the end of the LTP2 period. However, in the medium to long term, LTP resources alone will be insufficient to maintain the target.
- Increases in bus (+3.7%), rail (+13%) patronage since 2005/06. Metrolink patronage increased by 6% since 2003/4. Resident’s satisfaction with bus services has risen by 11% since 2003/04. Rail satisfaction for regular users is higher than any in other Metropolitan area (88%).
- An increase in the number of accessible buses (+71% since 2004/05) and stops (to 79% of stops on QBC routes)
- Improved mode split of travel to key centres by public transport, walking and cycling. For the 10 key centres combined there is an upward trend of 39.1% in 2001/2/3 to 42.4% in 2006/7/8.
Through the following actions:
- Virtually completed Quality Bus Corridor programme– investment of £88M over 172 miles of network resulting in an 18% patronage increase. Bus Punctuality improved on all but one QBC route where there was no recorded significant change.
- Implementation of Congestion Delivery Plans, including UTC works and highway network management.
- Improved bus passenger facilities to encourage modal shift, such as at Piccadilly Metroshuttle stops and Oldham West Street Bus Station.
- Growth of the Metroshuttle free bus service which now carries over 2.28m passenger journeys per year.
- Replaced 20 miles of Metrolink track, improving quality of ride and reducing noise
- Continued to implement Travel Planning schemes as part of planning permissions. Major advancements in school travel plans.
- Invested LTP funds into the 3rd platform at Manchester Airport rail station.
- Opened Park & Ride facilities, such as the 127 spaces at Whitefield.
Our issues and future priorities:
- To tackle congestion and bus reliability and punctuality across the network by using the experience of the QBC programme to improve bus routes elsewhere in the county.
- To deliver the GMITS vision by improving the public transport product in the priority corridors from Manchester to Oldham-Rochdale, Leigh-Salford, Droylsden and Chorlton.
- To support the development of Media City in Salford Quays
- To continue to tackle congestion on the identified key routes in order to meet our congestion target
- To continue to address congestion on the network as a whole and to better manage and operate the strategic highway network, in order that congestion does not become a constraint on our economy within the LTP2 period.
And to achieve these we will:
- Complete the implementation of Congestion Delivery plans
- Begin construction of Phase 3a of Metrolink expansion. We will develop the 22 km extension between Manchester, Oldham and Rochdale, replacing the existing railway line; the 6.4 km extension to Droylsden serving New East Manchester, the City of Manchester Stadium, and the Velodrome; and the 2.9 km extension to Chorlton, following a section of disused railway line between Trafford Bar and St Werburgh's Road.
- Extend Metrolink to Media City, at Salford Quays.
- Provide additional trams on the network.
- Construct the Leigh-Salford-Manchester busway, subject to availability of funds.
- Introduce further bus priority measures.
- Improve rail stations throughout Greater Manchester, including those at Manchester Oxford Rd, Manchester Victoria and Bolton. We will also start a programme of improving accessibility, safety and security, which will involve 17rail stations outside the Regional Centre in the LTP2 period.
- Develop a network management strategy, operating protocols and an implementation plan jointly with the Highways Agency to improve the management and operation of the strategic highway network, as set out in the Greater Manchester Multi-Area Agreement.
- Complete the UTC major scheme
- Complete implementation of the Roadworks and Events database
- Continue smarter choices projects, and improve the monitoring and enforcement of travel plans.
- Trial off-bus ticketing machines.
- Improve route information for freight operators.
- Improve parking and bus lane enforcement