6.2.1 Evidence of Congestion Delivery Plan

6.2.1.1 The GM Congestion Target Delivery Plan was accepted by the Department for Transport in summer 2007. The Plan describes and outlines our approach to addressing congestion across the network and for meeting the target of no increase in congestion over 15 target routes by the end of the LTP2 period.

6.2.1.2 We are treating the target delivery plan for the 15 routes as a pilot project, as part of our approach to congestion, to see if we can learn lessons which can be applied more widely across the whole network in the future. In addition we shall be seeking to ensure that addressing congestion is recognised and supported within the corridor partnerships (see 5.9 ‘Future Plans’) which we are establishing to help deliver all aspects of our second Local Transport Plan.

Joint Working

6.2.1.3 The Plan was jointly produced by the ten District authorities of Greater Manchester, together with the Greater Manchester PTA. The local highway authorities through which the chosen routes pass have prime responsibility for delivery of the target, with GMPTA being a close partner on each route.

6.2.1.4 The Highways Agency, as an executive Agency of the Department for Transport and being responsible for the motorway and trunk road network within Greater Manchester, is tasked with achieving its own nationally based targets regarding congestion. This is through the PSA target for improving journey time reliability. The Agency’s aim is to have no increase in the average vehicle delay on the slowest 10% of the SRN over 2004/5 baseline figures. Within Greater Manchester the performance of the M60 forms part of this target. The Highways Agency, through its Local Network Management Schemes (LNMS) and other measures, seeks to achieve its target, and liaison between the HA and the GM local authorities occurs when these schemes interface with the local road network. As members of the Greater Manchester Traffic Managers Group,they are working with authorities to explore how they can improve management of both the strategic road network they have established,and the higher levels of the local  road network, as part of a longer term vision for strategic traffic management on the network as a whole.

6.2.1.5 The authorities are actively involving other partners, in particular GMUTC, GMPTE, and bus operators, so that buses can operate efficiently and to best effect along the 15 routes. Major existing and new employers on the routes and in key centres at the end of routes have the potential to contribute by developing Travel Plans and assisting in the drive to reduce the numbers of single occupant cars (driver only) on the journey to work. In the long-term it is envisaged that all parties will be accountable to the corridor partnerships for achievement of targets for the transport indicators in their local area agreements. Travel Planning is described in the Travel Behaviour section of this chapter.

Target Routes

6.2.1.6 The 15 target routes were agreed with DfT on the basis of identifying congested sites using DfT supplied satellite vehicle tracking data. Every Greater Manchester authority has a section of one of the 15 routes, so that ownership of, and commitment to achieving, the target is fully shared. There are a number of routes inbound to the regional centre, others which form radials to other key centres in Greater Manchester, together with two congested orbital routes.

Measuring the indicator

6.2.1.7 GMTU undertook baseline surveys between autumn 2005 and spring 2006, recording cars, goods vehicles, and buses together with their occupants along each section of each route. Journey time observations for buses were also needed, though for cars and goods vehicles there was a requirement to use the ITIS satellite tracking data provided by the DfT.

6.2.1.8 We submitted all survey results to DfT, who initially calculated a baseline indicator value  of 4.62 minutes per person mile. This was subsequently revised to 4.83 after problems were identified with the ITIS data.

6.2.1.9 DfT have now issued an interim indicator value of 4.67 representing the latest conditions, using ITIS data from 2005-06 and the single day survey data from spring 2007. This shows an improvement from the base.

6.2.1.10 Issues surrounding the data and our performance against target are described in 14 ‘LTP2 Indicators’.

Route Changes Affecting Travel

6.2.1.11 We have established databases of the baseline position on the routes, including their traffic signal locations, bus service frequencies, major employers and adjacent land uses. All significant changes along each route are recorded.

Actions and Measures - General Approach

6.2.1.12 Our systematic and quantified approach to the development of our proposals along individual routes has enabled us to identify where congestion is highest and where there are particular difficulties for buses compared to cars. Scrutiny of this information has provided the respective authorities with a well-founded evidence base for the measures they are undertaking.

Route Plans

6.2.1.13 Individual authorities have drafted outline plans for their routes to a common format and they are regularly reviewed - see  Case Study 3 ‘Example of Route Delivery Progress Report - Route 4’ below.


Case Study 3

Example of Route Delivery Progress Report - Route 4

Description of Route 4 - A579, New Brook Road / St Helens Road / Derby Street between Upton Road, Atherton and College Way, Bolton town centre. (Northbound)

This section of the A579 is 6.2km in length and consists mainly of single carriageway, approximately 10m to 15m wide. The A579 is also a Quality Bus Corridor and has approximately 3.3km of inbound bus lane.

  • There are 5 signalised junctions (3 with pedestrian facilities) and 11 signalised pedestrian crossings but due to their respective locations there is no coordination between them. The A579 St Helens Road / Morris Green Lane Junction and the Four Lane Ends Junction have MOVA. There are 72 priority junctions.
  • There are 23 bus stops located at the edge of the carriageway. There are also bus stop clearways at 4 stops.
  • Parking is prohibited for 1.2km along the route and parking bays have been provided where pavement widths allows.

Changes in 2006/07 and 2007/08 in the vicinity of the route

  • A new Lidl Store has opened at the north end of the route. Access into the store car park is off Emblem Street which leads onto the A579 Derby Street.
  • A new Aldi Store has opened beyond the north end of the route. Access to the store car park is off the junction at Trinity Street.  A signal phase has been added at  Trinity Street. 

Actions taken/measures implemented in 2006/07 and 2007/08

  • Enforcement of TROs

    Enforcement of the route has been undertaken. 

  • Improvements in traffic signal plans

    £30,000 from the Department for Transport Congestion Target Delivery Funding has been invested in the implementation of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras along the A579 congestion target delivery route. These monitor distance and time of vehicles between cameras which will enable the Council to get a better picture of where future congestion improvements can make a difference. This system can also help determine whether signal timing changes have a positive effect on travel times. 

  • Travel planning initiatives

    Four schools now have school travel plans approved. Three schools are  progressing travel plans to be approved in the near future.

  • Improvements to bus operations

    The Council has developed a policy to implement bus clearways across the borough.

  • Other actions

    The route has benefited from the £160,000 Four Lane Ends junction widening scheme where the A579 meets the A6.  MOVA technology was also installed to improve bus movement through the junction.

Results

The A579 Route 4 has a journey time of 3.32 minutes per mile in 2006/07. This represents an improvement of 0.18 minutes per mile  compared to the 2004/05 baseline figure of 3.50 minutes per mile.

Between 07:30 and 09:30, the journey times are consistent from the start of the route at Upton Road through to Smethurst Lane, where the journey time slows. Between Smethurst Lane and Deane Church Lane and Emblem Street and College Way journey times are the slowest. A similar profile exists across the three years 2004/05 and 2005/06 although the journey time has decreased between Hulton Lane and Smethurst Lane between 2005/06 and 2006/07.

 Bus journey times per person mile have increased by 8% from the 2005/06 base of 4.10 to 4.41 in Autumn 2006/07 because of a decrease in bus person miles. The supporting data would suggest that more adults are travelling outside the peak time, benefiting from the over 60 free pass. There has also been a decline in children using service buses possibly because more are using dedicated school buses. Car times per person mile have decreased from 3.60 in 2004/05 to 3.38 in 2006/07, a 6.1% decrease.

The route has a morning peak journey time rate better than the Greater Manchester average for 30mph roads.

Commentary on Results

The results show that journey times along the A579 have improved in 2006/07 when compared to 2004/05 and 2005/06.

Further analysis shows that the overall improvements in journey time in 2006/07 are mainly between Plodder Lane and Deane Church Lane, although there is no immediate explanation for this.

Proposed Actions and Measures for 2008/09 – 2010/11

  • Enforcement

Introduction of bus lane camera enforcement scheduled for April 2009.
Work with bus operators through the Punctuality Improvement Partnerships to identify any current and future persistent parking infringement along the route.

  • Improvements in Traffic Signal Plans

    Work with GMUTC and GMTU to monitor and improve traffic signal timings using the ANPR technology available along the route.

  • Travel planning initiatives

    School travel plan work will continue

  • Improvements to Bus Operations

    Implement 9 further bus stop clearways to cover a total of 18 stops along the route.
    Work to overcome consultation issues on 3 outstanding bus stops locations for implementation of bus stop clearways.