Linkages with Other Strategies

How our Plan contributes towards delivering National Policy

Our strategy takes account of the Government’s policy approach set out in the Transport White Paper and LTP2 Guidance.  Although we recognise we cannot build our way out of congestion, some capital investment in new infrastructure is essential to ensure sustainable economic development.  Since the submission of Provisional LTP2, independent consultants have appraised the major scheme elements against regional and sub-regional objectives, and assessed their value-for-money and deliverability.  They conclude that all of the proposed schemes will contribute towards the delivery of GMITS, and their work has also informed the prioritisation of the investment.  Metrolink remains at the heart of our strategy as the most effective way of achieving significant modal shift although all modes of transport have a role to play and there is scope for greater integration and better utilisation of capacity.

LTP2 specifically addresses the key elements identified in the White Paper relevant to local transport:

  • improving network management through investment in urban traffic control systems and intelligent transport systems.
  • investing in additional public transport capacity and improving reliability to  provide attractive alternatives to the car and making  best use of new capacity through network and demand management measures.
  • developing an accessibility strategy to give  people  a real choice about when and how they travel and introducing demand responsive services in areas that cannot support conventional bus services;
  • promoting the use of school and workplace travel plans and personalised journey planning to encourage people to consider alternatives to using their cars;
  • creating an  environment so that cycling and walking are seen as an attractive alternative to car travel for short journeys, particularly for children;
  • improving access to Manchester Airport, through the ground transport strategy, to facilitate the growth envisaged in the Aviation White Paper .
  • identifying new highway capacity where it is needed taking account of environmental and social costs.
  • maintaining and improving the quality of existing infrastructure to improve safety ( particularly reducing the risk of road traffic accidents) and contribute to regenerating centres
  • minimising the environmental impacts of new and existing transport infrastructure with mitigation measures implemented to a high standard.

How our Plan contributes towards delivering the NWGS, RES and CRDP

Improved physical connectivity is vital in improving economic competitiveness, as it is a key issue affecting the supply and movement of labour, the investment decisions of business and the success and sustainability of communities.  The Northern Way Growth Strategy (NWGS), the Regional Economic Strategy (RES) and the City Region Development Programme (CRDP) all cite connectivity as a key issue.

Critical issues in the Manchester City region are capacity, efficiency, affordability and accessibility, and the creation of significant modal shift from private to public transport to reduce congestion and contribute to economic growth.

Manchester Airport is identified by the RES as a key driver for the regional economy and hence is a key asset for the Manchester City region. Supporting the growth identified in the Aviation White Paper is critical. A key component of our strategy is to improve ground transport access to maximise the benefit to residents and businesses across the North and Midlands.

Maintaining good connectivity for freight to seaports (particularly Liverpool, East Coast ports and the south coast) by rail and road is also important, particularly in terms of linkage to the EU Accession countries and their emerging markets.  The motorway and rail networks have a key role to play in facilitating this and in providing high quality transport links to surrounding city regions and major cities beyond including London, Birmingham and Glasgow.  However, congestion on large parts of the motorway network, together with reliability and capacity problems on the rail network already present significant challenges.  Therefore in developing and implementing our Strategy we will continue to work closely with the Highways Agency and the rail industry.

The importance of good links within the Manchester City region to enable businesses, residents and visitors to take full advantage of the myriad of opportunities available, promote social inclusion as well as support economic performance, is also highlighted within the NWGS, RES and CRDP.  In particular the RES identifies the need to reduce levels of congestion by increasing the use of public transport (with specific reference to the development of Metrolink) and reducing peak traffic volumes.

Our Strategy involves a multi-faceted approach to enhance connectivity in a sustainable way, with a focus on improving public transport, walking and cycling networks, reinforced by network improvements and appropriate demand management measures. It aims to support the regeneration of the most deprived areas by expansion of the Metrolink network, the continued QBC programme and future measures to improve accessibility to and from such areas, including the use of demand responsive public transport services where appropriate.

How our Plan contributes towards delivering the Regional Spatial Strategy

Regional Planning Guidance for the North West  (RPG13) was published in March 2003. This guidance includes the Regional Transport Strategy ( RTS).  In September 2004 RPG13 became the Regional Spatial Strategy ( RSS) for the North West and the statutory development plan for the region. The RSS was published in January 2006. As part of this review a sub regional spatial strategy is being prepared for the Manchester City Region which has  influenced and been influenced by the development of the GMITS and Provisional LTP2.  This area also embraces Warrington and parts of North Cheshire as well as Greater Manchester, and hence working groups have been established to ensure coordination of strategies across the administrative boundaries.

The current and draft Regional Spatial Strategy focuses a significant proportion of new development in the North West Metropolitan Area, which includes the Greater Manchester Conurbation, especially the conurbation core of Manchester and Salford.  This is justified because reductions in journey distances and promotion of more sustainable modes of transport are more readily achievable in metropolitan areas given the density of population and the relative proximity of housing, employment, retail and recreational facilities.  Our strategy therefore seeks to develop an integrated approach to public transport that makes it a realistic alternative to the car for a wide range of trip purposes, especially for commuting and journeys to education establishments. The strategy also seeks to encourage further modal shift by targeting shorter distance journeys by the development of walking and cycling networks that are safe and convenient to use.

LTP2 is also consistent with the emerging framework set out in the Regional Transport Strategy contained within the draft Regional Spatial Strategy ( RSS) with its particular emphasis on developing high quality public transport, better management of the highway network, improved access to Manchester Airport and developing integrated networks for walking and cycling.  The implementation programme is also consistent with the transport investment and management priorities set out in draft RSS.

Policy

Examples of interventions being undertaken during LTP2 which support the RES and RSS:

  • Manchester Airport Ground Transport Strategy, aiming to provide good surface transport access to the Airport as passenger numbers expand (see para 5.4 for more detail)
  • Metrolink Phase 1/2 Renewals, which includes additional trams for increased capacity for commuters. This will particularly help commuters travelling in from the Altrincham and Bury corridors, and will further increase the attractiveness of Metrolink in these areas and help to reduce congestion arising from car travel in these corridors. Metrolink has proved to be very effective in achieving modal shift, which will become increasingly important as the sub-regional economy expands.
  • Corridor Partnerships will optimise spend and integration of public transport and make the radial movements to the Regional Centre operate more efficiently. This will be done in close partnership with public transport operators, the Highways Agency and other key stakeholders.
  • The implementation of the bus strategy will aid the North West Regional Economic Strategy, resulting  in progress towards a comprehensive integrated network, improved performance, high quality and accessible information, and improved safety and security.
  • Implementation of revised cycling and walking strategies, which focus resources where they can have most impact, in terms of addressing both particular groups of people and locations where there is the greatest potential to increase the use of these modes. For example, improving accessibility and security on paths to rail stations will be important in securing modal shift for commuter trips.
  • More efficient traffic control strategies at traffic signals, especially the SCOOT Urban Traffic Management & Control major scheme bid are vital to the relieving on congestion around Greater Manchester, in particular the radial routes into the regional centre.
  • Implementation of SEMMMS, JETTS and MIDMAN
 

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