Regional Centre

If the Regional Centre is to continue to grow and prosper over the LTP2 period its accessibility needs to be maintained and the quality of its environment needs to continue to improve. Many of our major schemes are designed to support this continued growth. Our work to take forward the Integrated Transport strategy also focuses on the need for a complementary package of investment and demand management measures to underpin future growth. Examples include -:

  • Metrolink phase 1 and 2 upgrade
  • Metrolink phase 3 expansion
  • Rail station facility enhancement
  • Quality Bus Corridors and other measures to support modal shift to bus
  • Measures to encourage more walking and cycling to the centre, especially from the growing adjacent residential communities
  • Investigation of and introduction of bus based park and ride facilities where these can be shown to provide a cost effective solution to meeting travel demands in a given corridor

We are also continuing our strategy of improving the environment within the Regional Centre, focusing in particular on the needs of more vulnerable road users and maintaining good access for bus passengers and other visitors to the commercial and retail core area. Examples of proposed measures include -:

  • Major enhancement of the bus facility at Parker Street, Piccadilly Gardens
  • Introduction of further “all red” phases at key junctions to reduce accidents and improve conditions for pedestrians
  • Improved pedestrian and cycle routes across the centre
  • Improved connections between the core area and the Oxford Road corridor where major growth in employment levels are forecast
  • Introduction of a city centre car club
  • Improved signing to different zones and key destinations within the Centre

Over the period of LTP 2 we anticipate the Regional Centre economy continuing to grow with a consequent impact on travel demand. Tables 4.2 and 4.3 indicate the forecast level of increased demand over the LTP2 period and the impact that this is forecast to have on peak period trips.  We also demonstrate how we anticipate this demand being met by different transport modes without impacting significantly on the volume of car traffic within the centre. We will monitor these changes closely in association with transport operators and aim to ensure that the accessibility of the centre remains good during the LTP2 period. We recognise however that we need to plan ahead and are currently carrying out a major piece of work to assess at what point in the future congestion is likely to begin to have an adverse impact on the ability of the centre to continue to grow, “the tipping point”, and what mix of investment and demand management measures we need to put in place to allow continued growth to take place.

Statement

Enhancing the Regional Centre

Shudehill interchange

Introduction

The Regional Centre of Manchester City Centre and the adjacent part of Salford is the principal focus of Greater Manchester, containing 134,000 jobs, with up to 100,000 more expected to be generated over  the next ten years. It has a resident poulation of 10,000, which is still rising, and is at the centre of the conurbation's road, bus  rail and tram networks

Current Problems and Issues

  • Congestion on main roads into the centre
  • Incoherent cycling and walking network
  • Poor environment in Chapel street area
  • Need to accommodate significant increase in jobs and city centre living.

Proposed approach

Traffic management schemes will rationalise traffic flows and give priority to certain vehicle types. A recent example is the restriction of traffic on Cross Street associated with the opening of the new interchange at Shudehill. Pedestrians will be given priority in the Chapel Street schemes. Selective junction improvements, use of SCOOT, and bus priority will ease congestion hotspots. Access to rail stations, especially by foot, will be improved, including the use use of better lighting. The cycling network will be extended, in particular routes to the Higher Educational Precinct, and an east-west cross-town route. Signing of these routes, and walking routes will be significantly improved. Meanwhile, demand will be controlled through the combined effect of parking charges, control of inappropriate commuter parking, and travel behavioural change campaigns. The latter include the Council's own Travel Plan, and working with Friends of the Earth in their cycling promotional campaign in 2006.

Funding Sources

The LTP will fund the majority of this work, but other funding will come from developer contributions. The Friends of the Earth's cycling promotional campaign will use a Local Strategic partnership grant.

Targets and Objectives Met

Main LTP targets addressed include LTP1 accessibility, LTP2,6 and 12a traffic flows and modal split, LTP3 and 11 cycling and walking, and LTP8 and 9 air quality and climate change.

In addition, these measures will focus upon the related Manchester City Council's Local PSA target for modal split into the city centre.

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