APPENDIX A
Transport Vision – A Connected Island
Section
A: 2020
Vision and Transport
Our vision for transport is an integral part of the overall
2020 vision for the future of the Island, which leads to a more prosperous,
accessible, healthy, environmentally friendly Island. At the heart of this 2020 vision is the economic regeneration of
the Island, which in turn is dependent on the development of the Island’s
transport system.
Our transport vision is an Island
where all methods of transport including walking and cycling with public
transport form an interlinked transport network across the Island, the Solent
and beyond. This enables travel of
people and goods from wherever they are, to the destinations of their choice
both on and off the Island, with safety, reliability, ease of access, and
affordably at a convenient time.
This vision must be achieved without
spoiling peoples lives through accidents, noise or air pollution, and without a
traffic infrastructure which dominates the environment.
Transport is important for the
Island because: -
It is the catalyst which brings
everything together, without it the Island would cease to function as we know
it today. Good transport across the
Island and the Solent is essential for our future development.
Transport provides access for all
people from our homes and jobs to, education, shops, leisure, health &
social care, friends and relations, across the Solent to the UK and the rest of
the World. It supports the economic
regeneration of the Island, our health and well being through better social
inclusion.
Section B: Features
of the Vision
·
The
Council will play a leading role in ensuring that the benefits of an
interlinked transport network are maximised for the users.
·
It
will play a leading role in coordinating and planning improvements in transport
on the Island and across the Solent,. ensuring
partnerships between users and providers, encouraging investment in transport
and its infrastructure.
·
Air
transport to and from the Island will form part of the transport network.
·
The
Council will be open and accountable for its decision and actions.
·
It
will react to changing circumstances by regularly updating its plans for the
benefit of users.
·
The
transport network on the Island will link to travel across the Solent and
beyond in a seamless manner.
·
Economic
regeneration of urban and village centres through development will lessen the
need for travel.
·
Tourism
development will attract high quality tourism markets, and promote access to
the Island by public transport.
·
Freight
handling and distribution systems will enable goods to be available on time for
companies and people on or off the Island.
·
Industries
will be encouraged to the Island, which do not have significant transport needs
or costs, such as research, high value goods, and leisure.
Public
Transport, including services across the Solent
·
Increasing
numbers of people will choose to use walking; cycling and public transport on
the Island (Bus, train, taxi for journeys), rather than use their car, because
it will be an attractive alternative, which is cheaper. This will be particularly true in urban
areas and for short journeys.
·
Public
transport will be affordable, convenient, safe, sociable, frequent, punctual,
comfortable, reliable and accessible to all.
·
There
will be modern user-friendly facilities, which will assist the transfer from
one form of travel to another.
·
There
will be excellent real time information available for residents and visitors at
points of access, so they are aware of the transport options, and be able to
make informed decisions.
·
On-board
information services will be in place on tourist routes.
·
Tickets
will be able to be purchased to our final destination, from all transport
providers.
·
Payment
of fares can be achieved electronically before or during travel.
·
The
needs of families and people with wheelchairs will be accommodated on public
transport.
·
There
will be reduced car use and increased car sharing particularly at peak times on
highways.
·
There
will be reduced congestion particularly at peak times on highways.
·
As a
result of reduced car use and congestion there will be less traffic accidents.
·
The
road infrastructure on the Island will be maintained to good standards, and
will assist the public transport network using it.
·
Technology
will provide vehicles which are less damaging to the environment.
·
Increased
numbers of people will walk or cycle using improved urban paths and pavements.
·
Visitors
will have a choice as to whether to bring a car to the Island
·
People
wont have to travel if they don’t need to, as the need will be minimized through
development identified in the Island Plan.
Section C: How to
Achieve the Vision – What needs to be done
The following section is a series of proposals, will
be developed into a focussed and prioritised improvement plan matched by
resources.
Research,
Planning & Organisation
·
Research
and understand in detail what journeys people make, and would like to make.
(Travel survey to be undertaken in the County Press)
·
Workplace
travel plans for each major employer.
·
School
travel plans for each school. (Officer in post and development started)
·
Healthcare
travel plan, both on and off the Island, in co-ordination with the council for
the benefit of patients and service users. (Discussions with PCT and RCC)
·
The
development of transport across the Island, the Solent and beyond will be
co-ordinated through the 5 year Local Transport Plan. This will show how priorities and resources will be developed
across a range of transport issues for health, education, social care, and
tourism. (LTP 1st draft
available July 2005)
·
Planned
development of the Island that incorporates issues from transport and other
major plans will be developed through the Island Plan and the South East
Regional Plan. (Island Plan – Core
strategy in December 2005)
·
The
Council will work to provide benefits for public transport users through
partnerships with transport providers, both locally, across the Solent and
regionally to provide an interlinked transport network and infrastructure
through joint planning and operating skills.
·
The Tourism
development plan will give visitors a choice to visit the Island without a
car. (Tourism Development Plan
available July 2005)
·
The
Council will work with our partner authorities in Southampton, Portsmouth and
Hampshire to improve access to and from the Island.
·
Demand
management will be used to encourage responsible use of the car. (Uniform Car Parking Charges and red bus
lanes commenced)
·
Public
transport development and education on its benefits.
·
The
health and other benefits of walking and cycling.
·
Reduce
the price of public transport to increase ridership, widen discounted fares,
and offer incentive fares.
·
Make
public transport "nicer" - clean, comfortable, staff friendly to all
customers.
·
Improve
bus journey times - bus lanes, prioritised traffic lights. (Experimental system
in Newport)
·
Develop
the role of Wightbus or alternative provider as community transport.
·
Develop
rail services as part of the transport network, which involves the community.
(Community Rail Partnership commenced).
·
Promotion
and development of walking & cycling routes, especially in urban areas.
·
Make
public transport more convenient - on-demand via a transport call centre; use
taxis; widely available tickets; through ticketing; common tickets; community
transport schemes; good information;
·
Make
public transport more accessible - people with mobility problems; visitors with
luggage; parents with buggies & shopping.
(Improvements with new buses)
·
Provide
investment in a safe, well maintained, road system, including a network for
buses, lorries and coaches, through for example private finance initiatives or
other forms of investment initiatives. (PFI bid in future)
·
Incorporate
accident reduction schemes into the development of roads.
·
Provide
freight facilities that suit the needs of the Island, including a distribution
centre for freight to improve capacity and support the economy. (Planning
Application made).
·
Development
of walking and cycling facilities in urban areas; Quiet Lanes; Home Zones.
·
Provide
modern interchange facilities at access ports to the Island, and at major hubs.
(e.g. Ryde Interchange)
·
Employers
to be encouraged to provide home working opportunities for staff where
appropriate.
·
Employers
to encourage the use of flexitime, amongst other reasons to assist employees
who want to travel to and from work outside peak travel times.
·
Maximize
opportunities to use technology to provide access to information, services and
goods, which assist convenience and can reduce the need to travel.
·
Ensure
that new planned development of houses, services and facilities takes place at
locations, which ensure that access by walking; cycling and public transport is
maximized. This to be achieved as far
as possible through the normal Planning processes including the Island Plan
(Local Development Framework). (Core Strategy by December)
·
Encourage
local products and services for local customers, so that travel of goods back
and forth to the mainland is minimised.