1 Impact of the Local Transport Plan

1.1 What Difference has the Local Transport Plan Made to Lancashire

The first Local Transport Plan was prepared in 2000, building on the proposals to integrate transport developed in the packages for urban areas. Resources to implement the packages were limited and the key problems facing the LTP included;

• A lack of inward investment to a low wage economy;
• High levels of road casualties;
• Declining bus patronage with poor infrastructure and vehicles;
• An increasing backlog of maintenance on the principal and non-principal road network;
• Difficulties in accessing key services particularly in rural areas; and
• Poor travel planning information for schools, businesses and individuals.

The Department for Transport set the five themes of the environment, safety, the economy, accessibility and integration which complemented our own Transport Vision of:

• A transport system as environmentally friendly as possible;
• Safe, reliable and enjoyable journeys by all modes;
• Transport reduces delays, supports sustainable economic activity and moves freight by the most efficient means; and
• A true choice of access to employment and amenities that promotes social inclusion.

Working towards these themes has required us to take a more holistic view of transport. Through broader consultation we are more aware of the travel needs of individuals and communities. Our new partnerships have identified the benefits to society, industry and the environment of a good transport network. We have contributed to the programmes of our partners to achieve their objectives. Our Locality Agenda has devolved decision making to a district level and the Parish Partnership involves parish and town councils. The regular Life in Lancashire poll reflects the views of the people of Lancashire.

We have worked with our partners to consider accessibility in its widest sense and to take account of the need to travel within their programmes. We have contributed to the Elevate programme in East Lancashire, the Tithebarn Development in Preston, the Lancashire Rural Partnership and Local Area Agreements. Good access by all modes of transport brings vitality and employment to commercial centres. Bridleways, cycleways and footpaths promote sustainable tourism which brings valuable support to the rural economy.

In the five years of the Local Transport Plan, we have carried out a broad programme of schemes to improve travel and accessibility and to meet wider objectives. We have invested over £140 million of LTP Integrated Block and Maintenance capital allocations, together with an additional £5 million for Major Schemes and a further £229 million from the County Council’s revenue budgets. Additional support of £7.5 million has been secured from sources such as Urban and Rural Bus Challenge, developer contributions and regeneration funding.

Table 1.1 Capital Expenditure

	2001/02 million	2002/03 million	2003/04 million	2004/05 million	2005/06 million	5 Year Total million
Allocation	£27.830	£29.740	£25.388	£29.209	£25.870	£142.366
Out-turn Spend	£27.326	£32.080	£29.114	£35.095	£28.036	£151.651
Difference	-2%	+8%	+15%	+20%	+8%	+7%

Table 1.2 Revenue Expenditure

	2001/02 million	2002/03 million	2003/04 million	2004/05 million	2005/06 million	5 Year Total million
FSS Allocation	£40.056	£40.887	£38.102	£42.780	45.258	£207.083
Out-turn Spend	£41.383	£44.568	£44.603	£47.034	£51.787	£229.385
Difference	+3%	+9%	+17%	+10%	+14%	+11%

We are on track to meet, or have already achieved, 87.5% of our core targets and 75% of our local targets.

1.1.1 Reduced Road Casualties

We have improved road safety and reduced road casualties through an integrated programme of Local Safety Schemes, training schemes for all road users and speed enforcement through the Lancashire Road Safety Project. The number of people killed or seriously injured on our roads has been reduced from the 1994/98 average. Our programme brought steady reductions in the early years of the plan but further reductions have proved difficult to achieve. New approaches will be needed through LTP2 to move forward to the 2010 targets.

Area calming schemes have reduced casualties and improved the environment, particularly in areas of disadvantage. They have also encouraged residents to make their local journeys on foot and by bicycle. The increase in the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured is a significant problem.

1.1.2 Improved Bus Services

Two Park & Ride sites have reduced the number of car journeys into Preston City Centre, reducing congestion, improving air quality and making the centre more attractive to visitors, workers and residents. We have identified Air Quality Management Areas where we will work to reduce vehicle emissions and improve air quality.

Since 2003/04, bus passengers have increased by 6%. Quality Bus Partnerships linked to new bus stations in Lancaster, Burnley and Chorley and real-time information have made bus travel more convenient. In rural areas, Demand Responsive bus services and rural interchanges have improved links to market towns and to new Community Resource Centres. The Safer Travel Unit has successfully tackled antisocial behaviour on public transport, particularly on school buses.

We have used new technology to make transport information more widely available so that it is easier for travellers to plan their journeys. Real time bus information is displayed on routes in Preston and real time driver information on delays and parking availability is displayed on the approaches to Preston, Burnley and Chorley. The numbers of requests for public transport information has risen steadily over the five years and satisfaction with that information grew from 59% in 2000 to 61% in 2003/04.

1.1.3 Additional Spending on Highway Maintenance

We have supplemented the annual Maintenance Allocation for Highways and Structures with our own funds. In addition, we have developed the Transport Asset Management Plan to offer more efficient ways of working. Whilst the condition of all three classes of highway - Principal, Non-principal and Unclassified roads - meets the Department for Transport’s classification for good condition based on scanner surveys, monitoring by deflectograph indicates a decline in condition of 2% per year.

1.1.4 Better Access to Services

Good access to services is a requirement of social inclusion. Making the Connections, the transport report of the Social Exclusion Unit, identified the four essential services as employment, education, healthcare and shopping for healthy, affordable food. We have implemented schemes to improve access to them all.

Quality Bus routes now serve urban centres and supermarkets in Lancaster, Preston, Chorley, Blackburn and Accrington, and Burnley, Nelson and Colne. We have worked with the Building Schools for the Future programme in Burnley and Pendle to provide bus services to meet the new travel patterns of pupils.

1.1.5 Better Access to Healthcare

We have been particularly active in improving access to healthcare. We joined the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust at the beginning of their Clinical Review and assisted them in their accessibility planning for patients, staff and visitors. As part of the EU Optimum 2 programme we are developing a patient travel plan for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust which will integrate travel and appointment times.

Working through the Rural Transport Partnerships and with Primary Care Trusts, we have organised three Dial-a-Ride services from rural areas to hospitals and health centres. With the help of Rural Bus Grant, we have supported conventional bus services to hospitals in Preston and Chorley, whilst Quality Bus partnerships on important urban corridors have brought a higher standard of commercial service to hospitals in Preston, Lancaster and Accrington.

In many cases our schemes have brought direct benefits to health. Local Safety Schemes have been prioritised to reduce the number of road casualties. Better traffic management has brought freer flowing traffic and higher air quality. Improved networks for active travel have led to more exercise and better health and fitness, linked to programmes under the Walking the Way to Health Initiative.

1.1.6 Progress on Major Schemes

We have taken forward our plans for five major transport schemes. We completed the Park & Ride at the Capitol Centre as the final element of the M65 Interface Improvements. The scheme is operating successfully with the revenue meeting the running costs.

In partnership with Blackpool Council, we submitted a bid to the DfT for badly needed renewal work on the Blackpool-Fleetwood tramway and have received funding of £10.7m. This will help to keep the tramway north of Cleveleys in operation, but further substantial investment will be required to secure the tramway’s future.

The traffic modelling and environmental appraisal for the Heysham-M6 Link has been completed. The Business Case was submitted to the DfT with LTP2 and we have prepared a planning application.

We are working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council to prepare a business case for an advanced bus scheme, the East Lancashire Rapid Transit. This has been accepted in the Regional Funding Allocation programme covering the next three years.

We have commissioned the Environmental Impact Analysis and Traffic Modelling for A570 Ormskirk Bypass with a view to the preparation of a Major Scheme bid.

Figure 1.1 Percentage of people satisfied/dissatisfied with services in their area

Figure 1.2 LTP1 Expenditure by theme

Figure 1.3 Integrated transport expenditure

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