Appendix J Traffic Flow Level Analysis

Traffic Flows to Urban Centres

This section uses the information collected for the LTP6 mandatory indicators to describe traffic flows and conditions in a number of Lancashire’s urban areas. The conditions in Preston, Burnley and Lancaster are considered and an analysis of their changes over time is presented.

Mandatory Indicator LTP6: Changes in peak period traffic flows to urban centres

This indicator has been collected through continuously monitored automatic traffic counts in a cordon within easy walking distance to the edge of the town centre. The data used only includes Monday to Friday (excluding periods affected by Bank Holidays and exceptional events) during neutral months of April, May, September and October. Cordons include all classified roads and any other roads whose flow is around 2,000 vehicles per day or above. The periods included are 7:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 19:00 both inbound and outbound have been monitored. Results are appropriate to represent financial years and base year used is 2003/4.

In Lancashire the areas that are deemed mandatory for this indicator are Preston and Burnley/Nelson. In view of the severe traffic congestion problems Lancashire has established a network of permanent traffic monitoring that covers these areas plus other areas that suffer from severe traffic congestion. and also includes Lancaster/Morecambe.

Preston Cordon

The total inbound and outbound traffic flows on the Preston cordon have increased for both 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 years.

am Peak

The greatest increase in traffic flow has occurred in the am peak between 07:00 and 08:00 for the inbound direction. This has occurred in 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. The increase in flow during the traditional morning peak hour and the subsequent hour is not significant. The observed results indicate that peak period is spreading and is most significant prior to 08:00.

pm Peak

Traffic flows have increases during all assessed time periods for both inbound and outbound directions with the outbound being the greatest between 17:00 and 19:00.

Am Peak

Pm Peak

Burnley Cordon 

The total inbound and outbound traffic flows on the Burnley cordon have increased for both 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 years, except the am period outbound for 2003-2004 where no growth occurred.

am Peak

The greatest increase in traffic flow generally occurred between 08:00 and 10:00 in both directions during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. A slight reduction in traffic flow was observed in 2003-2004 in the outbound direction for certain time periods.

pm Peak

Traffic flows have increases during most assessed time periods for both inbound and outbound directions with the outbound having the greatest increase.

Am Peak

Pm Peak

Lancaster Cordon

The total inbound and outbound traffic flows on the Lancaster cordon have increased for both 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 years, except the am period inbound for 2003-2004 where slight traffic reduction was observed.

Am Peak

Traffic flow has generally increased on the cordon for all time periods, with exceptions of the inbound 2003-2004 between 08:00-10:00 where a reduction was observed. The observed results indicate that peak period is spreading and is most significant prior to 08:00.

Pm Peak

The increase in traffic flows are only slight with individual periods hours showing either slight no negative growth. Peak period spreading is present for much of the assessed period, as can be seen by the profiles.

Am Peak

Pm Peak

Indicator LTP6 Trajectory

Traffic flow into Lancashire’s main urban areas (Preston, Burnley and Lancaster) between 07:00 and 10:00 increased by 1.5% in 2005. The ‘do nothing’ trajectory uses an average value from LCCs continuously monitored cordons. The ‘do something’ trajectory limits growth to 1% per year during the LTP2 period. This trajectory uses 2003/4 as a base year.