2.1 Building on LTP1

In many areas of transportation, Lancashire has benefited from increased levels of national funding. In combination with additional sources of funding, including the European Union, for some of our more innovative projects, this has produced a step change within some areas of the County. Lancashire is keen to progress much further and our plans for urban and rural areas are ambitious. We have the commitment and, given the resources, we will complete them in the longer term.

Lancashire has anticipated the changing face of public funding and we have been successful in finding and drawing in other sources of funding to support our transport development. These include use of Single Regeneration Budget, North West Development Agency, Urban and Rural Bus Challenge, European Research and Neighbourhood Renewal funding, creation of a new methodology for Planning Obligations and contributions from partners as diverse as Bus Operators and Primary Care Trusts

Whilst the availability of such funding in the future is difficult to quantify, our consultations clearly show there is cross sector support for an efficient and inclusive transport system. This approach forms the foundation for the progress we intend to achieve in our LTP2. We are proud of what we have achieved in our first LTP.

2.1.1 Reducing Road Casualties

Reducing road casualties is a high priority and we have delivered an integrated programme of engineering, enforcement and training schemes to improve road safety. We run a programme of training courses specifically aimed at the different classes of road user - school children, motorcyclists, motorists and occupational drivers. Inappropriate speed contributes to accidents, so our Speed Awareness Course is designed to change attitudes to speed. It is offered to drivers as an alternative to prosecution for speeding and has proved both popular and effective. We are delighted that it has received the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award. The number of school children participating in our Right Start scheme continues to increase. This scheme has also been commended in the Prince Michael Awards.

On our roads, we have implemented a £1 million annual programme of Local Safety Schemes prioritised to save road casualties. We analysed the pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle movements at the Adelphi roundabout in the student quarter of Preston. After modelling the traffic movements, we redesigned the layout with pedestrian and cyclist crossings. This has increased safety and optimised travel times for all road users, who have expressed a high level of satisfaction with the result.

2.1.2 Improving Public Transport

Where we have improved bus services, they have attracted increased patronage. Quality Bus routes in Lancaster, together with a modern bus station, have contributed to annual growth of 12% on the local network. To extend our network of Quality Bus routes, we are preparing further routes in Lancaster, Preston and East Lancashire. We run the X1 Clitheroe-Manchester service in partnership with the operator, and produced passenger growth of 94% in 2004.

Where communities are beyond the reach of conventional services, we have developed flexible services to meet their specific needs with the help of funding from Rural Bus Challenge and the Countryside Agency.  The latest to be introduced are the Pendle Wayfarer, Rossendale County Rider and Kirkham Link. Urban areas have their own needs. To promote social inclusion in Burnley, we have set up BEST - Burnley Employment Shuttle Transit - with funding from Urban Bus Challenge.

We have raised the standards of comfort and safety for bus passengers and the Bus Industry Awards have regularly recognised our achievements. We are proud that Burnley Bus Station and Chorley Interchange were each awarded the Infrastructure Award, whilst Bowland Transit won both the Bus in the Countryside Award and the Buses for Pleasure Award.

The Southport-Manchester railway line has a busy commuter flow to Southport, Wigan and Manchester. Working with the West of Lancashire Community Rail Partnership, we have made great improvements for the convenience and safety of passengers. We have completed the substantial refurbishment of the station at Parbold and constructed a new bus/rail interchange at Burscough Bridge which offers links to local destinations including Ormskirk and the District Hospital.

2.1.3 Promoting Active Travel

We have implemented a substantial annual programme of cycling schemes including a programme to install automatic counters to monitor the growth of cycling. European Union funds contributed to new routes from areas of need to employment in the Economic Development Zone of Lancaster. We have extended the National Cycle Network, including along the canal towpath from Preston to serve the new residential area of Cottam. Using DfT funds, we have worked with Sustrans to build Links to School in Carnforth, Lancaster, Lytham, Preston and Barnoldswick. With further funding we could build more.

Pupils who walk, cycle or take the bus to school reduce the number of car journeys at peak periods. This reduces traffic congestion and improves air quality. Active travel also provides a valuable opportunity for children to take exercise. Funding from the DfES has enabled us to establish a team of dedicated School Travel Plan Advisers and to provide new facilities in schools. In 2004, 37 School Travel Plans were successfully completed, including Lostock Hall High School where the installation of secure, covered cycle storage has doubled the number of cyclists from 45 to 90. The Fulwood to Broughton path provides a safe route parallel to the busy A6 for students travelling out to Broughton High School as well as for commuters heading into Preston.

2.1.4 Improving Urban and Rural Areas

Participation in the SUCCESS CiVITAS project. Our reward for several years work in promoting new transport ideas for Preston and South Ribble has been the award of EU funding for our CiVITAS proposal. We aim to reinvent transport in Preston and demonstrate a new standard of best practice. Sustainable transport measures will reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

Decriminalised Parking Enforcement was implemented in all districts of Lancashire in September 2004 under the title of ParkWise. This made an immediate impact and will continue to reduce obstruction of carriageways and footways and contribute to greater safety and improved accessibility for vulnerable road users, public transport and goods deliveries, as well as for motorists.

We have taken part in the DfT national pilot for Home Zones and have successfully completed our projects in Morecambe and Burnley. We have also carried out an innovative scheme to improve road safety outside primary schools, with flashing 20mph signs to warn drivers when pupils are crossing the road.

In the heart of Bowland we are introducing a network of Quiet Lanes and Greenways. We have completed the first phase of the North Lancashire Bridleway, which is now attracting riders, cyclists and walkers and bringing new custom to rural businesses. We will improve access to the countryside with a programme of measures in the Rights of Way Improvement Plan to suit all members of the community - walkers, cyclists, equestrians and those who have limited mobility.

2.1.5 Creating and Learning from Best Practice

We are always keen to learn of best practice and to share our experience with other authorities. We have produced and contributed to Good Practice Guides for designing mini roundabouts and puffin crossings and for integrating bicycle and rail journeys. We have been hosts for the Eurocities Mobility Forum and have run a series of learning events to mark our awards as Transport Authority of the Year in 2004 and Beacon Council for Supporting the Rural Economy.

The areas we have identified will require continuing attention alongside the new challenges and opportunities presented by the development and regeneration of Lancashire. Development is happening at an increasing pace in central parts of the County, and latest analysis suggests that the economic gap between parts of Lancashire may be widening. However, there are major transport challenges to be addressed if recent growth is to sustained

The economic trajectory, although upward, is not consistent across the County. Traffic growth and congestion are increasing but at present the levels are not sufficient to warrant congestion charging in most of the County. However, this may need to be addressed in the future and we consider that a trial in Preston as part of the CiVITAS project would be possible. In the meantime, there remain a range of measures available to the partners to ensure that Lancashire’s transport network is run with maximum efficiency for the benefit of its varied users. These measures include continuing investment in Lancashire’s Public Transport Network of bus, community transport, rail, tram and ferry services. A range of demand management measures, including car parking policies, will be employed alongside schemes to reduce dependence upon the car. These will be selected from park & ride, improved transport information, bus priority measures and traffic management schemes, including traffic calming and Home Zones.

Given the diversity of Lancashire, where each area has its own individual challenges, one single response is not appropriate. Preston and Lancaster City Centres have specific packages of measures to manage demand and traffic growth, whilst work in Ribble Valley and Fylde will concentrate on improving accessibility to services and amenities.

The CiVITAS project has rewarded Preston and South Ribble with some additional funding to create a transport system that is something special. We will be working to create a new kind of transport network that we call the Total Transport Network. Our partnership’s involvement in CiVITAS will be a springboard for sustained improvement to the transport system and will be a catalyst for improvements to public transport, walking and cycling.

In order to meet these challenges and opportunities, the LTP partnership has undertaken a number of detailed studies in preparation for our LTP2. These have included a review of potential major schemes and a critical review of the successes and failures of LTP1.  Following a cross-cutting Best Value review, we have created a new transport procurement service to meet the needs of all the County Council. We have reorganised and integrated the transportation, planning and maintenance functions, with devolution to new Area Offices to support the Locality Focus Agenda. The Lancashire Bus Strategy will seek to improve the quality and quantity of bus use and integrate improved service provision with findings from our analysis of transport planning data.

Total Transport Network (ttn)

Our LTP1 described the vision we are working towards for a complete transport solution, which brings together all the best practice and innovation in one location. We are working towards creating the first ttn in Preston and South Ribble. Whereas the first step towards the ttn was taken during our LTP1, CiVITAS has provided the next step with a range of new schemes including an efficient bus network of hybrid vehicles running on electricity and biodiesel. The development of the ttn is part of a 20 year plan. In 2020 we intend Preston and South Ribble to be the showcase for best practice in transport in the UK.

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