Issue - meetings

Keynsham Transport Strategy

Meeting: 11/11/2014 - Planning, Transport and Environment Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (Item 54)

Keynsham Transport Strategy

The Panel will receive a presentation relating to this item.

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Minutes:

Nick Richardson, Mott MacDonald gave a presentation to the Panel on the Keynsham Transport Strategy. A copy is available online as an appendix to these minutes and on the Panel’s Minute Book. A summary is set out below.

 

Vision

 

To minimise the negative effects of traffic congestion in and around Keynsham and ensuring it retains its independence and its separate identity within an attractive rural setting by becoming a more sustainable, desirable and well-connected place in which to live and work.

 

Objectives

 

·  Minimising the future increase in traffic congestion

·  Supporting and enabling the local economy

·  Promoting sustainable mobility

·  Improving connections, particularly to improved rail services and the town centre

·  Improving the quality of life for residents

·  Ensuring that all traffic management and pedestrian schemes are designed to take mobility needs in to account

 

Traffic Demand

 

·  Congestion is predicted to worsen with large increases in journey times through Keynsham if nothing is done

·  Capacity of the High Street and its junctions is a key constraint

 

Rail Improvements

 

Continued co-operation between local authorities will help maximise the benefits of the service improvements:

·  Improved accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists, nearby bus stop

·  Increased car and cycle parking

·  Improved security

 

Bus Services

 

·  Better multi-media service information (joint initiative between operators, the Council and users)

·  Improved links between bus and rail services

·  Revised fare structure, especially for inter-urban services

·  Measures to reduce delays to buses e.g. as part of capacity improvements at key junctions.

 

Walking & Access for All

 

Improved walking network will support a shift from motorised modes - ‘more people, more active, more often’ in line with the council’s ‘Fit for Life’ Strategy

·  Needs of mobility impaired people to take into account age structure: 23% of residents over age 65

·  Improvements to benefit people with impairments
e.g. crossings, surfacing, lighting, access to bus stops

 

Cycling

 

·  Short term - improve access to schools through consultation with local cycle groups and schools;

·  Medium to long term – new routes taking into account the recent Sustrans review

·  More secure cycle parking at the rail station, workplaces, residential developments, leisure facilities and town centre

·  Promotion of the new cycle routes through leaflets, route maps, school liaison etc.

 

Town Centre & Junction Improvements

 

·  Improvements to key junctions will reduce the level of delays

·  Two potential layouts were considered with the High Street as one-way southbound

·  Traffic modelling showed a better performance with Ashton Way retained as two-way

·  Long delays were predicted for westbound traffic in the PM peak due to the constraint of High Street / Ashton Way junctions

·  A one-way scheme should be possible with existing traffic levels or for off-peak hours only with future traffic demand

 

Councillor Liz Richardson commented that rural links to Keynsham should also be addressed.

 

The Chair sought assurances that the strategies for Keynsham and Bath were linked.

 

The Strategic Director for Place replied that there was a need to look widely at public transport with the emphasis on a West of England approach. She added that the WoE were reviewing the Joint Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54

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