The Joint Local Transport Plan sets out how
we plan to deliver an improved transport
service across the district.
The Joint Local Transport Plan 2 expired at the end
of March. Its replacement has now been prepared and is called
the
Joint Local Transport Plan 3 (JLTP3).
It is a joint plan with Bristol City Council, Bath and
North East Somerset Council and South Gloucestershire Council. The
four authorities work collectively as the
West of England
Partnership. This partnership gives us greater influence
locally and nationally and gives us greater ability to attract
funding.
The plan is in three parts:
- The Strategy sets out our long term policy view and vision for
the years 2011-2026.
- The Delivery Plan will be prepared in 2011 and will set
out how we propose to achieve the proposals in the shorter
term.
- The Supplementary Documents cover walking, parking, public
transport, traffic management and freight, smarter choices, road
safety, cycling and rural transport in more detail.
The JLTP3 is based around five key goals:
- Reduce carbon emissions
- Support economic growth
- Promote equality of opportunity
- Contribute to better safety, security and health
- Improve quality of life and create a healthy natural
environment.
As well as securing annual funding the plan also sets out the
major funding bids we intend to make. We are currently working
on a number of bids to central government for significant
investment in North Somerset.
Ashton Vale to Temple Meads Rapid Transit will link Long
Ashton Park and Ride site to Bristol city centre. It will
feature segregated bus lanes on parts of the route to give rapid,
reliable and frequent journey times. A 'Best and Final Bid' has now
been made to the Department for Transport (DfT) for funding to
construct the rapid transit link. The DfT has indicated
that it will advise us if the bid has been successful by the
end of December. The bid can be viewed on the
Travel
Plus website.
Weston
Package is a range of measures aimed at supporting
sustainable development in the town and immediate area. A 'Best and
Final Bid' has now been made to the DfT for funding to construct
the weston package. The DfT has indicated that it will advise
us if the bid has been successful by the end of December. The bid
can be viewed on the Travel
Plus website.
The
South
Bristol Link extends the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads Rapid
Transit line from the Long Ashton Park and Ride Site to Hengrove
Park along new and existing carriageway. A 'Best and Final Bid' has
now been made to the DfT for funding to construct the link.
The DfT has indicated that it will advise us if the bid
has been successful by the end of December. The bid can be viewed
on the Travel
Plus website.
We are currently working with Network Rail to consider options
along the former
Portishead Rail Corridor.
On 18 October 2010, we published a Single Option Report
undertaken by Network Rail on our behalf.
North Somerset Council's deputy leader, whose portfolio includes
strategic planning and transport, Cllr Elfan Ap Rees, said he was
very encouraged by the findings.
"Network Rail has examined all the options and associated
engineering implications very thoroughly and while the estimated
costs are higher than previously thought, the train journey times
are much better (quicker) than we had initially estimated.
"The re-opening of the line would put an end to years of
commuting misery with a journey time into Bristol from Portishead
of around 17 minutes. This would represent a considerable time
saving for residents of Portishead and surrounding villages who
currently have limited travel choices into Bristol, with traffic
congestion on the A369 meaning that commuter journeys often take an
hour or more."
For more information visit
the
Joint Local Transport Plan website or contact our
Transport
Policy team.
