Agenda item

In June 2012, Surrey County Council was successful in securing an award of £14.3 million in grant funding from the Department for Transport’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF). This is in addition to the award of £3.9 million LSTF Key Component secured in July 2011. Both grants are for the period up to 31 March 2015 and jointly form the Surrey Travel SMART programme. As part of the programme, a total of £4.8million has been allocated for sustainable travel improvements in Redhill/Reigate. This report provides an update on progress and asks members to consider a number of bus clearway improvements, and cycle route improvements.

The Committee:

(i) AGREED the proposed bus stop clearways are introduced at the existing bus stops along the improved quality bus corridors (Redhill-Merstham (bus routes 430/435), and Earlswood-Whitebushes (bus routes 420/460, 430/435, 424) as specified in Annexes A and B to the report submitted.

(ii) AGREED the proposed cycle route improvements to the National Cycle Route (NCR 21) be approved for construction.

(iii) AGREED the proposed cycle route improvements to St Annes Drive (Redhill) be approved for construction including the conversion of the western footway between Noke Drive and the traffic island near Warwick School to shared pedestrian and cycle use.

(iv) AGREED the proposed improvements submitted by the Reigate and Redhill Business Travel Forums outlined in Annexes H and I to the report submitted, be approved to proceed to delivery.

(v) AGREED to delegate authority for decision making on the final round of business travel forum schemes to the Head of Travel and Transport in consultation with the Chair of the Reigate and Banstead Local Committee and the LSTF Task Group.

(vi) NOTED the progress of the 2014/15 Travel SMART Wayfinding programme for Redhill.

REASONS:

1. Buses require parallel alignment to the kerb to deploy ramping and kneeling equipment. This allows step-free access for wheelchair users, those with mobility problems and easier boarding/alighting for all passengers.

2. Parked vehicles within bus stops prevent this access.

3. Reliability of buses is improved if the vehicles are able to approach, stop and depart bus stops without hindrance, improving accuracy of scheduled bus stopping times and encouraging usage of sustainable transport

4. Bus stop clearways enable Borough enforcement officers to issue penalty charge notices on offending vehicles thereby discouraging inconsiderate parking.

5. Walking and cycling improvements provide better accessibility and opportunity for people to travel sustainably, helping to reduce congestion.

6. All business travel forum submissions meet LSTF objectives and fall within agreed funding allocations for 2014/15.

7. Providing delegated approval on the final round of Business Travel Forum schemes will enable these to be delivered before the project deadline of March 2015.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Marc Woodhall Sustainable Transport Managerand Alison Houghton Senior Transport Officer (Infrastructure)

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Member Discussion – key points:

Members discussed the installation of 50 bus stop clearways to allow people greater accessibility at bus stops with buses being able to pull up and away smoothly. This would also improve buses being able to keep to schedule.

Members asked if residents would be consulted on the introduction of the clearways, officers confirmed that residents would be written to.