Wednesday 29 October 2014
Media Enquiry from Paul Ainsworth, Guernsey Press:
I had a media enquiry for Environment about the progress of the transport strategy.
I know recently the department announced it had turned two parking spaces into eight motorbike spaces, and from memory the higher £2 bus fare was scrapped under the strategy.
Now that around six months has passed since the strategy was approved in the States, could Environment outline what changes have been introduced?
What other new measures are coming next?
Could the department give a rough idea of when the main proposals, contained within the strategy, will come into force? These include the new car duties? Paid parking?
How has the board judged the first six months since the strategy has been introduced?
Environment Department Response:
Following States approval of the Integrated On-Island Transport Strategy the Environment Department's first task was to set up a number of working groups to help prioritise and focus development of the various key work streams that the Strategy has created in relation to cycling, walking, passenger transport and accessible transport. Having appointed a lead officer to oversee Strategy development a small team of three staff has been created to form an Active Travel Unit, as recently announced in the media.
From the list of priorities that has been drawn up, the following actions have already been taken:
- In June the Department negotiated the removal of the £2 standard cash fare from the existing scheduled bus contract;
- Proposals were drawn up for a potential enhanced scheduled bus service as part of a proposed tendering exercise for the renewal of the existing scheduled and integrated schools bus contract;
- Expressions of Interest for the new bus contract were subsequently sought and the Department is now in the process of conducting a first stage evaluation of those bids subsequently submitted;
- Notwithstanding the above, and in keeping with its aim to improve the provision of bus services in the Island, the Department introduced three new bus routes (32, 52 and P1 - Parish Link) as part of the recently introduced Winter 2014 timetable;
- In terms of accessible transport provision, the Department is in the process of finalising the application procedures for applying for up to eight additional nontransferable taxi plates in a new category that will be tied to the use of an accessible vehicle;
- Measures have been introduced to require States members to pay £165 per annum for the use of car parking at Lukis House;
- The drafting of the required legislation and the creation of necessary system and operational requirements to introduce a First Registration Duty based on CO2 emissions and vehicle widths has been completed, with the legislation due to be submitted to the States for approval in December;
- Additional motorcycle parking has been installed at the Crown Pier and other locations for additional motorcycle bays are currently being identified;
- Locations have been identified for a number of cycle hoops and shelters to be installed and subject to planning permission these will be introduced within the next 2 - 3 months. Planning applications for cycle hoops are in the process of being submitted for the Bridge (near to the New Road junction), Southside, St Sampson's (by the zebra crossing) and at the Park Street Triangle. Planning applications for cycle hoops and a shelter are in the process of being submitted for the North Beach car park (adjacent the existing one which is often full to capacity) and at the Bordage car park (which is another popular site);
- Hospital Lane has been identified as a location for additional small parking spaces to be installed. Subject to public consultation via La Gazette Oficielle, these extra spaces should be installed by the end of the year. There are also plans for more locations and these are currently being investigated;
- A programme of road safety promotions has been planned in connection with the Guernsey Police and Living Streets for Road Safety week (17th - 21st November). Further information will be released shortly;
- A programme of improvements has commenced at signalised and zebra crossings to ensure that the height of the kerbs adjacent to the crossings have been dropped to make it easier for those wheelchair users as well as anyone using pushchairs or buggies etc to use the crossing and that blister paving is installed on approach to either side of the zebra crossing to assist anyone with visual impairment. Works have been undertaken at the zebra crossing at Hougues Margues Road/Route des Capelles and works are also being undertaken at the Grange signalised crossing (near Doyle Road) during this current period of roadworks;
- The Department is also taking the opportunity to install dropped kerbs at unofficial crossing points and taking the opportunity to co-ordinate these with other planned roadwork projects to reduce disruption and cost. Such works undertaken thus far include dropped kerbs at the Rue des Landes/Airport junction and at Bank Lane, Vale (by the Northside chip shop);
- Review of road safety and traffic management around schools. Significant work has been undertaken at the Vale School and work has now started at St Martin's and Capelles Schools.
Work has also commenced on the following projects:
- Paid Parking. Initial investigations into the types of pay and display machines and phone and internet payment methods that could be used;
- Extending and revising the existing Residents parking scheme;
- The creation of an Active Travel website, including a car share website;
- The development of Travel plans;
- A review of the eastern cycle path;
- Campaigns and literature to advise motorists of the dangers and illegal practice of parking on pavements and pavement surfing;
- A safety review of unofficial crossing points along Glategny Esplanade and the Town Quay;
- Review of speed limits.
ENDS
