1.2 Key Achievements

1.2.1 Lancashire Road Safety Project

The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety manages the Lancashire Road Safety Project, one of the largest safety camera partnerships with a network of almost 300 fixed camera sites. It also has eight mobile camera vehicles which operate from 74 core sites and a further 72 sites of community concern put forward by the Community Safety Partnerships. The Central Ticket Office is recognised as being one of the most efficient offices in the country.

Cameras have successfully reduced both speeds and road casualties at camera sites. The Department for Transport's fourth year evaluation report on the National Safety Camera Programme shows reductions in Lancashire of 19.8% in personal injury collisions and 24.8% in killed or serious injury collisions. Traffic is travelling more slowly at camera sites, with speeds down 16% based on 85th percentile speeds.

The Partnership fully recognised the benefits of an education policy running alongside enforcement and through Lancashire County Council was the first  to develop a Speed Awareness Course as an alternative to prosecution. This training course is recognised nationally and in 2004 was awarded the Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety Award.

The enforcement and education undertaken by the Partnership is supported by a robust and effective communication strategy which promotes road safety through campaigns against speeding and drink driving and promoting the wearing of seat belts in support of the Think! campaigns mounted by the Department for Transport.

The Partnership is committed to continuing the Road Safety Project for the duration of the second Local Transport Plan and will seek every opportunity to work together in all areas of road safety to maximize the potential to reduce casualties.

1.2.2 Capitol Centre Park & Ride

The Capitol Centre Park & Ride, south of Preston at Walton-le-Dale, opened in December 2002. It was the final element of the M65 Interface Improvements scheme and the construction cost was £3.2 million. With land costs included the total capital expenditure was £6.5 million. The scheme was financed by Lancashire County Council with a 50% Transport Supplementary Grant from the Department for Transport.

The Park & Ride was delivered to reduce congestion and pollution in Preston by reducing the number of car journeys into the city centre. It will also reduce parking problems and contribute towards the maintenance of a healthy and prosperous City. The site is served by a 6-minute frequency bus service that runs non stop into the city centre. The buses are high specification, low-floor vehicles that are wheelchair and pushchair accessible and bear a distinctive Park & Ride livery. The site has been selected by the DfT as an example of good design for people with mobility problems.

The number of cars using the car park are;

2003	198,000
2004	261,000
2005	274,800

Revenue has steadily increased and now meets the running costs of the service.

The operation provides on site;

• 810 parking spaces with designated, priority spaces for motorcycles, people with mobility impairment and parents with children
• Secure parking with 2m high fencing, full lighting and CCTV
• Cycle racks and lockers to encourage cycle and ride
• Manned kiosk for ticket sales and customer assistance
• Bus shelter with real time bus information.

Highway works

• For access by car, Capitol Way was widened and a new mini-roundabout was constructed
• For access by bus, a purpose built, bus-only link road was constructed 
• Traffic signals at the junction of Victoria Road and A6 London Way
• Bus priority is provided at all traffic signals along the route
• Variable Message Signs on the approach showing the available spaces within the car park.

In the City Centre

• A dedicated bus stop with a shelter in the heart of the city centre with real time bus information.

1.2.3 New Bus Stations

In partnership with the City and Borough Councils, we have opened key bus stations in;

• Lancaster, 2001  
• Burnley, 2002, and
• Chorley Interchange, 2003.

Each station has an enclosed passenger concourse providing a dramatic improvement on the old building. Each new bus station is part of a local programme to upgrade local transport, including the introduction of Quality Bus services. Each is also a prestigious landmark in the town centre which gives prominence to public transport. The measures have produced significant growth in bus patronage, and the benefits to the travelling public have been recognised by major awards to Burnley bus station and Chorley Interchange.

Lancaster suffers from severe traffic congestion, and good public transport is necessary to reduce the number of car journeys into the city centre. The new bus station and Quality Bus routes featuring bus lanes and priority measures have persuaded new passengers to use the buses, and personalised travel planning will encourage still more.

At 34%, the proportion of households in Burnley who do not own a car is the highest in Lancashire. Public transport is essential for many local journeys and the new bus station complements the Mainline Quality Bus corridor in raising the standard of travel by bus. The bus station has also been the catalyst for the regeneration of the surrounding area, including a new Tesco superstore.

Chorley Interchange is linked to the railway station which has been upgraded as part of the scheme. It plays an important role in the local bus network which serves the new homes and businesses in Buckshaw Urban Village and the adjoining Regional Investment Site. The Interchange is at the centre of the plan to upgrade local bus services under the DfT Kickstart programme. The new service, Network Chorley, will offer greatly improved access to town centre services, healthcare and shopping, particularly from areas of disadvantage, beginning in July 2006.

1.2.4 Safer Travel Unit

Rather than being the cause of trouble, young people are more likely to be the victims of abuse, threats or even violence whilst travelling on a bus. In September 2001 Lancashire County Council completed a survey of school bus travel which raised a number of concerns, mainly about personal safety.

The Safer Travel Unit was set up to improve the confidence of passengers on buses and waiting at bus stops and stations in Lancashire. It  has played an important regional and national role in developing strategies for making school transport safe and enjoyable, including education programmes, reporting procedures and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts. It has introduced CCTV to school buses and has established a protocol for preparing film from CCTV as evidence.

Early education of children can be effective in reducing anti-social behaviour and the main focus on education has been on children up to 12 years of age. The Unit has had notable success in reducing anti-social behaviour and bullying. This has brought improved travel to pupils in general and in particularly bad cases of bullying it has changed their lives.

The Safer Travel Unit has firmly established itself as a quality service provider to its main stakeholders - Schools, Bus Operators, Pupils, Parents and the Passenger Transport Units of both Lancashire County Council and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. It has received regional and national recognition and has also demonstrated best practice to other transport authorities.

The Safer Travel Unit also works closely with its colleagues within the Lancashire Community Safety Partnerships. Partnership working has introduced CCTV at bus shelters, shared statistical information, shared offender information and innovative education schemes. The Children’s Fund has been a significant partner and provides ongoing financial commitment.

Since the formation of the Safer Travel Unit we have seen a substantial reduction in the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour being reported;

Table 1.3 Incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour

Incidents of Anti-Social Behaviour
Year	Number of Incidents	Reduction
2003-04	2091 Sept-August
2004-05	1661 Sept-August	21%
2005-06	606   Sept-Dec 2005-06	27% cf Sept-Dec 2004-05

1.2.5 Parking Management

The Police previously undertook parking enforcement but resourcing this role competed with other important functions. In 2004, Lancashire County Council co-ordinated the introduction of decriminalised parking across the County in conjunction with the 12 District Councils as the ParkWise partnership. The title was chosen to reflect the strong emphasis on educating the public to park wisely with enforcement as a complementary activity.

Introduction of the Parkwise system cost £1.95 million. The County Council provides the central administration and the District Councils the local delivery. The operational scheme is self-financing. The new approach has resulted in vastly improved levels of enforcement and enhanced operation of the highway network.

ParkWise has been complemented by the appointment of a Traffic Manager for the County under the Traffic Management Act. The Traffic Manager works closely with ParkWise to address issues affecting the local network. Active management of bus lanes is one topic that is currently under investigation.

On-street parking charges using Pay & Display ticket machines have been introduced into the historic cores of Lancaster and Preston. They have helped enhance the local environment by reducing traffic congestion. District Councils also respond to requests for Residents Only Parking. Preston and Lancaster currently have the greatest number of schemes in operation.

Table 1.4 Local Transport Plan Key Achievements

Measures	Outcome	Protect natural and built environments and biodiversity	Improve safety for all transport users	Reduce  number and length of journeys	Maintain and expand sustainable economic activity	Promote accessibility to services	Realise the potential of public transport	Address the transport issues of rural areas	Integrate land use and transport planning	Integrate all forms of transport	Enhance social inclusion through choice of transport
Quality Bus Partnerships	Improved bus stops, reduced delays to buses and new low floor vehicles have attracted a significant growth in bus use.
Information and Ticketing	Development of NoWcard as the first ITSA standard smartcard. Information provided for bus users and car drivers.
Interchanges	New major interchanges at Lancaster, Burnley and Chorley plus minor interchange development.
Rail	Improvements to stations, integration and promotion have increased passenger numbers.
Cycling	Extended cycle network has increased numbers of cyclists.
Pedestrian Priority	Improved accessibility to local services on foot.
Rural	Improved rural bus services have increased accessibility to services. Quiet Roads and bridleways have enhanced safe access to the countryside.
Parking Management	Decriminalised parking enforcement introduced to  all 12 districts.
School Travel Plans	The growth of   journeys to school by car has been halted. There is evidence of some reduction
Business Travel Plans	Over 200 Business Travel Plans introduced.
Highways and Traffic Management	UTMC systems introduced to major towns. Construction of Gillibrand Link Road, Chorley.
Street Lighting, Crime Reduction and Energy Saving	Schemes have improved the confidence of people to walk after dark.
Lancashire Road Safety Project	Speed awareness courses and safety campaigns  linked to speed enforcement by Lancashire Road Safety Project.
20 mph zones	Reduced speeds in residential areas improving quality of life.
Local Safety Schemes	Schemes are prioritised on their forecast reduction in casualties. Traffic also removed from unsuitable routes and speeds reduced to improve quality of life.
Civitas Sustainable Transport project in Preston and South Ribble	Real Time passenger information and improved pedestrian routes. Plans developed for access control & personalised travel planning.
Bridge Maintenance & Strengthening	Maintenance of over 1,460 bridges and over 370km of retaining walls.
Highway Maintenance	Maintenance of a network of over 6,500km of highway.

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