1.3 Delivery of Major Schemes
We have taken forward our plans for five major transport schemes.
1. Capitol Centre Park & Ride, Preston
We completed the Park & Ride at the Capitol Centre in 2002 as the final element of the M65 Interface Improvements. The scheme is operating successfully with the revenue meeting the costs of running it.
2. Blackpool-Fleetwood Tramway
In July 2005, in partnership with Blackpool Council, we submitted a bid for the renewal of the tramway infrastructure and rolling stock and this bid remains under consideration by the DfT. In June 2006, again in partnership with Blackpool Council, we submitted a further bid for badly needed renewal work on the Blackpool-Fleetwood tramway. We have received funding of £10.7m which will help to keep the tramway north of Cleveleys in operation, but further substantial investment will be required to secure the tramway’s future.
3. Heysham-M6 Link
Phase 1 of the Heysham-M6 Link, from Heysham to Morecambe Road, Lancaster opened to traffic in 1994. The bypass will only be completed by the construction of the length from Morecambe Road to M6 Junction 34. The motorway junction will be rebuilt to meet current standards and provide extra capacity. In the meantime, traffic from the south heading for the port and employment areas of Heysham still has to use the congested gyratory systems and bridges of the city centre. We have completed;
- the traffic modelling,
- environmental appraisal, and
- regeneration and economic development assessment.
The Business Case was submitted to the DfT with LTP2 in March 2006 and we have prepared a planning application.
4. East Lancashire Rapid Transit
The East Lancashire Rapid Transit has been accepted in the Regional Funding Allocation programme covering the next three years. We are developing this advanced bus scheme in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, the Lancashire Economic Partnership and Elevate, the Housing Market Renewal programme. We have identified the Darwen - Blackburn - Accrington corridor as a priority and elements of the scheme are currently being appraised. We have completed an outline Business Case and Cost Benefit analysis and are now setting up a framework which will allow us to appraise the scheme through the DfT's Major Schemes programme.
5. A570 Ormskirk Bypass
Congestion in the centre of Ormskirk delays through traffic on the A570 and obstructs access to Ormskirk Hospital and other
local services. In LTP2, Ormskirk Bypass follows the Heysham-M6 Link in priority as a major road scheme. We have commissioned
the Environmental Impact Analysis and Traffic Modelling with a view to the preparation of a Major Scheme bid.