1.6 What has Worked Well and What Might be Done Differently
1.6.1 What has worked well
Corporate Objectives
The first Local Transport Plan had a Vision of;
- A transport system as environmentally friendly as possible
- Safe reliable and enjoyable journeys by all modes
- Transport that reduces delays, supports sustainable economic activity and moves freight by the most efficient means
- A true choice of access to employment and amenities that promotes social inclusion.
The Local Transport Plan has contributed significantly to the County Council’s Corporate Objective to make Lancashire a place where people can travel easily and safely. It has also contributed to the wider objectives for people to feel safe, lead healthy lives, work and prosper, and enjoy a high quality environment.
Transport Procurement
Following a thorough consultation exercise as part of the Best Value Review of Transport Procurement, we have separated the functions of transport provider and transport operator. A new Passenger Transport Unit was set up in 2004 to provide a better service for all its stakeholders. It brings together all the planning and procurement of public transport services throughout the County, including local bus services, community transport, and Home to School, Special Education Needs and Social Services transport. Reviews are underway on Home to School transport and subsidised bus transport which, together with other exercises, are expected to produce efficiency savings.
Road Safety Programme
We have successfully reduced the number of road casualties in Lancashire through an integrated road safety programme. We are on target to meet the national Targets for 2010 and are looking for new initiatives to maintain this progress. Through schools, we run training schemes for young pedestrians and cyclists and our Speed Awareness Course has been adopted as the national model by the Department for Transport. As a further action, we have developed the RiDE course to improve the skills of motorcycle riders. Local Safety Schemes include engineering and innovative measures and we have built up a large database showing the effectiveness of different designs. Schemes are prioritised in order of their forecast ability to save casualties and achieve a financial return exceeding 200% in their first year. The Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety maintains a network of almost 300 safety cameras. It also campaigns against drink-driving and promotes the use of seatbelts, and will look for further opportunities to reduce casualties.
Public Transport
We have constructed new bus stations in Lancaster, Burnley and Chorley. In Chorley, the bus and railway station have been linked to create Chorley Interchange. The new bus stations have been co-ordinated with the introduction of Quality Bus services in these centres, as well as in Preston and Hyndburn. We have introduced real time information into routes in Preston and have made travel information more readily available across the whole County. Together, these measures have dramatically improved the experience of public transport. They have persuaded new passengers to use the bus and have reversed the long decline in bus patronage.
Best Practice
We are always keen to learn how other authorities deal with problems and are grateful for the advice they have given us. We have also been happy to demonstrate to others the schemes that we are implementing in Lancashire. We have taken part in several pilot projects, including UTMC 29A, Quiet Lanes and Greenways and Homezones. We held a day of workshops to mark our award as the Local Transport Authority of the Year in 2004. We have contributed to several working groups, including the DfT projects on Sustainability and Scanner Surveys, and we assisted in the production of the Best Practice Guide for Negative Textured Surfaces. On behalf of the CSS, we have managed the production of Good Practice Guides for Mini Roundabouts and Puffin Crossings.
With the assistance of Rural Bus Challenge funding, we have introduced a series of innovative rural transport services. We completed the Mary Towneley Loop for the Countryside Agency and produced the Pennine Bridleway Guidelines to help other authorities. We introduced the Bowland Initiative as a rural pathfinder for MAFF/DEFRA, and have developed it into Lancashire Rural Futures. As a Beacon Council for Supporting the Rural Economy we held a series of workshops throughout 2004/05.
Awards
We have strived for high standards in delivering our schemes and we are pleased that our efforts have been rewarded so often with recognition from national bodies and our peers. Success across such a broad front led to the award of Local Transport Authority of the Year in 2004. People outside Lancashire sometimes do not realise what extensive areas of attractive countryside we have here. We have worked hard to support our rural communities and were awarded the status of Beacon Council in 2003. In addition to our winning projects, several more have gained commendations. We have established a reputation for excellence and will do our best to maintain it.
National Transport Awards
- 2004 Local Transport Authority of the Year
- 2004 Road Safety Award; Travel Easily and Safely
- 2003 Bus Award; Burnley Bus Station
- 2003 Rural Transport Award; Rural Real Time RIBS.
Beacon Council
- 2003 For Supporting the Rural Economy
Prince Michael International Road Safety Awards
- 2004 Lancashire Speed Awareness Course
- 2003 Lancashire Partnership for Road Safety
Bus Industry Awards
- 2004 Infrastructure Award; Chorley Interchange
- 2004 Bus in the Countryside Award; Bowland Transit
- 2003 Infrastructure Award; Burnley Bus Station
- 2003 Marketing Award; X1 WHAM promotion
- 2000 Infrastructure Award; Clitheroe Interchange
National Cycling Project Awards
- 2005 Most Innovative Cycle Hire Option; Budgie Bikes
Sustrans National Cycle Network Awards for Excellence
- 2005 Developers' infrastructure; Buckshaw Village, Chorley
- 2005 Construction and Design; Millennium Bridge, Lancaster
- 2005 Promotion; Lancashire Cycling News
Cumbria & Lancashire Strategic Health Authority Achievement Awards
- 2005 Effective Partnerships; Wyldefyre bus service
Highways Magazine Excellence Awards
- 2005 Urban Traffic Scheme; Home Zone, Poulton, Morecambe
SUSTRANS School Initiative Awards
- 2003 School Travel Plan; Overton St Helen’s Primary School
Association for Commuter Transport Initiative Awards
- 2002 Public Sector Award; Lancashire County Council
Waterway Renaissance Awards
- 2002 Partnership Award; Millennium Ribble Link
CSS Information Management Awards
- 2002 Excellence Award; Maps And Related Information On line
RTPI Awards for Planning Achievement
- 2001 Award for Planning for Business; Bowland Initiative
1.6.2 What might be done differently
Highway and Structural Maintenance
We have consistently spent our Maintenance Allocation and have contributed our own funds to increase the programmes. We would have liked greater resources to do even more work to improve the condition of our highways and structures. By doing the work in a planned manner, we could do it more efficiently.
Blackpool to Fleetwood Tramway
Many elements of the Blackpool-Fleetwood tramway are at the end of their working life. Major investment is required to renew the infrastructure and provide new rolling stock and we are awaiting the response from the DfT to our bid for a Major Transport scheme. In the meantime, we have received funding for badly needed works necessary to keep the tramway in operation from Cleveleys to Fleetwood.
Rural Transport
We have used Rural Bus and Challenge grants to introduce innovative services in rural areas. However, our resources have not been sufficient to maintain them at the same level of service after the initial funding has ended. It has also proved difficult in practice to integrate the new bus services with the community-led programme to build new Community Resource Centres. Similarly, although the Skelmersdale Roundabout clearly met a local need, we were unable to find the resources to continue the service when the Urban Bus Challenge funding ended.