Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, ROTHERHAM. S60 2TH

Contact: Debbie Pons, Principal Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 16th May, 2018 pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board, held on 16th May, 2018.

 

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

2.

Questions on Transport Issues

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board noted the details of various questions on transport matters and the responses to those questions, submitted by Councillors and members of the public, as listed below:-

 

1) Rotherham Transport Interchange (Bus Station) – Temporary Facility at Forge Island, Rotherham town centre; lighting of footbridge linking Forge Island to Corporation Street;

2) Temporary Bus Stops at Corporation Street, Rotherham;

3) Bus service through Catcliffe (72);

4) Hate Crime on Public Transport;

5) Tram-Train Project – progress and start of passenger services;

6) Alterations to train times and rail services through Rotherham.

 

Agreed:- That the details of the questions and the responses be noted.

3.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive - Update

Minutes:

The following items were discussed:-

 

(1) Bus Service Alterations

 

The Transportation Advisory Board noted that services 72 and 72A would now be operated by Yorkshire Traction (instead of Yorkshire Tiger, as this company was closing its depot at Wombwell). A number of service time alterations affected bus routes within the Swinton area. There remained concern from local people and service users about Service X78 no longer travelling via Pitt Street, Kimberworth (between Rotherham and Meadowhall).

 

(2) Travel Master tickets and Cross-boundary Travel

 

There would changes to the system of Travel Master tickets for young people, with the age group eligibility being 18 to 21 years (instead of 18 to 25 years). Members asked whether there were any specific conditions affecting young people who were formerly looked after by the Local Authority.

 

Discussion also took place on the use of tickets and passes when travelling on buses between different Local Authority area.  It was noted that this issue of cross-boundary travel would receive detailed consideration by Transport for the North.

 

(3) Rotherham Interchange and Town Centre road works

 

Members were encouraged to view the short film showing the progress of the development of the Rotherham Interchange (available to view from You Tube, via the Council’s Internet web site).

 

Members expressed their appreciation of the way in which bus services had been maintained and operated during the recent period of disruption caused by works within the highway and temporary road closures affecting the A630 Centenary Way near to the Rotherham town centre.

 

Members requested an investigation into the possibility of improving the lighting of the footbridge linking the temporary bus station at Forge Island to the Riverside Precinct off Corporation Street, Rotherham.

4.

Bus Operators - Update

 

(1)       First Group

(2)       Stagecoach

(3)       Rotherham Community Transport

Minutes:

The following details were noted:-

 

(1) Stagecoach

 

The representative of Stagecoach explained the recent changes to the services 220 and 221. The services would use a route via Greasbrough so as to avoid the traffic congestion within the Parkgate area

 

(2) Rotherham Community Transport

 

The public consultation exercise about the services available from Rotherham Community Transport was due to end on Friday, 17th August, 2018.

 

(3) Other Operators

 

There were no representatives of the other bus companies present at this meeting. It was agreed that written reports be requested, whenever the bus company representatives are unable to attend meetings of this Transportation Advisory Board.

5.

Railway Operators - Update

 

Information available via internet web site

 

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/corporate/transformation

Minutes:

Members noted that information about rail services was available to view via this Internet web site

 

https://www.northernrailway.co.uk/corporate/transformation

6.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport - Update pdf icon PDF 136 KB

 

Minutes of the meeting of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport Consultative Committee held on 12th April, 2018 (pages X to XX)

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board noted the following items:-

 

(1) Doncaster Sheffield Airport (and Masterplan 2018-2037)

 

It was reported that the vast majority of respondents to the recent consultation process had expressed their agreement to the content and ambition of the Airport Masterplan. A report was being prepared in response to the feedback and responses obtained during the consultation process.

 

A new route to Budapest had just begun from the Airport and cargo operations continued to be significant.  In response to a question from a Borough Councillor about shuttle routes between the Doncaster Sheffield Airport and Heathrow Airport and Edinburgh Airport, it was also reported that the expansion of the Heathrow Airport was supported, which might be a factor in developing future services to and from the Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

 

(2) Minutes of Consultative Committee Meeting

 

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport Consultative Committee held on 12th April, 2018.  The contents of these minutes were noted.

7.

Highways Capital Programme

 

Reporting by Andrew Butler

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board received details of the schemes included within the Highways Capital Programme 2018/19, with funding approved by the Sheffield City Region from the Integrated Transport Fund Programme. The individual schemes were included within various categories:-

 

Bus Priority Schemes;

Accessibility – Walking and Cycling;

Local Safety Schemes (including new crossings);

Traffic Management (to ease congestion);

Miscellaneous (eg: air quality monitoring);

Major Schemes (eg: College Road roundabout and A630 Rotherham gateway widening).

 

Members discussed the following salient issues:-

 

: use of accident data to prioritise schemes;

 

: road safety improvements to the A634 Blyth Road, Maltby;

 

: improvements to the A631 Bawtry Road at Bramley (traffic signal alterations to ease congestion);

 

: A6021 and A6123 Stag roundabout (to ease traffic congestion);

 

: vehicle speed and parking on highways near to schools;

 

: signalised pedestrian crossing situated near to roundabouts;

 

: the use of 20 mph maximum vehicle speed limits and their possible introduction into district centres around the Rotherham Borough area.

 

Agreed:- That the details of schemes included within the Highways Capital Programme 2018/19, as now reported, be noted.

8.

Major Transportation Schemes - Updates

 

Reporting by Ian Ashmore

 

a.    A630 Parkway Widening

b.    College Road Roundabout NPIF Project

c.    Greasbrough Junctions

d.    Tram Train

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board received details of the progress of the following major transportation schemes affecting the Rotherham Borough area:-

 

(1) A630 Parkway Widening Scheme

 

This scheme affected the section of the A630 Parkway and Rotherway near to Junction 33 of the M1 motorway and included three separate bridge structures.  The Government Department for Transport would require a scheme appraisal, as this scheme was in the top ten per cent of major highway schemes (in terms of both size and financial value) throughout the country.  The funding for the scheme included a contribution from the Sheffield City Region Growth Fund budget. Subject to approval of the business case, it was anticipated that construction work would begin on site early in 2020 and last for approximately eighteen months.

 

(2) College Road Roundabout, Rotherham (NPIF Project)

 

As a consequence of the completion of the New York crossroads (at the junction of the A630 and Main Street and Masbrough Street, Rotherham), improvements were also required at the College Road roundabout in order to increase capacity and ease traffic congestion. A bid for funding for this scheme had been made to the Department for Transport National Productivity Infrastructure Fund (NPIF). Construction work would be delayed until after completion of the Rotherham Interchange refurbishment works and it was anticipated that the project would begin in May 2019 and last until April, 2020. Members asked to be provided with a copy of the site plan for this scheme.

 

(3) Greasbrough – Highway Junctions

 

A scheme was being prepared to ease congestion along the B6089 through Greasbrough, including Potter Hill and Main Street (and the roundabout at the Fenton Road junction), as well as Cinder Bridge Road and The Whins (and the junction with Greasbrough Lane). The development of this scheme would include consideration of the highway network likely to be required for the eventual Bassingthorpe Farm development between Greasbrough and Rotherham.

 

(4) Tram Train (Sheffield, Meadowhall, Rotherham and Parkgate)

 

Members were informed of the progress of the tram-train service, which would operate between Sheffield, Meadowhall, Rotherham and Parkgate. The tram train vehicles were already being tested along the rail route and it was anticipated that the services for passengers would begin operating during late October 2018. Details of the probable number of both rail and tram services per hour were also provided. Discussion took place on the availability of car parking near to the stations, including the possible future construction of park-and-ride facilities along the route. The development of this innovative transport scheme had attracted interested from around the country and throughout Europe.

9.

Transforming Cities

 

Reporting by Matthew Reynolds

Minutes:

The Transportation Manager reported on the funding being made available by the Government Department for Transport to the Sheffield City Region, for sustainable transport, including walking and cycling strategies. The funding for specific schemes would be approved after a bidding process and schemes would be expected to support economic growth within the Rotherham Borough area and the wider City Region. Members noted that a number of schemes were already in preparation and would aim to improve air quality, ease traffic congestion and provide better transport links with the Borough’s deprived areas. The funding was being made available for a period of two years.

 

Reference was made to the role and function of the Cycling and Walking Members’ Group, recently established by the Council.

 

Discussion also took place on the modern technology available for obtaining tickets for travel on public transport, one example from the West Midlands Region being explained on this Internet web site:-

 

https://whimapp.com/uk/

 

Agreed:- That further details of the Department for Transport funding scheme and of the types of transport scheme within the Rotherham Borough area which may attract such funding the be reported to the next meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board.

10.

Any other business

Minutes:

Discussion took place on the speed of vehicular traffic travelling through the village of Woodsetts.  It was noted that the enforcement of vehicle speed limits was the responsibility of the South Yorkshire Police.

 

It was suggested that the concerns should be discussed further with the Neighbourhood Development Team and with the Ward Councillors and ascertain  whether there is funding for appropriate signs advising vehicles to slow down.

11.

Date and time of the next meeting

Minutes:

Agreed:- (1) That the next meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Wednesday, 14th November, 2018, commencing at 2.00 p.m.

 

(2) That the next following meetings of the Transportation Advisory Board be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham, commencing at 2.00 p.m. on the following dates:-

 

Wednesday, 6th February, 2019

Wednesday, 15th May, 2019

Wednesday, 7th August, 2019.