Minutes:
Matt Reynolds, Head of Transport Infrastructure Service, gave the following powerpoint presentation:-
Moor Road Cycleway
¾ Now complete
Manvers Bridge
¾ Completed ahead of programme and under budget
¾ Hoping to be operational very shortly
Recent Events
¾ Working tirelessly since Friday, 20th October to try and make sure that, from a transport perspective, routes were managed as much as possible
There had been last minute changes to bus routes where there had been flooding
¾ Trying to get roads back open as safely as possible working within the confines of getting the drainage, traffic signals up and working and the roads safe for use. However, a lot of people had abused some of the restrictions and therefore got stuck having gone through flood water. This was despite road closure signs
¾ It was hoped to get thing back to normal as soon as possible
Transforming Cities Schemes
¾ All on site
HS2 and Network North
¾ Development of a Network North
Improved connectivity between towns and cities known as Northern Powerhouse Rail
¾ Electrification between Sheffield and Manchester
Hope Valley Line improvements and 42 minute journey time
¾ Electrification between Sheffield and Leeds
Links to the HS2 to Leeds Terms of Reference but safeguarded land still exists
¾ Road Schemes
A shift in narrative and road building schemes mentioned for the first time for a long time
Road schemes had a place certainly for unlocking existing congestion but were timebound. Parkway widening was a good example – provides short term relief on congestion but would fill up at some time. A more sustainable approach was to re-mode people/change perceptions and find alternative ways of getting around. First time in long time that Government committed to building road schemes
¾ Bus Funding
Money made available to local bus services and the fare cap extension
¾ HS2
Was still happening but between London and Birmingham
Network North (DfT document - Transforming British Transport) for Rotherham
¾ Rotherham Mainline Station
Connections to Leeds, Newcastle, Birmingham and potentially London
¾ Waverley Station – Sheffield to Lincoln
¾ Barrow Hill Line Re-opening
Existing freight line
Sheffield to Chesterfield potentially link into Stocksbridge
¾ £2 Bus Fare Cap
Extended to the end of 2024
¾ Bus Service Improvement Plans
Noted to fund hundreds of ‘new’ local bus routes
¾ Potholes
£8.3bn to fix potholes nationally. Within the northern area it was £3.3bn
¾ Supertram Renewal and Extensions
Not clear what this meant
Supertram was returning to public ownership as from the new financial year
¾ Local Transport Funding
CRSTS2 allocations had been increased from £0.9bn to £1.4bn for South Yorkshire
¾ Contactless Smart Ticketing – across the country
Network North Reflections
¾ Not actual funding commitments – not costed or included in the Autumn Statement
¾ Much of it was already funded so already budgets in place
¾ Not northern – it was national
¾ Ambiguity around status. No consultation or subject to formal testing
¾ Still required business case assessments
¾ There was a distinct lack of strategic clarity
¾ No mention of Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Bus Service Improvement Plans
¾ Established after Covid to strategically manage declining bus patronage
¾ Aligned to investment in bus priority and other measures in the National Bus Strategy
¾ Asked to be ambitious to harness funding for local bus services
¾ Linked to either an Enhanced Partnership or Bus Franchising
¾ April 2022 South Yorkshire bid received £0
¾ October 2023 confirmed additional funding to improve bus services:
· ‘Get Around for £2’ cost of living support scheme will be extended from 1st November to 31st December, 2024
· £3.1M for South Yorkshire in both 2023/24 and 2024/25 for bus services improvement with an additional £7.8M revenue allocation in 2024/25
Plan for Drivers – sets out what the Government expect to see
¾ 30 point plan aimed to make driving easier
¾ Appears to be contradictory to other policies – Gear Change and the National Bus Strategy as well as planning policies
¾ Bus Lanes
¾ 20 mph zones – only where they are needed and enforceable
¾ 15 minute neighbourhoods and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods
15 minute neighbourhoods had been misrepresented many times – the aim was to try and get people to use services that were within 15 minutes of their home
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods – been in place for a number of years some of which have been very successful
¾ Calls for more enforcement (permits for utility companies etc.) but also less enforcement (disobeying traffic laws etc.)
¾ Electric vehicle charging infrastructure
¾ Guidance awaited
Local Neighbourhood Road Safety Schemes
¾ Tranche 1 moving into delivery
¾ Tranche 2 moving into project mandate stage
¾ Managing major increases in costs
General Updates
¾ Closure of rail station ticket offices
No feedback as yet
Rotherham’s response submitted as well as contribution to SYMCA’s response
¾ Local Transport Plan Update
Guidance still not released and not sure given recent announcements
Looking to do some engagement and consultation early to define local needs and thoughts