Agenda item

This report presents the results of a study of the projected performance of the Outer Ring Road, provides options for improvements to be included in a proposed Access York Phase 2 bid to the Regional Transport Board (RTB) and seeks approval in principle to submit a bid to the RTB.

RESOLVED:(i) That the submission of an Access York Phase 2 bid for funding to the Regional Transport Board based upon a package of citywide measures and the Option B2 improvements to the Outer Ring Road (at grade improvements to all roundabouts from Wetherby Road to Strensall Road), for a total outturn cost of approximately £42m, be approved;

                        (ii) That the requirement for preparatory costs of approximately £500k and a local contribution of approximately £5m if the scheme was approved by the Regional Transport Board and the Department for Transport be noted.

REASON:(i) To enable funding to be obtained for improving the transport provision in York;

                        (ii) To enable the commitment to be include in future budgetary considerations.

Members received a report which presented the results of a study of the projected performance of the Outer Ring Road, provided options for improvements to be included in a proposed Access York Phase 2 bid to the Regional Transport Board (RTB) and sought approval in principle to submit a bid to the RTB.

The report presented the following options for improving the Outer Ring Road:

The report also detailed a range of citywide measures to encourage travellers to transfer to more sustainable modes of transport, which would be included in the bid to the RTB:

·        Reallocation of road space to cyclists and pedestrians, particularly at junctions to remove pinch points on the cycle network in accordance with the principles of the Cycling City status, and generally improve the walking environment;

·        Provision of bus priorities on remaining routes e.g. A19 Shipton Road;

·        Expansion of the bus stop infrastructure programme;

·        Provision of sections of an Orbital bus route (including interchanges);

·        Orbital Cycle Route adjacent to Ring Road (Strensall Rd to Wigginton Rd);

·        Improved/additional pedestrian/cycle crossings over the Ouse;

·        Access restrictions to certain areas/routes such as Ouse Bridge;

·        Extension to the ‘footstreets’;

·        Expansion of ‘virtual bus priority’ using Bus Location and Information Sub-System;

·        Further development of demand management measures such as the use of car parking charges;

·        Development of the Urban Traffic Management Control system to lock-in benefits of reduced traffic;

·        Other improvements to ease the flow of public transport.

Members noted that the report concluded that the dualling of the whole of the northern ring road was neither affordable under present rules nor would be likely to receive regional and national endorsement when compared to other bids for transport funding.  They also noted that the report concluded that it was imperative that major improvements were made particularly to the Wetherby Road to the A19 section of the ring road, in order to facilitate the economic growth that the York North West development would bring to the city.

RESOLVED:(i) That the submission of an Access York Phase 2 bid for funding to the Regional Transport Board based upon a package of citywide measures and the Option B2 improvements to the Outer Ring Road (at grade improvements to all roundabouts from Wetherby Road to Strensall Road), for a total outturn cost of approximately £42m, be approved;¹

                        (ii) That the requirement for preparatory costs of approximately £500k and a local contribution of approximately £5m if the scheme was approved by the Regional Transport Board and the Department for Transport be noted.

REASON:(i) To enable funding to be obtained for improving the transport provision in York;

                        (ii) To enable the commitment to be include in future budgetary considerations.