Hertfordshire's Local Transport Plan

Long term strategy

4.1 Delivering Programmes

The County is a very complex area with a diverse settlement pattern, dispersed car-dependent travel corridors and a population of over 1 million. It is therefore impractical to produce a single plan which covers every integrated scheme required for the next 5 years. A framework is therefore required through which the longer term vision can be achieved whilst allowing for enough flexibility to cope with unforeseeable external influences which may occur over the 15-20 year timescale.

The strategy adopted to overcome this problem is to consider the programmes of schemes and measures in three categories:

area plans;
maintaining existing service levels;
countywide themes.

Each of these categories is described in detail below.

4.2 Area Plans

Area plans have been adopted for groups of inter-related towns where significant capital investment is needed to make improvements to the local transport system. These plans are similar to the 'package' approach adopted in the last few years of the old 'Transport Policies and Programmes' system, and for which Hertfordshire developed successful area packages for South West Hertfordshire and the Lea Valley. However, the Local Transport Plan areas give greater consideration to the revenue funding needed to maintain or improve services.

The area plan approach has the added advantage of providing greater opportunity for local consultation on issues and schemes and for the establishment of effective joint steering groups.

(a) Defining Area Plans

It must be recognised that there can be no definitive natural boundary for each of the areas as there will always be transport movements across the boundaries. Therefore the areas have been defined by considering the following issues:

existing 'package' areas and programme of urban area plans;
existing travel patterns;
existing infrastructure;
opportunities for changing travel behaviour;
future developments.

(i) Existing Package Areas

Hertfordshire has two successful area packages which were developed under the Transport Policies and Programmes system; South West Hertfordshire which was first awarded DETR funding for 1996/97, and Lea Valley which started in 1999/2000. Both of these packages have been rolled forward into this Local Transport Plan. These packages have provided valuable experience in developing steering groups and extensive consultation involving all local interested parties.

Steering groups of officers and panels of members have been established in both areas involving the county and relevant district/borough councils. These groups have helped to prepare and consult on the overall plan and have continued to direct the delivery of the schemes and measures.

(ii) Existing Travel Patterns

Existing travel patterns are important in determining the areas, although this must not override the need to encourage more sustainable travel behaviour. Many journeys are within towns themselves, but the settlement pattern of Hertfordshire is such that there is a high degree of interaction between neighbouring towns.

(iii) Existing Infrastructure

Existing infrastructure is an important factor in providing transport needs at the lowest cost. However, like existing travel patterns, this should not override the need to encourage more sustainable travel behaviour. For the purposes of defining area plans the two main networks are those of roads and railways.

(iv) Opportunities for Changing Travel Behaviour

The opportunity for changing travel behaviour between towns is largely based on the provision of new infrastructure. Primarily this will be new passenger transport infrastructure provided by the County Council or Railtrack.

(v) Future Developments

It is important that the area plans take into account future developments as set out in the Structure Plan. The principal developments are:
Housing development west of A1(M) at Stevenage
Leavesden Studios (Key Employment Site)
Hatfield Aerodrome, (Key Employment Site)
Essex Road, Hoddesdon (Key Employment Site)
Centennial Park, Elstree (Key Employment Site)
Three Cherry Trees Lane, Hemel Hempstead (Key Employment Site)
Park Plaza, Waltham Cross (Key Employment Site)
Stansted Airport related developments.

Consideration of the above factors has given rise to six area plans as shown in Figure 4(1). These are described in sections 5.2 - 5.7.

Figure 4(1) Area Plans

(b) Developing and Delivering Area Plans

The Area Plans for South West Hertfordshire and Lea Valley have been developed through joint working arrangements between the county and district councils at both area and town level. Many of the urban plans which now form part of the new area plans have also been developed through joint working. The lessons learnt through this process has led to the structure shown in Figure 4(2) for the development and delivery of the four new Area Plans.

Figure 4(2) Development and Implementation of Area Plans

The driving force behind the development and delivery of the Area Plans will be a steering group with member representation from the county and district councils. In districts where there is a Highways Partnership (where day to day highway maintenance and management is delivered through a joint county/district body) some or all of the district members will also be members of the Partnership to ensure an integrated approach to decision making.

(c) Timetable

The timetable for developing the four new Area Plans is set out below (Table 4(1)). Any new urban plans which form components of these areas will not be developed until work commences on the Area Plan, but schemes will be implemented in urban areas where a plan has already been agreed.

Table 4(1) Timetable for new Area Plans

Area Plan	Priority	Timetable for Developing Plan
Mid Hertfordshire	1	2000/01 - 2001/02
Northern Hertfordshire	2	2002/03 - 2003/04
Eastern Hertfordshire	3	2004/05 - 2005/06
West Hertfordshire	4	2006/07 - 2007/08

4.3 Maintaining Existing Service Levels

The area plans are the basis for delivering the majority of new investment schemes for improving local transport infrastructure. However, it is equally important to maintain both the existing infrastructure to ensure the best use of previous investment and the levels of service for pedestrians, cyclists and passenger transport users.

The maintenance of existing service levels will be an integral part of the area plans wherever possible. Where this investment is also required outside of the defined areas it has been identified as a separate expenditure category within the Local Transport Plan.

The programmes within this category are:

Highway Network Maintenance - to keep the network in a safe condition and to make best use of previous capital investment in infrastructure;
Bridge maintenance - to keep bridges in a safe condition and to keep open suitable routes for heavy goods vehicles;
Passenger transport services - to maintain and enhance the level of bus and rail services in all parts of the County.

4.4 Countywide Themes

The County Council and its partners have a number of investment programmes which will be delivered across Hertfordshire. In many cases these investment programmes will be dovetailed with the area plans, but there will also be the need to deliver these programmes in other parts of the county. Therefore such programmes have been incorporated in a countywide themes category.

The programmes in this category are:

Safety - local safety schemes, road safety education, publicity and training to minimise collisions and injuries;
LEARN - Local Educational Access Route Network to provide safer and more suainable leisure activity, and as a healthier lifestyle;
Passenger transport infrastructure - to provide a high quality environment and services for bus and train users;
Urban plans to deliver town-wide integrated transport in major settlements not covered by the Area Plans.

4.5 Supporting Policies

The three categories described in 4.2 - 4.4 above incorporate many common policies which are essential in achieving the overall vision and objectives. To avoid repetition, these policies are set out individually in Section 5.

Figure 4(2) Area Plans and Strategies