2.1 The vision

The starting point for this Local Transport Plan is the vision for what the future of transport for Hertfordshire should be. This vision is:-

To provide a safe, efficient and affordable transport system that allows access for all to everyday facilities. Everyone will have the opportunity and information to choose the most appropriate form of transport and time of travel. By maximising the capacity of the network we will work towards a transport system that balances economic prosperity with personal health and environmental well being.

The vision assumes that the car will remain the dominant form of transport in terms of the number of journeys made, but that its physical dominance will be reduced so as to allow everyone a free choice of travel mode.

2.2 Transport objectives

The establishment of clear objectives which have the support of the public and of all transport-related organisations is the key to a successful Local Transport Plan. Clear objectives set the agenda from which the strategies and schemes flow. They are also the framework for developing measures of performance and success. It is also essential that the objectives are deliverable and that they complement other key strategies (e.g. the county Structure Plan and district Local Plans).

The objectives of Hertfordshire's Local Transport Plan are set out below, with the links to the strategies identified in Section 2.4.

Overarching all of these objectives is the need to balance the benefits of encouraging sustainable transport against the need to provide an efficient system for the motorist. Travel demand in Hertfordshire will continue to grow and, whilst this plan seeks to reduce the need to travel and to encourage other modes of transport, the car will remain a vital element in the transport system. The plan also aims to deliver sustainable policies through leading by example.

Hertfordshire's Local Transport Plan objectives are:

2.3 Development of the Objectives

The importance of setting clear objectives means that they have to be developed through long and careful consultation. The objectives set out in Section 2.2 have been developed with reference to the following factors:

Further details are included in Volume 2.

2.4 Links to Strategies

The objectives have been deliberately limited in number and length so that they give a clear lead to the development of the whole plan. A series of strategies (detailed in section 5) has been developed in order to translate these objectives into local action. The links between the objectives and the strategies are shown in Table 2(1). It should be noted that many of the strategies will help to deliver more than one objective.

Links Between Objectives and Strategies

Objective: To improve safety for all by giving the highest priority to minimising the number of collisions and injuries occurring as a result of the transport system.

Strategies:

Objective: To reduce the need for the movement of people and goods through integrated land use planning, the promotion of sustainable distribution and the use of telecommunications.

Strategies:

Objective: To obtain best use of the existing network through effective design, maintenance and management.

Strategies:

Objective: To provide a transport system which provides access to employment, shopping, education, leisure and health facilities for all, especially those without a car and those with impaired mobility.

Strategies:

Objective: To minimise any adverse effect of the transport system on the built and natural environment and thereby improve personal health.

Strategies:

Objective: To ensure that the transport system contributes towards improving the efficiency of commerce and industry and the provision of sustainable economic development in appropriate locations.

Strategies:

Objective: To work in partnership with transport providers and users to achieve an efficient, affordable and enhanced transport system which is attractive, reliable, integrated and makes best use of resources.

Strategies:

Objective: To raise awareness and encourage the use of alternative modes of transport through effective promotion, publicity and information.

Strategies:

2.5 Targets

The objectives have been translated into a series of top-level targets as shown below. These targets provide a clear indication of when the objectives will be met.

However, it is also important to measure short to medium term progress towards these top-level targets. A series of performance indicators and targets are included in the individual strategies (section 5), and these and further indicators are brought together in Volume 2.