Calderdale
Transport Futures
16th September 09
A draft discussion document for Calderdale’s transport strategy
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Draft discussion document
A 20 year journey
This strategy discussion document sets out how we can transform Calderdale’s transport
into a model of good practice. It is intended that this will improve economic, social and
environmental well-being across Calderdale and contribute to the wider prosperity of the
people of the Borough.
Specifically this document has been developed to:
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Articulate the strategically important transport issues for Calderdale and the
priorities for action on transport in Calderdale in way that can influence key
regional and sub-regional strategies such as the local development framework and
the City region strategies.
Help co-ordinate the actions of organisations with an interest in transport across
the Borough;
Assist these organisations to focus and shape their activities to enable them to
operate most effectively, and in a co-ordinated manner, to meet the transport
needs and aspirations of the people of Calderdale.
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Summary
The diagram below sets out the overall strategy that has emerged from consultation
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How this document was prepared
This document has been developed by Calderdale MBC in consultation with a wide range
of people and organisations across the city.
This has included meetings involving:
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Interested Members of Calderdale MBC
Interested officers of Calderdale MBC
Members of the public
Invited representatives from all local transport providers
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An Emerging Vision for Transport in
Calderdale
The emerging vision for transport in Calderdale is for a transport system that is people and
business friendly. To achieve this we must take action on the concerns that worry our
citizens and businesses the most and improve transport in the borough for all its residents.
At the same time transport can’t be seen as an end in its own right but must contribute to
the main challenges that face all our people today including economic prosperity, health and
well-being and minimising the damage to our environment, particularly through CO2
emissions. Three main themes have emerged in identifying what people and businesses
want to see from a transport system for Calderdale.
Everything is connected
The emerging vision points to a transport system where all modes of transport work
together, to give travellers the most choice when travelling. In practice this means:
 There are good links at the local, district, regional and national levels to the
places that people want to and need to travel to.
 As far as is possible there are integrated timetables and ticketing arrangements
for different modes of public transport.
 There are adequate facilities for people to transfer between different modes of
transport including links between bus and train stations, car parking at stations
and cycle parking.
 The need to travel and the volume of traffic is minimised through careful
integration of spatial planning and economic development activities.
 People are more able to work remotely and make better transport decisions
through education, information and the greater use of new technology.
Everything is high quality
The emerging vision points to a transport system with high quality public transport, high
quality roads and a high quality walking and cycling infrastructure. In practice this means:
 Public transport is seen as an affordable and attractive option for journeys by the
majority of people.
 There are enough train carriages to avoid overcrowding.
 There is a more comprehensive network of cycle paths.
 The main walking routes with Halifax and other towns are improved for the ease
of use of pedestrians.
 Buses and trains are clean and well cared for.
 Train and bus stations are well lit and feel safe for passengers.
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Everything is reliable
The emerging vision points to a transport system where all modes of transport are
reliable and there is access to real time information to allow reliable journey planning
regardless of the circumstances. In practice this means:
 Trains and buses are very rarely late or cancelled.
 Real time information on bus and train arrival times so that people can get up to
date information on any delays or cancellations.
 Congestion on roads is minimised through road improvements, more intelligent
use of traffic management and more park and ride schemes.
 Real time information for road users showing average journey times on key
routes to help them plan their choice of route and timing for their journey.
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The current reality for Transport in
Calderdale
This section summarises the main challenges for Transport in Calderdale in 2009. It is not a
comprehensive picture of every aspect of transport, but highlights the key challenges facing
transport in the borough and between the borough and the wider world, the main
opportunities and strengths that we can build on and the major changes coming over the
next 25 years that will affect Calderdale.
Connectivity
Whilst people feel positive about some aspects of the current public transport system
the lack of connectivity is one of the key issues facing transport in Calderdale. To
summarise the findings from the consultation meetings we have held:
 People are generally positive about the existing rail network and bus routes.
 Free and concessionary passes and employer subsidies for the Metro card are
welcomed
 Innovative initiatives such as the land train from Shibden to Eureka are welcomed
However:
× There is lack of connectivity in terms of the physical location of the bus and train
stations in Halifax.
× There is a lack of integration between bus and train timetables and lack of
integrated ticketing which makes journey planning difficult and some fares
expensive.
× There is a lack of adequate parking for both cars and cycles at stations which
limits the ability for people to mix modes of transport on one journey.
× Topographical and land ownership constraints restrict the opportunities to
expand facilities at existing stations.
× There are concerns about the quality of wider strategic transport links
connecting to major centres such as Manchester, Leeds and regional airports
which are seen as essential to the longer term economic prosperity to the
borough.
× Much of the borough is rural which means that cuts in rural public transport
services can lead to isolation many older and more vulnerable people.
× There is a perceived lack of consultation on public transport timetables which
has led to what are seen as some poor timetabling decisions and a lack of buses
on some important routes.
Quality
The quality of public transport is seen as a major issue by many of those we consulted,
and means that public transport is seen as a “poor man’s choice” by many people. On
the positive side:
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 People generally like the existing train stations
 The existing cycle paths and footpaths are well liked
On the other hand
× There are major concerns over the capacity and quality of the existing rail stock
with overcrowding on trains at peak periods and standing times in excess of 30
minutes.
× There are concerns about the cleanliness of some buses
× The presence of street furniture, poor quality of some pavements and lack of
respect for pedestrians by motorists are seen as barriers to walking, especially in
Halifax
× The existing cycle network is not comprehensive and there is a need to add
further routes and improve some routes where cycle ways run along-side roads
× Some people expressed safety concerns at train and bus stations including poor
lighting
× Calderdale has some areas of poor air quality related to traffic congestion and in
the longer term we can expect more pressure and incentives to reduce carbon
emissions from transport.
Reliability
Reliability is seen as a key factor when people are choosing their mode of transport and
many of the concerns people expressed during consultation were about lack of
reliability. More specifically:
 Calderdale is seen as a place with relative lack of congestion roads other than at
peak times.
 Where real time travel information is available for some bus routes it is seen as
valuable by people we consulted.
However
× The punctuality and reliability of buses on some routes is a concern and has
worsened in recent years.
× The frequency of buses and trains on some routes deters some people from
using these options.
× Congestion on some roads at peak times is seen as a major issue both for
commuters and especially for businesses in the borough. This is exacerbated by
the fact that 80% of cars commuting into Halifax have single occupants.
× Lack of real time information about bus and train delays and road congestion
makes it difficult for people to choose the most reliable transport option.
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Priorities for action
The transport infrastructure in Calderdale will not change overnight. However, the analysis
above shows that many of the challenges we face do not require enormous investments in
infrastructure but can be tackled by more intelligent and joined up working to make the
resources we have work better. We won’t have the resources to tackle every challenge we
face head on, or to implement all of the great ideas that people have for transforming
transport in Calderdale. We have to make choices about where we focus our attention and
resources.
We must make tough decisions about the activities that can bring about the biggest and
most lasting change. This section sets out the major transformational projects that can have
an impact on transport in Calderdale.
In line with the emerging vision for transport in Calderdale, we have identified seven
priorities areas for action where we feel it would be wise to focus extra resources over
the coming years. These priorities for action represent the areas where we need to do
significantly more than we are doing already. These are the areas where we need to make
significant breakthroughs if we are to have any reasonable chance of realising the vision.
The seven priorities areas for action are:
1. Integrate and connect of modes of transport
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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Plan and produce one integrated timetable and route map for both trains and
buses
Introduce integrated train and bus ticketing arrangements with improved
through ticketing onto other parts of the network
Make it easier to connect between the bus and train by introducing a city centre
bus/shuttle in Halifax between the train and bus stations, the Shay, Shaw Lodge,
town centre, Dean Clough, and Shibden.
2. Invest in key strategic transport links
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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Win the strategic argument for further development of the Calderdale line
including electrification
Develop direct train links between Halifax to Manchester Piccadilly and
Manchester airport
Develop a direct train service from Todmorden to Huddersfield
Introduce a half hourly service from Halifax to Huddersfield
Implement the Leeds rail growth package including a park and ride at Sowerby
Bridge
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3. Improve the quality of public transport infrastructure
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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Introduce more rolling stock on train routes to reduce congestion
Investigate ways to improve bus punctuality, and cleanliness
Develop a better understanding of the factors in customer satisfaction including
producing a baseline across a wide range of indicators
Expand parking for both cars and cycles at train stations
Give Halifax train and bus stations a facelift including safety and security
improvements
Put together the business case for Elland station and build this as soon as
possible
4. Encourage more walking and cycling
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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CMBC take the lead in encouraging walking and cycling by paying expenses to
employees who walk and cycle to meetings and paying less for short car trips
Improve pedestrian facilities and cycle parking in the town centres
Provide more space on trains for bikes
Introduce a cycle light countdown at junctions
Erect more direction indicators (finger posts) in town centre
Create a Calderdale wide safe cycleway and walking route map with a cogent
website.
Commit to a radical increase in provision of cycle lanes and cycle paths between
main centres of population.
5. Reduce traffic congestion at hotspots
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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Undertake road improvements and implement traffic restrictions to improve
flows
Use traffic lights timings to improve traffic flow, especially at road works
Improve use of IT for road users to give real time travel information about
congestion
Encourage greater use of car sharing through work based travel planning
schemes and promotion of car sharing clubs
Introduce reduced or zero parking charges for cars with 3+ occupancy
Develop more park and ride schemes
Introduce a work based parking levy
Introduce more bus priority lanes and give buses priority at traffic lights
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6. Educate and inform people
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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Actively promote weekly incentives to leave your car at home once a week ie
walking Wednesday, fresh air Friday
Give free bus travel for all for one week to get people to try the buses
Recruit an outreach worker to work with businesses on personal travel planning
CMBC to introduce personal travel planning for its employees and members as a
community leader
Develop a programme of action/measures/monetary incentives to increase public
transport usage based on the health/wealth message
Introduce an annual business ‘performer challenge’
Roll out ‘real time’ information on all bus and train routes
Lobby for extra Government investment to assist green transport initiatives
CMBC to pilot green vehicles to demonstrate to other organisations and
individuals what can be done
Involve business community in dialogue/debate around transport
7. Reduce the need to travel
Specific ideas for how this can be done include:
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Encourage and enable home working to reduce the need to travel
Nurture the role of employers and workplace travel plans in reducing the need
to travel
Integrate planning and transport so that the need to travel is reduced in the
longer term
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From vision to action
This document sets out in broad terms an emerging vision for transport in Calderdale and
some general priorities for action.
This discussion document is intended to be the starting point for a process, rather than a
blueprint. It is not intended to direct, but rather to inspire people to get agencies and
transport providers working everyone together to make the case for investment and make
things happen. It is a starting point for planning across the borough and for influencing
decisions made across the region and beyond. We expect a great deal of further analysis
and debate to add detail and richness to the broad programmes of work identified here.
A number of processes and activities will need to be put into place to ensure that the
vision is turned into a genuine strategy and is influential in bringing resources and action to
Calderdale. The key processes that will bring the vision to life include:
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Clarifying a more detailed programme of work. The priorities for action as set out
are essentially shopping lists of ideas which can make a difference. These need to be
worked up into more detailed plans with costs and timescales associated with them.
There will no doubt be some hard choices to make about which ideas are both
feasible and fundable. There may even be further practical ideas which emerge as
the overall strategic picture starts to become clearer.
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Ensuring that the various agencies with an interest or influence in transport in
Calderdale continue to work together to make things happen. Nothing significant
can happen without the co-ordination and co-operation of many agencies and
organisations. It is essential that the good work started in developing this discussion
document is continued so that a united and influential voice is heard for transport in
Calderdale.
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Alignment with the local development framework and other sub-regional and
regional strategies. It will be important to consider the local development
framework and other key strategies and identify points at which we can influence
them to deliver the priorities that are emerging in this discussion document.
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Ongoing involvement and engagement with the public and business. This document
has been strongly influenced by comments that came from the public consultation.
The business sector has been less involved and it would seem wise to consult and
engage further to ensure that the priorities set out in this discussion document
meet the needs of the wider community.
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Next steps
Clearly the next steps must be sure that all interested parties are engaged. We will be
taking this discussion document to businesses in December 2009 to give local businesses
the opportunity to help influence the future of Calderdale. We want Calderdale to be a
place that is easy to do business.
This is a working document and our approach must be flexible. As we deliver this strategy,
we will constantly need to consider any changing circumstances; these could be financial
opportunities or new business and residential developments, environmental or cultural.
In the short term, we will
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Engage businesses
Increase our evidence base
Develop an action plan
Prioritise delivery
Ensure the transport planning works efficiently alongside other strategies
including the Local Development Framework, the Sustainable Community
strategy and the Economy and Enterprise strategy.
Use this strategy to influence regional plans such as the Local Transport Plan, the
Leeds and Manchester City Regions strategies and the Single Integrated Regional
Strategy.
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