Agenda item

(To receive a report by Richard Hardesty (Senior Project Leader) which invites the Committee to consider the Boston Transport Strategy 2016-2036 before the report is sent to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT for approval)

The Committee received a pre-decision report and presentation in connection with the Boston Transport Strategy 2016-2036 which was due to be considered by the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT. The views of the Committee along with those of Boston Borough Council's Overview Committee would be reported to the Executive Councillor.

The Transport Strategy examined a number of proposals in the short, medium and long term to improve travel access within the town and the immediate surrounding area.

Comments by the Committee and responses of officers included the following:-

·    County and Boston Borough Council members needed to be involved in the Strategy Steering Group which was important for the delivery of the Strategy in the future. Officers welcomed member involvement in the Steering Group.

·    Officers in response to the questions submitted responded as follows: – 1. Real Time Passenger Information was not yet available. 2. The Lincolnshire car sharing scheme was successful with over 2,000 participants from around the county, 350,000 miles saved and £88,000 saved. 3. The enforcement of 20mph zones had been examined elsewhere and was the responsibility of the Police. The use of signage helped and there was a need to examine the current speed limits. 4. Cycle storage on buses had not been done in Lincolnshire but had been trialled in the UK and there was an opportunity to trial this in Boston. 5. The opportune time to lobby train operators was during the franchise process were renewed and to present a business case to show an increase in passenger usage.

·    Boston was a Sub-Regional Centre but lacked a proper road and rail structure. There was a lot of local traffic coming into Boston using the same routes as through traffic. Rail infrastructure into and around Boston had been drastically reduced since the 1960's and there was no direct rail line between Lincoln and Boston. There was an opportunity to improve rail passenger services when the new rail franchises came up for renewal. The Port rail head needed to be protected.

·    The Pilgrim Hospital attracted a lot of traffic.

·    The inter-town bus was suitable only if you lived near to its route.

·    There was only one bus operator in Boston and therefore there was little incentive for operators to develop new routes.

·    Economic development was prevented in Boston due to the perception of congestion problems and there was a need for investment to address this problem.

·    The proposals for the Boston Distributor Road were welcomed.

·    Conflict due to shared pedestrian and cycle routes was caused by lack of consideration. Officers stated that one of the aims of the strategy was to try and get people out of their cars and to use more sustainable transport.

·    There had not been any account taken of the issues caused by population growth.

·    What were Business Travel Zones? Officers stated that these Zones involved local authorities working with businesses to encourage car sharing and cycling.

·    Traffic issues raised included the destination of the proposed East West Link Road which was needed due to the shortage of bridges; a lot of the traffic coming from the south of Boston was commercial, went through residential areas and a minor break downs caused gridlock. Officers stated that proposals for the East West Link Road required examination but the route would alleviate the amount of traffic using John Adam's Way which was the most congested road in the county. Officers stated that strategic traffic comprised less than 4% of journeys in Boston, HGV traffic was low and the biggest factor contributing to congestion was local traffic.

Following the discussion it was agreed that the Committee's conclusions should be passed to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT as follows:-

·         The importance of the Boston Distributor Road in conjunction with the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.

·         The importance of the Strategy Steering Group in delivering the Strategy with Member involvement on this Group welcomed.

·         The opportunity to improve rail services when rail franchises were renewed.

·         The current bus services were not meeting needs.

·         The importance of developing the East West link.

RESOLVED

(a) That the recommendation to the Executive Councillor for Highways, Transport and IT, detailed in the report, is supported.

(b) That the additional comments made by the Committee, below, be passed to the Executive Councillor as follows:-

·         The importance of the Strategy Steering Group, with Member involvement on this Group, in delivering the Strategy.

·         The importance of economic development to Boston.

·         The opportunity to improve rail services when rail franchises were renewed.

·         The current bus services were not meeting needs.

·         The importance of developing the East West link.

·         The importance of the Boston Distributor Road in conjunction with the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.