Agenda item

The Executive Member for Regeneration and the Director of Regeneration and Culture submitted a report for the Executive’s consideration. The purpose of the report was to provide information on the proposals to reallocate road space along the Linthorpe Road corridor (between Borough Road and Ayresome Street) to create protected cycle lanes in both directions.

 

Following the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s (TVCA) Local Cycling and Walking Implementation Plan (LCWIP), Active Travel Funding had been secured from the Department for Transport (DfT) to deliver transformational infrastructure across the region.

 

Linthorpe Road had been identified as a key corridor due to the direct connections to the town centre, the number of destinations along the route and the density of population surrounding it.

 

The corridor planned to work on the principles of re-allocation of road space (removal of car parking spaces) to accommodate the following:

·        segregated cycle lanes along the entire corridor in each direction;

·        one lane of traffic in each direction (except at main junctions where right turn filters would be accommodated to improve junction queuing/stacking)

·        side road closures at key junctions (identified in plans) to improve safety for all road users;

·        upgrade, re-location and additional crossing points to be included to aid pedestrian movement;

·        consolidation of the bus stops to provide improved facilities at key locations (reduced from 3 to 1 location in both North and South directions - close to Victoria Road junction - equidistant between Borough Road and Parliament Road); and

·        rationalise taxi provision as per plans.

 

Appendix 3 of the submitted report provided full detail of the scheme proposals, along with artist impressions of the final outcome.

 

Appendix 1 of the submitted report highlighted the Average Annual Daily Traffic Flows for Linthorpe Road, Appendix 2 showed accident levels recorded along the scope of the proposals between 2015 and 2019, Appendix 4 provided the cost estimates that had been worked up to deliver the scheme as anticipated, Appendix 5 summarised the parking revenue implications associated during construction phase and future operation and Appendix 6 summarised the anticipated alterations (current vs proposed).

 

A discussion ensued and Members commented on the need to:

·        provide a secure bike storage facility;

·        ensure the maintenance of existing cycle lanes;

·        encourage businesses to use side streets for loading/unloading; and

·        take a similar approach in other areas of the town to improve safety and reduce congestion.

 

OPTIONS

 

The other potential decisions that had not been recommended included:

 

a)     Doing nothing - that was not recommended, as it would not have allowed the Council to realise the benefits outlined within the report. That would have had an impact upon the Council’s Town Centre Strategy, and other strategic objectives such as the recently approved Cycling in Middlesbrough; Investment and Future Infrastructure Opportunities report.

 

b)     Re-assessing the corridor proposals - that was not recommended, as the proposals had been designed using internal and external expertise, identifying the most economic and safe utilisation of space. Any changes to the provision would have had significant implications for delivery, as each element was symbiotically balanced against one another. Any alterations would have deviated away from the DfT’s cycle standards and not achieved the goals.

 

c)     Accept the proposals and deliver as anticipated. Following consultation, there may have been scope to accommodate minor alterations to the proposals, however it was recommended that the proposals were approved as presented in order to realise the benefits of:

·        improved safety/reduced accidents;

·        improved environment quality;

·        reduced congestion;

·        improved public realm; and

·        improved access to key facilities.

 

ORDERED

 

That the ambitious, re-allocation of road space to deliver cycle infrastructure improvements along the Linthorpe Road corridor, as per plans contained in the appendices, be approved.

 

REASONS

 

The proposal was recommended as it aligned with a number of Council objectives, namely:

·        improving safety along the corridor for all road users, and reducing accidents;

·        making the corridor more pedestrian friendly, particularly for those with mobility issues;

·        supporting the local economy; improving accessibility to local retail, leisure and services by improving facilities for short journeys to be made;

·        reducing congestion along a busy corridor planned to improve air quality, reduce noise and help to improve the local environment;

·        better use of the available space would improve the public realm; giving the space back to people as opposed to vehicles - helping the area to look and feel amazing;

·        improving public health by reducing pollution, and creating an environment where people could travel actively, and be more likely to want to spend time in the area;

·        ensuring the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of vehicular and other traffic (including pedestrians) on Middlesbrough Council’s Highway Network; and

·        acting as a statement of intent to echo Governments ambitions to significantly increase cycle levels and adopt LTN 1/20 cycle infrastructure guidance.

 

The Council had identified a problem with localised congestion. Building roads and making improvements for cars would have simply induced further demand for vehicles, and further compounded that issue. By developing a suite of alternate mode infrastructure, the Council would be assisting in reducing the issue.

 

That transformational proposal planned to help set the tone as to what was achievable, providing a platform for further improvements and connectivity across the town. That was in line with the Council’s ambitious proposals to mitigate the impact of economic and housing regeneration and growth, and supported the Middlesbrough Town Centre Strategy.