Planes, trains & automobiles… Transport

Roads – some facts… Six million more vehicles on our roads now than in 1997 More two car households than no car households. Traffic is predicted to keep growing If left unchecked, congestion will cost the economy £22 billion every year by 2025

More facts… In Inner London, more than half of households have no car 48 per cent of households in Liverpool and Manchester do not own cars; 45 per cent in Newcastle do not In contrast, 6.3 per cent of the South East region own three cars and 2.1 per cent own four

The Secretary of State (DfT) Overall responsibility for all aspects of policy Decisions on whether to building new motorways + ‘A’ roads Investment in public transport via rail and road network Issues such as road pricing; tolls; easing congestion etc Financing road schemes and other projects, [eg £6billion National Roads Programme announced by Govt. in Jan 09 – including plans for hard-shoulder running on motorways to ease congestion

The Highways Agency Responsible for all motorways and major trunk roads (‘A’ roads) in England – 9,380km of roads Is executive Government agency accountable to Department for Transport Roads managed by HA carry third of all road traffic and two thirds of freight traffic HA road network worth £81 billion

The Highways Agency ii HA divided into 14 area teams (eg Kent, Surrey, East & West Sussex) Responsible for all major projects worth more than £5million (new schemes; improvement to existing roads HA looks after bridges, lighting, drainage, signing on its roads Some capital projects financed through PFI (Private Finance Initiative)

Types of road… Trunk roads are: Motorways and major “A” (for ‘arterial’ roads linking one town or city with another, often connecting to major ports/airports Managed by the HA/Dept. for Transport Eg M25, A2, M2, M20

Types of road ii County roads: Major arterial roads linking smaller towns, usually within county boundaries Responsibility of relevant county councils, unitary authorities, London boroughs, Metropolitan boroughs

Types of road iii Secondary roads: “B” roads and smaller roads in rural and urban areas, linking smaller villages and towns Responsibility of relevant local council – county; unitary; London borough; Metropolitan borough

Role of local councils Highways responsibilities lie with: counties; unitaries; London boroughs; Metropolitan councils Their job: Maintain and improve roads that are not motorways or main A roads Streetlighting Drains Pavements Road signs Park and ride scheme Support via subsidies for some bus services not commercially viable:

Kent highways – some facts Kent has one of the largest road networks in the country - over 5000 miles of roads and 4000 miles of pavement. 2,700 bridges; 110,000 street lights; 20,000 illuminated signs and bollards; 350 pedestrian and cycle crossings controlled by signals 130,000 traffic signs 170,000 road drains 300 miles of cycle routes