1. Delivering transport and growth
James White
TravelWatch SouthWest
7 October 2017
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) covers Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
WECA also supports the Local Enterprise Partnership and Joint Committee, which includes North Somerset.

2. Where we are
West of England Combined Authority covers Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol & South Gloucestershire
The LEP also incorporates North Somerset and Business
Population of 1,131,300
90% of residents work within the area

3. 6th/8 City-region LEP areas
Key facts and figures
43.6% degree level
36.8%
West of England
England
13.5%
Business Birth Rate 2014
6th/8 City-region LEP areas
26th/39 LEP areas
Aerospace – 9 out of 12 of the largest aerospace companies

4. Key challenges
“Our vision is to be a beacon of growth and innovation; a place where everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential and where prosperity delivers for everybody.”
Productivity is leveling off
Skill shortages constrain growth across key sectors
Region’s transport system is under strain
Housing delivery and affordability is a critical issue
Broadband speed and connectivity is variable
Future growth must be more environmentally sustainable
Pockets of deprivation

5. Congestion

6. Key transport challenges
The scale of the challenge
NOW
Congestion costs £300m
Peak time average speed mph (23.7mph nationally)
300 deaths per year in Bristol attributable to poor air quality
(1 death per 1,500 population, compared with
1 death per 2,200 nationally)
29% of C02 emissions are from transport (24% nationally)
64% travel to work by car
(highest of all core city regions)
8.8% of journeys by public transport (lowest of all core city regions)
2026
Congestion costs £500m
Delays up 17%
2036
Congestion costs £800m
Delays up 40%
Vehicle trips up 26%
Time spent queuing up 74%
Journey time up 9%
C02 emissions up 22%

7. Where there has been investment in buses, rail and cycling we are experiencing unprecedented levels of growth. We need to build on this.
Cycling growing by
10%
per year
Due to Cycling City, Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Cycling Ambition Fund and Travel Access Fund.
Bus passengers up by 7%
in 2015/16, while
nationally numbers fell by 0.6% and by 1.5% in other Core City regions.
Due to Greater Bristol Bus Network investment, First Bus fares policy review, residents’ parking scheme rollout.
Rail passengers up by 56%
since 2008 and by
122%
on the Severn Beach Line.
Second highest growth in UK, from 0.5m to 1.4m passengers a year.
Due to service improvements and enhanced stations and publicity.

8. Transport devolution powers
Joint Local Transport Plan
Concessionary travel
Supported bus services
Real Time Information
Community Transport
Key Route Network
Clean Air Zones
Bus franchising
£30m West of England Investment Fund per year

9. Growth now Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood 5,700 homes North Yate
Somerdale (Keynsham)
700 homes
Weston-super-Mare
11,000 homes
Somer Valley Enterprise Zone
2,000 jobs

10. Growth to 2036 - Joint Spatial Plan
By 2036:
105,000 new homes
82,500 jobs

11. Key Principles Quick, frequent, reliable
Segregated routes - `think tram, do bus’
Connected to key destinations
Smart and integrated ticketing
Distinctive, high quality vehicles
High quality interchange facilities e.g. bus stops, footpath links, cycle storage etc.
Opportunity for feeder (`complementary’) bus services to also benefit from core routes.
Where possible, good parallel walking and cycling facilities.

12. Routes

13. Tickets to be bought before boarding
iPoints
Online
Smartcards
Mobile apps
Local shop
Use your existing elderly / disabled pass

14. MetroWest

15. Revised scheme costs Network Rail GRIP 3 (Outline design) completed.
Scheme cost now £145m to £175m for 2 trains per hour service.
£58m funding available so scheme is currently unaffordable and unlikely to attract sufficient additional funding.

17. Developing the Transport Vision
Support Economic Growth
Reduce Carbon Emissions
Quality of Life & Environment
Safety, Health & Security
Promote Accessibility
Twenty year strategy to address current challenges and accommodate future growth
Importance and wider benefits of our strategic network
Closely linked to the Emerging Spatial Strategy
Working with Highways England as study partner
Scale of Ambition
Evolving transport technology

18. Transport Vision

19. Public Transport
Park & Ride
MetroBus
Mass Transit

20. Costs Outturn cost Behaviour Change £0.65 billion
Strategic Cycle Routes
£0.4 billion
Bus Network
£0.35 billion
MetroBus
£0.63 billion
Mass Transit
£2.6 billion +
Park & Ride
£0.2 billion
Rail
£1.0 billion
Road Network
£3.1 billion
Total
£8.9 billion +

21. By 2036
Improve connectivity in the region to increase access to jobs, reduce congestion and promote sustainable transport choices.

22. Questions?