Issue - meetings

The Committee received a verbal presentation from the Interim Transport Director for the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP):

·       Key transport schemes coming forward: A10, A1307, A428 and Milton and Histon Road.

·       Significant new housing is expected on the west side of the city (eg Bourne, Northstowe etc), which had to be factored into transport growth and infrastructure needs.

·       GCP were discussing mass rapid transport options with the Combined Authority Mayor. These would be reported to the Combined Authority and GCP Board in January 2018 and published mid-January 2018.

·       A significant modal shift was needed to encourage people to use public transport instead of cars. GCP had set a target of reducing traffic volumes in the city by 10-15% of 2011 figures by 2031.

o   Public transport needed to be more reliable to get people out of their cars.

o   More Park&Ride sites were proposed.

o   Existing Park&Ride site facilities would be improved.

o   A signal review to prioritise buses, pedestrians and bikes.

·       Air quality was an issue to address in Cambridge. Possible measures to mitigate it were:

o   An Air Quality Zone.

o   Electric buses/taxis.

o   A freight consolidation centre to reduce the number of heavy goods vehicles.

·       GCP were working with the City and County Council regarding on and off road parking to:

o   Manage/reduce demand by residents, businesses and commuters.

o   Provide revenue for public transport.

·       GCP were looking at physical and fiscal ways to manage/reduce parking demand in the city eg work place parking levy and intelligent charging. There was no preferred option at present.

·       A site had been proposed for the Cambridge South Rail station and a study agreed with government partly funded by GCP.

 

The Transport Director said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          The GCP Chief Executive had apologised for the A428 consultation process errors at the December 2017 Local Liaison Forum. Work had been undertaken to correct these errors. The consultation was at an early stage, closing date 29 January 2018. People were asked to respond so GCP could consider these in its options appraisal. The Director re-iterated no decision had been made on a final option.

     ii.          GCP were looking at options to reduce car usage and mitigate environmental impact:

·       Autonomous vehicles that could be booked.

·       Car clubs.

·       Car sharing.

·       Green energy generated from solar panels on Park&Ride sites.

·       Technology could help to improve traffic efficiency. Options that reduced the number of cars on the road would be supported.

   iii.          GCP had funded the 26 zones being considered for parking schemes. As such they would be inputting into these, specifically the Newnham residents’ parking scheme, through Sonia Hansen (Traffic Manager, Cambridgeshire County Council). Residents’ views were currently being sought.

   iv.          GCP had not looked at electric car charging points in great detail, but may do so in future. Charging points were available at Park&Ride sites, but not on residential streets.

    v.          There was a need to balance all transport needs through demand management. Reducing the number of cars on the road would allow greater access for public transport. However, there was still a need/demand for private transport eg from people who commuted from out of the city. The price of housing in Cambridge resulted in people relocating out of the city but travelling back into work. The needs of residents also needed to be borne in mind. Those located on city arterial routes suffer more pollution than other residents.

 

Members of the public asked a number of questions, as set out below.

 

1.       Ms Blythe made the following points:

       i.          Suggested rebranding the A1307 transport corridor as a place shaping project to create a more positive image for it.

     ii.          Stated the fencing on Ditton Meadows was not in the original GCP proposal and that residents had concerns about its impact on greenways.

 

The Transport Director undertook to take the issues re Ditton Meadows away and get back to Ms Blythe

 

2.       Mr Rosenstiel queried if the GCP air quality zone would be effective as the County Council already had an Air Quality Management Zone that was not enforced.

 

The Transport Director said the GCP air quality zone would be enforced through cameras.

 

3.       A member of the public expressed concern that the proposed congestion charge would penalise disabled drivers. Public transport was not always a viable option.

 

The Transport Director said there was no definite plan to impose an intelligent charge. Exemptions would be considered such as people with mobility issues.

 

The Transport Director undertook to feedback wheelchair bus user issues (eg access) to Stagecoach.

 

4.       Ms Nicholson asked if ward consultations on parking zones would be joined up.

 

The Transport Director said GCP would have an overview of feedback/issues once all twenty six consultations had occurred, but each consultation would have to go ahead on an individual basis.

 

Councillor Nethsingha said the issue had been discussed at the Cambridge Joint Area Committee, who looked at cross-city issues. Councillors thought that residents in each area should be given control, so various consultations would take place instead of a cross-city one. GCP would retain an overview.

 

5.       Mr Rosenstiel queried what happened when commuters used parking spaces residents appeared not to want/use.

 

Councillor Nethsingha said there would be consultations in different residential areas on how to address issues. Some areas would be prioritised for action faster than others based on the impact on their amenities being the greatest.