Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan

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A decision made to approve the report on the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan for submission to the Council of Ministers.

Subject:	Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan
Decision Reference:	MD-T-2006-0006	Exempt clause(s):
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written	Person Giving Report (if oral):		N/A
Telephone or e-mail Meeting?	No	Report File ref:		35/16
Written Report Title:	Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan	Written report – Author:		John Richardson
Decision(s): The Minister approved the report on the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan for submission to the Council of Ministers.
Reason(s) for decision: The Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan requires approval from the Council of Ministers before it can be lodged with the States for debate.
Action required: Report to be submitted to the Council of Ministers for consideration and subject to approval, the Report and Proposition will be lodged with the States for debate in March 2006.
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision:

Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan

TRANSPORT AND TECHNICAL SERVICES

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT PLAN

Purpose of the Report

This report, in conjunction with the previously circulated document “Turning Travel Around”, is to update the Council of Ministers on the current position concerning transport policy and to seek approval from the Council for the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan to be lodged with the States for debate.

Background

The previous Environment and Public Services Committee prepared the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan document following concerns raised by States Members that the previous transport policy, approved in 1999, had not been implemented and a new bus service had not seen the degree of modernisation originally envisaged.

During the preparation phase of this document, a number of structured public consultations were undertaken resulting in the planned action list outlined on page 20 of the document.

The attached Report and Proposition, prepared by the Environment and Public Services Committee, sets out the action plan for the first five years which required a new funding stream to be identified in the 2006-10 resource allocation process. Given current timescales, the only option for 2006 would be to either develop elements of the policy that do not require immediate funding or re-prioritise from within existing resources. There are sufficient projects for 2006 and early 2007 that could be developed such as integration of the bus service, a review of taxi cab services and parking policy and charge structure that would not require any additional funding from general revenues.

In early 2006 the action plan for the first five years should be prioritised and a business case prepared for additional funding from general revenues. This case would then be submitted as part of the revenue allocation process in 2007 for the 2008 budget.

For the more complex elements of the policy and to change behavioural patterns of the travelling public, the use of environmental taxes is recommended. Options for these are currently being developed in conjunction with the Treasury and Resources Minister.

The Way Forward

The Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan sets out a framework for transport in Jersey over the next 10-15 years and also sets out some real changes that if made, will start to change the way in which the public select their mode of transport.

It is therefore proposed that subject to endorsement of the Sustainable Travel and Transport Plan by the Council of Ministers, the States should be asked to approve the overall document with some key deliverables as outlined in b(1) of the proposition.

When this document is presented to the States, it should have a clear list of priorities set for 2006 and 2007 and the funding routes for these specific projects identified.

The following list of projects is suggested for 2006-07:

 Review and development of a better integrated public and school bus service

 Review and develop the taxi cab service

 Review and develop a new parking charge policy

 Develop and implement a programme of providing bus shelters at key locations on the main bus routes

With the exception of the provision of bus shelters, the above projects can be funded from within existing cash limits or by using funds from the Car Park Trading Account for the parking projects. This is on the assumption that existing expenditure on the public bus service and school bus service is not increased and that the integration is seen as an efficiency measure.

The Transport and Technical Services Minister has identified within the 2006 revenue budget a small sum (£50,000) to facilitate the provision of bus shelters, although subject to approval from the Planning and Environment Minister to allow limited advertising on bus shelters, it is felt that these could become part funded in the longer term.

In addition to the above transport policy developments, the States has approved an allocation of capital to improve the highways resurfacing programme. The funds allocated are £1.5m, £0.5m, and £0.5m in 2006, 2007 and 2008 respectively. These funds are in addition to the Transport and Technical Services revenue budget of £950,000 for highways resurfacing and on-going maintenance. The Transport and Technical Services Minister is reviewing the current method of procuring highways maintenance to determine whether given the level of funding available and the Island’s location, best value is being obtained from local contractors.

Recommendation

The Minister is recommended to:

Endorse the Sustainable Transport and Travel Policy document and attached Report and Proposition and request that it be lodged with the States for debate at the earliest opportunity.

Endorse the prioritised policies for development in 2006-07.

Agree that a request for additional funding for 2008, 2009 and 2010 should be included in the Transport and Technical Services Minister’s submission for revenue allocation in 2007.

Approve that this report should be presented to the Council of Ministers at its next meeting on 26th January 2006.

Written and approved by:

John Richardson, Chief Officer,

Transport and Technical Services Department

35/16 JDR-PAF

4th January 2006