A Future for the Valleys:Transportation Infrastructure

Connectivity and Accessibility

for Valley communities

Mark Adams8th July 2015

Introduction

• Connectivity improvements over past 30 years• Accessibility/land use• Components of journey quality• Future policy/interventions• Delivery

Improvements over past 30 years

• Roads

• Bus

• Rail

Roads

• Major and minor improvements within and between valleys – A470, A465,A472 etc etc

• Large reduction in journey times• Higher car ownership

Bus

• Express buses, bus priority – faster journey times

• Better quality vehicles• Smaller buses – easier to access some

communities• Improved bus stations, waiting facilities,

information

Rail

Valley LinesCurrent Network

Valley LinesBase Network

(1982)

Summary of Improvements

Network Extensions

(1983 – 2013)

Accessibility :Land use/destinations

• Major changes to employment, shopping and leisure locations

• Access by car – much improved for most• Access by public transport – mixed picture

depending on destination and personal circumstances( proximity to service, level of service, need to interchange, fare)

Components of Journey Quality(influences on journey)

• Time – walk; wait; journey time; ( interchange? - wait, journey time );walk

• Cost• ‘Comfort’ – weather(!), waiting facility,

journey comfort, information• People value these elements differently ;

young-cost; elderly-walk; better off-time, comfort

Future policy/interventions

• Roads – emphasis now should be on maintenance and strategic regional connections

• Rail – SWIFT ambition of 2 per hour to Valley heads almost realised; bus feeder services to be reinstated/expanded; (NB rail limited to some valleys/communities)

• Bus – major opportunities for service expansion; little public funding for main services currently

Future Policy /interventions

• Single revenue budget to provide better bus and rail services

• Reducing congestion into central Cardiff is only one policy objective

• Improved connectivity/accessibility elsewhere needs to be incorporated

• Keeping fares low is a policy option

Delivery

• Partnership model essential- formerly Mid/South Glamorgan; SWIFT; Sewta – with operators and WO/WG funding

• Democratic remit- partnership of WG/LA elected representatives or PTA model – policy/delivery vacuum at present

• Valley communities must have a major representation