Local Transport Plan 3 Vision and Issues

The Local Transport Plan Will replace LTP2, which expires 31 March must have LTP3 approved and operative before this date Will be a statutory document Will set out the transport strategy and policies for the Metropolitan Area from 2011 to 2026 Will include a detailed delivery programme for the first three years ( )

Key LTP3 Timescale Factors Must ensure ongoing stakeholder engagement to meet statutory requirements (including 2 periods of consultation on elements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment) Need to make immediate and rapid progress to ensure the March 2011 deadline is met

Transport is not a means within itself. It is an outcome of all of our activities: economic, social, leisure and residential. LTP3 therefore has to take a joined-up approach that links housing, economic development, regeneration and environmental considerations, rather than viewing transport in isolation.

LTP3 has two sets of problems to address: Mitigating existing levels of congestion and associated problems within the Metropolitan Area at the current time (‘the existing situation’) and Ensuring investment in, and provision of, appropriate and effective infrastructure to enable significant growth to take place to 2026 (‘accommodating planned future growth’)

In formulating LTP3, we need to build and develop a strategy that is based on the following principles: Smarter Management - Making the best use of the transport assets we already have Smarter Choices - Encouraging people to move away from car use through providing an attractive alternative Smarter Investment -Targeting our resources at schemes that support these other two strategic objectives

LTP3 Approach 3-stage approach to the formulation of LTP3: 1. Vision/Issues/Process 2. Strategy 3. Implementation

1. Vision/Issues Document Not required by Guidance but useful as maintains momentum, builds on initial stakeholder engagement and ensures key issues are addressed in the LTP3. It will:  Ask for views on the Draft Vision, which will underpin the LTP3 objectives and Strategy  Request that stakeholders identify issues and prioritise their ‘Top 5”

Draft LTP3 Vision “The West Midlands Metropolitan Area will be prosperous, healthy and safe, offering a high quality and attractive environment where people will choose to live, work, do business and visit. It will offer sustainable transport choice and spatial connectivity within and between the wide range of centres, large and small, which make up the Metropolitan Area, and to and from the wider region. This will reduce the need to travel and support economic growth, within a low carbon environment. It will offer equal opportunities for everyone to gain access to services and facilities, reflecting our strong ethnic and cultural diversity, positively building on this distinct competitive and social advantage. It will continue to develop its role as the economic and service hub for the West Midlands Region, offering a sustainable transport system that takes full account of its location at the centre of the country.”

This Vision builds on and develops Government’s five goals for delivering a sustainable transport system in the West Midlands that: Supports economic growth Tackles climate change Is safe, secure and healthy Presents equality of opportunity to all and Enhances our quality of life and the built environment It also seeks to positively contribute to national economic growth and to help reduce the regional prosperity gap in terms of GVA

Consultation on Vision  With all stakeholders on Vision and Issues  28 September to 18 December 2009 (12 weeks)  3 Stakeholder Events have been included  Will feed into LTP3 Strategy Document and the LTP3 Implementation Plan

Issues LTP3 will generate a range of issues that will need analysis and resolution Early stakeholder engagement is crucial in helping to define these issues – this is one of the main purpose of this Event Stakeholders are asked to identify and prioritise their ‘Top 5’ issues

2. Strategy Document Covers the period 2009 – 2026 Will deal with the broad strategy to be pursued over the LTP3 period Ensures integration with plans and strategies of partners, including the Districts and Local Strategic Partnerships Will translate Government transport policy to the local level Should interlink with Metropolitan Area policies re spatial planning, housing and regeneration, to ensure a ‘joined-up approach’ to these key matters

3. Implementation Document Will cover 3-year period Aligns with RFA2 for Major Schemes Will set out 3-year targets, within a longer-term desired trajectory Will include specific capital investment programme at the District/Joint Initiative level Will be formulated after the Strategy Document as there is currently uncertainty re future capital sources The Strategy Document will provide the framework and justification for the detailed targets and programme

Local Transport Plan 3 Next Steps

LTP3 Timetable LTP3 Strategy Document – engage February- May 2010 LTP3 Implementation Document – engage July-October 2010 The current draft timetable is tight but allows for LTP3 to become operative on 1 January 2011 (i.e. it builds in 3 months ‘slack’)

The responses from the Stakeholders Events and the other consultations will be analysed and will be taken account of in the formulation of the two documents that will form LTP3: LTP3 Strategy LTP3 Implementation Plan These documents will themselves be the subject of extensive and ongoing stakeholder engagement as they develop. The next stage is expected to be consultation on the Draft LTP3 Strategy, in Spring 2010.