The Regional Transport Strategy

Transport for Regional Growth ConferenceEdinburgh

5 November 2015

John SaundersSEStran

2Overview

• National and Regional context for the RTS• What is the RTS?• Issues and Strategy• Delivery challenges• Some successes• and a look ahead

3

• Core economic importance:– £33bn of Gross Value Added (GVA) - 30% of Scotland’s output– Edinburgh is the 2nd most prosperous city in the UK

• Key business sectors: – Financial services/ Tourism/ ‘Knowledge economy’/ Creative

industries/ Retailing

• All dependent on connectivity for customers, labour force, business travel, visitors, goods, ideas…

– Locally/ Regionally/ Nationally/ Internationally

• But areas of deprivation, poor connectivity and environmental problems remain

The SEStran context

4National context

Scottish Government: NPF3 National Transport Strategy

NPF3 ‘Connected Place’ developments relevant to SEStran:

• High Speed Rail• Edinburgh Airport enhancement• Grangemouth Investment Zone• Freight on the Forth

City Region agenda and ‘City Deal’

Other legislation, national policy frameworks, strategies, targets and guidance

5External connections

• Edinburgh: Scotland’s busiest airport for passengers and freight• Forth: Scotland’s busiest port• Edinburgh: Scotland’s second busiest

rail station; origin/destination for largest number of cross-border rail journeys

Need to maintain and develop these connectionsNeed to ensure high quality access to major hubs

The region’s transport hubs are critical to the national economy

6Regional travel needs

• Edinburgh:– 32% of SEStran residents– 43% of SEStran area jobs

• 92,000 daily commuters into city

• 10% more than 2001

• 25,000 commuting out

• Regional centre for retail and many other services

An interdependent region

7Future growth

• Economic and employment growth focused on Edinburgh city region• SESplan population forecast to grow by

around 200,000 (14%) in 20 years• Number of house(hold)s expected to

increase by considerably more

Consequent growth in local, regional, national and international travel demand

SDP1: Strategic Development areas

8The Regional Transport Strategy

• Statutory requirement• Reflects importance of cross-

boundary movements by all modes• Focus on strategic needs of wider

economy• Support Community Planning

and Single Outcome Agreements

9but …

• Since 2010, not an investment plan• Direct delivery depends on:

o Challenge fund bids o Developer and other private sector

contributions

• Have to rely on:o Partnershipo Co-ordinationo Promotion of best practiceo Persuasiono Lobbying

10

‘South East Scotland is a dynamic and growing area

which aspires to become one of northern Europe's leading

economic regions. Essential to this is the development of

a transport system which enables businesses to function

effectively, allows all groups in society to share in the

region’s success through high quality access to services

and opportunities, respects the environment, and

contributes to better health.’

Regional Transport Strategy vision

11

Key issues for the RTS – external connectivity

• Airport:– Maximising international connections– Surface access from around the region

• Rail:– Impacts of capacity limitations of cross-border

rail links on passengers and freight– High speed rail potential

• Ports– Sustainable approaches to surface access

(Grangemouth, Rosyth)

• Roads– Cross-border routes (A1, connections to M74)– Strategic routes to North and NE

12

Key issues for the RTS – internal connectivity• Rapid growth in population

and jobs• Increasing congestion on

approaches to and orbital routes around Edinburgh

• Pressures on the public transport networks

• Poor access to services and employment for some

• Climate change and local pollution

13The Strategy

• Maximising sustainable transport infrastructure and services – For major regional corridors – Across local authority boundaries– To access major connectivity hubs : airport, ports

• Supporting external connectivity improvements – Airport – Rail connections including High Speed Rail– Ports

• Ensuring new development– Has excellent accessibility by sustainable travel modes– Is designed to support use of public transport and active travel

• Improving accessibility to jobs, training, healthcare for deprived communities

• Contributing to climate change and pollution targets

14Challenges…

• To maintain a key influencing role in support of the RTS - with very limited funding and resources • Promotion of sustainable transport and active travel –

especially outside the Edinburgh urban area• Achieving more sustainable logistics • Tackling social needs

– Access to jobs from areas of deprivation– Access to education, health and other services

15Some successes

Bustracker – extended to whole SEStran area

Tripshare SEStran car sharing

Thistle card for people with a disability

Electric vehicles for Edinburgh College

eCycle university staff electric bike scheme

16Looking ahead: Develop to Deliver…

• Agreed between RTPs, Cosla and Minister• Where RTPs can help delivery of the NTS:

– Improving Integration of Land Use and Transport Planning

– Improving Access to Health and Social Care– Delivering a ‘Step Change’ for Bus, Integrated

Transport, Ticketing and Information– Developing Rail including High Speed Rail – Improving Air Services – Improving Ferry Services – Improving Freight – Promoting and Improving Active Travel and Travel

Planning

17Thank you….