A RESOUNDING vote against plans for Britain's biggest road charging zone could discourage similar schemes in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire.
Residents in Greater Manchester opted to reject the proposals by two to one yesterday in a referendum.
Under the scheme, which would have covered about 80 square miles corresponding to the area within the M60 orbital motorway, drivers could have been paying up to £5 a day – or £1,200 a year – to use the region's roads.
Local councils wanted the charges to help pay for £2.7 billion of investment in trains, trams and buses, promising a revolution in public transport.
Business leaders and drivers' representatives in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire have welcomed the vote, which many hope will put other local authorities off considering congestion charges.
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Paul Biggs, Staffordshire representative for the Association of British Drivers, said: "I think this will probably kill off any chance of a congestion charge appearing anywhere else in the country.
"It's very good news for drivers. We already pay around £50 billion to use the roads and we don't want to have to pay twice."
The Sentinel: No vote 'kills off' road use charges
Monday, 15 December 2008
Central Birmingham Car Trips Down by a Third
The number of people entering Birmingham city centre by car in the morning peak has fallen by 32% since 1995 according to the latest monitoring data.
Whereas 62,122 people crossed the ring road inbound by car, van and goods vehicle during the morning peak (07.30-09.30) in 1995, the figure had dropped to 42,372 by 2007. The fall appears to be the result of both fewer people overall entering the city centre and a rise in public transport use, particularly rail.
Chris Haynes, Birmingham’s head of transportation strategy, said any attempt to attribute the decline in car trips was a bit of a “guesstimate” but he identified three factors: the success of rail and particularly park-and-ride; the decline in manufacturing jobs within the ring road; and the recent increase in the city centre’s residential population. He added that 24-hour counts showed a fall in road traffic throughout the day. The pattern in Birmingham was not that dissimilar to other core cities, he added.
The overall number of people entering central Birmingham has fallen from 107,435 in 1995 to 97,192 in 2007. Public transport users have risen from 45,313 to 54,820 and, as a percentage share, public transport now accounts for 56.4% of all trips compared with 42% in 1995.
Rail use has jumped from 13,619 to 22,967; bus use has fallen from 31,694 to 30,268. Midland Metro, which opened in 1999, carried 1,585 in-bound passengers in 2007.
Data from Centro shows that the public transport mode share in other West Midland conurbation towns is much lower than Birmingham: West Bromwich (34.7%), Walsall (34.2%), Wolverhampton (29.5%), Coventry (22.6%), Sutton Coldfield (20.5%), Solihull (19.6%), Dudley (14.4%), Brierley Hill (12.1%).
Overall, Centro reports that the West Midlands has overtaken Tyne and Wear as the conurbation having the highest bus use per head of population. A total of 325.4 million trips were made by bus in 2007/08, little changed from 2006/07.
Centro says this equates to 12.4 million trips per 100,000 population, compared with 12.3 million in Tyne and Wear, 10.9 million on Merseyside, 9 million in West Yorkshire, and 8.8 million in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire.
Rail patronage across the conurbation has grown by 43% in the last decade. Use of Midland Metro rose last year from 4.9 million passengers to 5 million.
Local Transport Today: Ctl Birmingham car trips down by a third
Whereas 62,122 people crossed the ring road inbound by car, van and goods vehicle during the morning peak (07.30-09.30) in 1995, the figure had dropped to 42,372 by 2007. The fall appears to be the result of both fewer people overall entering the city centre and a rise in public transport use, particularly rail.
Chris Haynes, Birmingham’s head of transportation strategy, said any attempt to attribute the decline in car trips was a bit of a “guesstimate” but he identified three factors: the success of rail and particularly park-and-ride; the decline in manufacturing jobs within the ring road; and the recent increase in the city centre’s residential population. He added that 24-hour counts showed a fall in road traffic throughout the day. The pattern in Birmingham was not that dissimilar to other core cities, he added.
The overall number of people entering central Birmingham has fallen from 107,435 in 1995 to 97,192 in 2007. Public transport users have risen from 45,313 to 54,820 and, as a percentage share, public transport now accounts for 56.4% of all trips compared with 42% in 1995.
Rail use has jumped from 13,619 to 22,967; bus use has fallen from 31,694 to 30,268. Midland Metro, which opened in 1999, carried 1,585 in-bound passengers in 2007.
Data from Centro shows that the public transport mode share in other West Midland conurbation towns is much lower than Birmingham: West Bromwich (34.7%), Walsall (34.2%), Wolverhampton (29.5%), Coventry (22.6%), Sutton Coldfield (20.5%), Solihull (19.6%), Dudley (14.4%), Brierley Hill (12.1%).
Overall, Centro reports that the West Midlands has overtaken Tyne and Wear as the conurbation having the highest bus use per head of population. A total of 325.4 million trips were made by bus in 2007/08, little changed from 2006/07.
Centro says this equates to 12.4 million trips per 100,000 population, compared with 12.3 million in Tyne and Wear, 10.9 million on Merseyside, 9 million in West Yorkshire, and 8.8 million in Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire.
Rail patronage across the conurbation has grown by 43% in the last decade. Use of Midland Metro rose last year from 4.9 million passengers to 5 million.
Local Transport Today: Ctl Birmingham car trips down by a third
31 New Electronic Speed Warning Signs for Birmingham
SPEED cameras in Birmingham could be on the way out after city transport bosses announced the rolling out of 31 new warning signs in a bid to improve road safety.
The move marks a step change in policy as, instead of the ‘flash and fine’ cameras, motorists will now see more speed activated Slow Down warning signs at the roadside to shame them into hitting the brakes.
Those electronic warning signs already installed, such on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, have proved such a success in slowing traffic that Birmingham City Council is investing £180,000 in putting in more signs in the next few weeks.
Birmingham Mail: Birmingham transport bosses will put 31 new electronic speed warning signs across roads in the city
The move marks a step change in policy as, instead of the ‘flash and fine’ cameras, motorists will now see more speed activated Slow Down warning signs at the roadside to shame them into hitting the brakes.
Those electronic warning signs already installed, such on Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, have proved such a success in slowing traffic that Birmingham City Council is investing £180,000 in putting in more signs in the next few weeks.
Birmingham Mail: Birmingham transport bosses will put 31 new electronic speed warning signs across roads in the city
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Seeing Through SPECS
The speed camera is once again being sold as a magic answer to road safety, reincarnated as SPECS average speed cameras. SPECS cameras were installed on 32 miles of the A77 in July 2005. 3 years later we have the familiar 'before' and 'after' claims. 3 years prior to installation there were 13 deaths and 52 serious injuries, 3 years after installation the figures dropped to 7 and 34 respectively. The total number of accidents fell 19%, average speeds have fallen by 5to 6mph, and the number of vehicles exceeding the speed limit fell by 66%.
Accompanying camera installation were a number of significant safety engineering measures including: selective road widening and re-alignment, passing lanes, improved junction layouts, improved signing and lining, and educational programmes.
Now, which measures will get the credit for casualty reduction? Cameras or engineering/education?
Geoff Hoon, Sunday Times 9th November 2008:
In an interview with The Sunday Times he indicated that many so-called "spot" cameras, which measure speed at a fixed point, could be replaced by the new average-speed cameras, which he claims are fairer and encourage safer driving.
"Spot speed cameras are seen by some people as unfair because when you are driving along you perhaps don't notice your speed," Hoon said.
"What is interesting about average-speed cameras is that [limits] are largely observed by motorists."
Geoff Hoon, BBC Breakfast with Frost, 02/02/2003:
GEOFF HOON: It is absolutely clear that we must remove the weapons of mass destruction from control by Saddam Hussein - that is our primary purpose. Those weapons of mass destruction present a real threat, not only as we've seen in appalling circumstances to the people of Iraq and surrounding regions used in Iraq's invasion of Iran, but also to the safety and security of the world. As the Prime Minister has said, we know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, we equally know that if he goes on with their possession they could easily fall into the hands of terrorists and be a direct threat on the streets of London, anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Accompanying camera installation were a number of significant safety engineering measures including: selective road widening and re-alignment, passing lanes, improved junction layouts, improved signing and lining, and educational programmes.
Now, which measures will get the credit for casualty reduction? Cameras or engineering/education?
Geoff Hoon, Sunday Times 9th November 2008:
In an interview with The Sunday Times he indicated that many so-called "spot" cameras, which measure speed at a fixed point, could be replaced by the new average-speed cameras, which he claims are fairer and encourage safer driving.
"Spot speed cameras are seen by some people as unfair because when you are driving along you perhaps don't notice your speed," Hoon said.
"What is interesting about average-speed cameras is that [limits] are largely observed by motorists."
Geoff Hoon, BBC Breakfast with Frost, 02/02/2003:
GEOFF HOON: It is absolutely clear that we must remove the weapons of mass destruction from control by Saddam Hussein - that is our primary purpose. Those weapons of mass destruction present a real threat, not only as we've seen in appalling circumstances to the people of Iraq and surrounding regions used in Iraq's invasion of Iran, but also to the safety and security of the world. As the Prime Minister has said, we know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, we equally know that if he goes on with their possession they could easily fall into the hands of terrorists and be a direct threat on the streets of London, anywhere in the United Kingdom.
Monday, 17 November 2008
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Birmingham Parking Policy Consultation
Birmingham City Council is developing a new Parking Policy. Over time, the Council has developed a number of separate policies to deal with parking. This strategy is intended to bring together and update existing elements of the City Council’s Parking Policies including the Unitary Development Plan and Visions, together with recent changes in national legislation, so as to be a comprehensive approach to managing on street and off street parking, provision, control and enforcement.
The parking policy will provide the policy framework for effective parking management, which is supportive of the City Council’s strategic objectives for integrated land use and transport planning, environment, social inclusion, economic prosperity and regeneration: all important elements of sustainable development.
The policy document deals with:
Parking for people with mobility difficulties, including the Blue Badge scheme
Non-car modes such as cycles, powered two-wheel vehicles, buses, coaches, taxis and lorries
On street parking supply and charges
Off street parking supply and charges
Park & Ride
Enforcement
Supporting Measures such as Travelwise and Car Clubs
In addition, the document includes the city's draft parking standards which will be used for planning purposes in determining the appropriate level of car parking provision in new developments. These will become part of the City's Local Development Framework and will be consulted on formally in 2009.
There's a short online questionnaire here.
or fill it in and post it to:
Parking Policy Consultation
Transportation Strategy & Development
Birmingham City Council
FREEPOST NEA 14876
PO BOX 37
Birmingham
B4 7BR
Consultation will close on 31 December 2008.
The parking policy will provide the policy framework for effective parking management, which is supportive of the City Council’s strategic objectives for integrated land use and transport planning, environment, social inclusion, economic prosperity and regeneration: all important elements of sustainable development.
The policy document deals with:
Parking for people with mobility difficulties, including the Blue Badge scheme
Non-car modes such as cycles, powered two-wheel vehicles, buses, coaches, taxis and lorries
On street parking supply and charges
Off street parking supply and charges
Park & Ride
Enforcement
Supporting Measures such as Travelwise and Car Clubs
In addition, the document includes the city's draft parking standards which will be used for planning purposes in determining the appropriate level of car parking provision in new developments. These will become part of the City's Local Development Framework and will be consulted on formally in 2009.
There's a short online questionnaire here.
or fill it in and post it to:
Parking Policy Consultation
Transportation Strategy & Development
Birmingham City Council
FREEPOST NEA 14876
PO BOX 37
Birmingham
B4 7BR
Consultation will close on 31 December 2008.
New Device Reduces Need for Motorway Closures
Professor Peter Haycock and Dr Matthew Hocking have invented a device which detects rusted metal in concrete supports under motorways and bridges.
It will allow construction firms to scan concrete for evidence of corrosion, without having to close the road for inspection.
Dr Hocking said: "I have spent many hours sitting on the M6 over the years, so I would be pleased if we helped to do something about it.
"The machine can tell the amount of rust in steel, therefore we can scan over an area without having to take the concrete off and have an idea about the condition of the steel underneath.
The technology is ideal for planning projects that would have meant stopping the traffic on the motorway."
Dr Hocking and Prof Haycock, founders of Keele-based SciSite, first developed the technology for the EMAD – an Electro-Magnetic Anomaly Detector – 12 years ago.
It was first used to check for rust on wheels.
But they started researching its use with reinforced concrete five years ago, and are now ready to launch a version of the machine for the construction industry.
EMAD uses a probe on a trolley which is held up to concrete posts and reveals corrosion levels.
And SciSite says technology currently used does not accurately document the amount of corrosion which can leave roads closed for days because concrete supports have to be opened up for investigation.
The company, which is based on Keele Science Park, is currently seeking investment to build dozens of the machines to lease them out.
The Sentinel: 'New device means no jams tomorrow'
It will allow construction firms to scan concrete for evidence of corrosion, without having to close the road for inspection.
Dr Hocking said: "I have spent many hours sitting on the M6 over the years, so I would be pleased if we helped to do something about it.
"The machine can tell the amount of rust in steel, therefore we can scan over an area without having to take the concrete off and have an idea about the condition of the steel underneath.
The technology is ideal for planning projects that would have meant stopping the traffic on the motorway."
Dr Hocking and Prof Haycock, founders of Keele-based SciSite, first developed the technology for the EMAD – an Electro-Magnetic Anomaly Detector – 12 years ago.
It was first used to check for rust on wheels.
But they started researching its use with reinforced concrete five years ago, and are now ready to launch a version of the machine for the construction industry.
EMAD uses a probe on a trolley which is held up to concrete posts and reveals corrosion levels.
And SciSite says technology currently used does not accurately document the amount of corrosion which can leave roads closed for days because concrete supports have to be opened up for investigation.
The company, which is based on Keele Science Park, is currently seeking investment to build dozens of the machines to lease them out.
The Sentinel: 'New device means no jams tomorrow'
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