Agenda 8. Active Travel progress update. Committee. Strategy and Programmes. Date of meeting 13 June 2014 Date of report 20 May 2014

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1 Agenda 8 Active Travel progress update Committee Strategy and Programmes Date of meeting 13 June 2014 Date of report 20 May 2014 Report by Assistant Chief Executive (Operations) 1. Object of report To provide a progress update on active travel. 2. Background 2.1 Promotion of active travel - walking and cycling - is critical in achieving key objectives such as reductions in carbon emissions, tackling congestion, and helping people to live more active, healthy lives, by encouraging a shift away from less sustainable modes. 2.2 Currently in Scotland, 13% of people walk to work, 2% of people travel to work by cycle, 51% of pupils walk to school and 1% travel to school by cycle. 1 The Scottish Government has an ambitious vision that 10% of every-day journeys will be by bike by 2020 and this provides a powerful impetus for organisations like SPT, councils and Sustrans to increase delivery of cycling initiatives. 2.3 Over the period , SPT invested over 3.5m in walking and cycling projects and there is evidence that this investment is making a positive impact. For example, in Glasgow cycle trips into and out of the city centre are in excess of 5,000 per day, and there has been an increase of over 50% in cycling trips over the past three years Building on this, SPT, with our constituent councils, developed a Cycling Strategy and Investment programme 3 for the period 2013/14-15/16, approved by the Committee in March SPT and Sustrans have also jointly-funded a Strategic Project Officer post based in SPT to help promote and coordinate cycling projects with our partner councils. Part of this approach has been to align the objectives of SPT s Cycling Strategy and Investment programme more closely with the Scottish Government s Cycling Action Plan and Sustrans Community Links Fund. As a result of this approach, in 2014/2015, SPT is investing 3.07m in walking and cycling infrastructure projects across our 12 councils. Much of this investment has been match-funded by 1 Transport Scotland, Key Transport Statistics, December Figures are for Glasgow s Strategic Plan for Cycling See report to Committee on 22 March Page 1 of 5

2 Sustrans through its Community Links Fund ( 2.49m) bringing total investment to 5.56m across the region. Appendix 1 has more detail on this significant investment. 2.5 SPT s programme, in partnership with councils and Sustrans, has proved highly successful in improving cycle links for commuters, expanding the National Cycle Network, and improving sustainable access to community facilities including hospitals. 3. Other SPT Sustainable Travel Projects and Travel Planning Initiatives 3.1 In addition to the above, SPT is also undertaking various other projects and initiatives to promote sustainable travel and travel planning. For example, SPT is promoting shorter everyday trips by bike and more cycle interchange opportunities at our own facilities. To this end, we have recently installed bike parking facilities at Buchanan, Hamilton and Greenock bus stations and Bridge Street, Kelvinbridge and Kinning Park Subway stations. Furthermore, SPT has worked in partnership with ScotRail to provide new and enhanced bike parking facilities at thirteen railway stations across the region. 3.2 SPT is also committed to improving sustainable access to healthcare facilities, in partnership with the NHS and councils. For example, SPT is a key partner in working with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council to develop a network of walking and cycle routes to the New South Glasgow Hospital ahead of its opening in 2015, and is working with councils across the region to maximise opportunities for improved cross-boundary cycle links to the new hospital. SPT has also provided secure bike parking for staff at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and Royal Alexandra Hospital. 3.3 Other examples of projects / initiatives include: SPT s Sustainable Travel Group which is held every 6 months and invites a wide range of stakeholders from the public and private sectors to share best practice, develop opportunities for partnership working and maximise best use of resources. SPT s Sustainable Travel Grant scheme provides partner councils and other public sector organisations with small grants to promote active and sustainable travel to their staff. In 2013/14 over 6,500 was invested in a number of projects, including provision of staff lockers, pool umbrellas, staff travel surveys and promotional items for sustainable travel events. 3.4 SPT promotes and encourages staff to participate in a number of national sustainable travel events and encourages other organisations to do so, including: Walk to work week in May; Bike Week in June; and, Cycle to Work Scheme. 3.5 We also monitor how well our staff are doing in travelling sustainably to work and this helps us to focus our message and practice what we preach. The 2014 SPT Travel Survey carried out in April highlighted that: 4% of staff walk to work and 2% cycle to work. 60% of staff travel to work using public transport (35% by train, 18% by bus and 7% by Subway). Page 2 of 5

3 32% of staff travel to work by car (27% as lone car drivers, 3% as driver with a passenger and 2% as a passenger). 3.6 SPT is also providing input to the Scottish Government s draft National Walking Strategy, which is currently out to consultation. 4. Conclusions The roll out of SPT s Cycling Strategy and Investment programme demonstrates SPT s commitment to active travel and helping the Scottish Government achieve its cycling vision. SPT will continue to work in close partnership with councils, Sustrans and other stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery, monitor the outcomes of the programme and undertake robust and coordinated forward planning. 5. Committee action The Committee is requested to note the contents of this report. 6. Consequences Policy consequences Legal consequences Financial consequences Personnel consequences In line with RTS and Scottish Government policy. None The projects listed were approved by SPT s Partnership Board at its meeting on 21 February Future years projects will be assessed in line with capital programme and funding availability. None at present. SPT is working closely with Sustrans to maximise our joint resources. Social inclusion consequences Supports social inclusion in disadvantaged communities across the west of Scotland. Risk consequences None Name Eric Stewart Name Gordon Maclennan Title Assistant Chief Executive Title Chief Executive (Operations) For further information, please contact Bruce Kiloh, Head of Policy & Planning on or Clare Strain, Travel Planning Officer on Page 3 of 5

4 Appendix 1 Walking and Cycling Investment Local Authority Project Name Sustrans Community Links SPT Capital Programme Total investment Argyll & Bute Helensburgh and Lomond Cycleways - 200, ,000 East Ayrshire East Dunbartonshire East Renfrewshire Glasgow City Council Dundonald to Crosshouse to N73 Cycle 12,500 - Route Galston to Newmilns Cycle Route 72, , ,000 Cowgate, Kirkintilloch Master Plan 200,000 - A81 Active Travel Corridor 200, ,000 Active Travel Action Plan - Strategy 25,000 - Development Healthy Habits 20,000 - Walking and Cycling Off Road Network Improvements - 150, ,000 Barrhead/Neilston Infrastructure 30,000 - Improvements Balgray Reservoir Boardwalk Feasibility 15,000 - Study Cycling Strategy, Monitoring and Design 25,000 - Eastwood Infrastructure Improvements 40,000 - Pedestrian and Cycling Improvements 300, ,000 Tradeston Detailed Design 250, ,000 Promotion of Kelvingrove - Anderston 40,000 - (Connect2) Glasgow Clyde South Bank Commuter Route 100,000 - Cycling and Walking Routes to Cathkin - 100, ,000 Inverclyde N753 Inverkip to Wemyss Bay 50,000 10,000 N75 Port Glasgow Lighting 23,500 - Green Central Link - 10,000 Extension of NCN753 to Inverkip - 90, ,500 North Ayrshire NCN Route 7 Kilbirnie Community Links 55,000 - NCN Route 757 Fairlie Community Links 200, ,000 NCN Route 73 Brodick to Corrie Phase 4 and 5 Construction 75,000 - NCN Route 7 - Kilwinning Improvements 20, ,000 North Lanarkshire Ford Bridge, Plains, Widening 90, ,000 M8 Strategic Investment Sites Cycle Routes Access 100, ,000 Plains to Clarkston Cycle Path 10, ,000 Renfrewshire Elderslie gap construction 30,000 40,000 Cycling Strategy for Renfrewshire 10,000 - Page 4 of 5

5 Local Authority Project Name Sustrans Community Links SPT Capital Programme Total investment Design of a Paisley to Renfrew cycle route 10,000 - NCR 7 lighting project - Saucel Hill 15, ,000 South Ayrshire A70 Coylton - Phases 2 and 3 106, ,000 A713 - Phase 2 Shared Use Footway 68, , ,500 South Lanarkshire East Kilbride cycle Network 20,000 - West Dunbartonshire Hamilton to Rutherglen Cycle Route - 150,000 - Cambuslang section NCN 74 Blackwood to Kirkmuirhill route 50,000 - gaps NCN 74 - Larkhall to Stonehouse including 150,000 - Raploch Pitches NCN 74, Blantyre ramp 87,500 - National Strategic Cycle Routes - 550,000 1,007,500 Dumbarton Central Station to Jamestown 44,000 22,000 Ph3 Clydebank North Circular Route Ph3 70,000 33,000 Dumbarton to Cardross Cycle Route 25, ,500 Total 2,490,000 3,072,000 5,562,000 Page 5 of 5