Progress on big ticket transport issues were in the spotlight at today’s Cabinet as the City Council’s administration signed off four more of its commitments.
Tackling congestion and improving public transport on one of our busiest roads, the Woolwell to the George, is one the administration’s commitments to help improve Plymouth’s transport network. This is now to be delivered as the Council has secured almost £20 million for the scheme through the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
The funding will be used to extend the George Park and Ride to provide a further 300 to 500 spaces and to tackle congestion along the busy stretch of Tavistock Road between Woolwell Roundabout and the George Junction, one of Plymouth’s worst traffic bottlenecks.
Councillor Jonathan Drean, Cabinet Member for Transport said: “This scheme has been a long time coming so we are absolutely thrilled to get the funding. There’s a huge amount of work to do but the end result will help drivers, businesses and bus users by tackling journey time unreliability as well as providing new and improved cycle paths and pavements with safer crossings.”
Across the city work is progressing on schemes all designed to improve the city’s transport network. The Forder Valley Link Road, which will see a new link between the A38 and Derriford, is making good progress and is due to finish next year. The new bridge span is in and concrete has been poured onto its deck. Earthworks continue on the drainage pond and the shared-use cycle and pedestrian path on Forder Valley Road (West) is now open.
Consultations with the public have progressed on plans to create more cycling and pedestrian routes around Plymouth as well as improve key transport hubs through the Transforming Cities Fund.
Plymouth was awarded £58.7 million and projects from new cycling routes to mobility hubs, all aimed at making sustainable transport more attractive are in train. They include new cycling and walking routes from the Dockyard to the city centre, a major makeover for St Budeaux Square to improve connections between rail and bus, to name but a few.
Massive investment in the city’s rail station by city partners is also transforming this key gateway. The gateline has more than doubled in size, making it easier for people to get on and off the platforms, while a planning application to build a new multi storey car park has now been submitted.
Another commitment to improve transport is to lobby the Government for investment into the South West for a resilient and reliable road and rail network. Councillor Drean is chair of the Peninsula Rail Taskforce which has enjoyed recent successes with the opening of the Dartmoor Rail Line between Okehampton and Exeter scheduled for 20 November as well as securing more funding to enable exploration work to continue into reopening the Tavistock to Plymouth line.
The Cabinet Member for Transport has also written to the city’s MPs asking them to lobby for the A38 between Bodmin and Exeter to be included as a priority for investment in the Government’s forthcoming third Road Investment Strategy (RIS3). He argued that the A38 needs to be modernised to motorway standard to ensure the route reflects its status as a major trunk road.
A further commitment to introduce a designated phoneline for those without internet access has also been signed off following changes to the contact centre. Options have now been simplified and customers have the choice in all cases to talk to an advisor.
Council Leader Nick Kelly added: “We made a series of commitments to the people of Plymouth and we have now achieved 27 of 86. We are proud of how far we have come but know there is more to do. We will continue to listen to what people tell us they want for Plymouth and for the residents who live here.”