Date: 07 August 2006 20:31

REPORT HAILS CAMBRIDGESHIRE TRANSPORT PLAN A MAJOR SUCCESS

 An in-depth report into Cambridgeshire's five year strategy to improve 
transport has shown a dramatic drop in road accidents and a massive increase 
in bus passengers.

The 'Delivery Report' to Government outlines how Cambridgeshire County 
Council has invested £146 million in improving transport as part of the 
Local Transport Plan.

 Cambridgeshire has been successful in bidding for money from Government and 
attracting funding from developers as well as meeting tough targets and 
deadlines to deliver major schemes.

The 2001 to 2006 Local Transport Plan was aimed at making travel safer as 
well as developing integrated and environmentally friendly transport. One of 
the plans major challenges was to make sure the transport network kept up 
with the housing and economic growth in Cambridgeshire.

The Council's key achievements during the first Local Transport Plan, 
include:
 * Achieved a 23% reduction in the number of road accident deaths and 
serious injuries since the mid-90s.
* Achieved a 20.8% increase in bus patronage countywide, and a 45% increase 
in Cambridge.
* Bus patronage on Cambridge Park and Ride services has grown by 71% since 
2001.
* Achieved or are on track to achieve 7 out of 8 government core transport 
targets for the first LTP.
* Constructed the Fordham bypass and started construction of the Papworth 
Everard bypass.
* Maintained stability in the number of motor vehicles entering and leaving 
Cambridge, despite a substantial overall growth in trips into the city. 
Traffic in the centre of Cambridge has been reduced, and the environment for 
users of the city centre improved.
* Made significant improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, including new 
cycle lanes, cycle park facilities and pedestrian crossings.
* Improved the condition of the principal road network, from an already good 
baseline.
* Seen marked improvements in the condition of the non-principal and 
unclassified road networks over the period of the first LTP.
* Footway condition has also improved markedly, and the Council is exceeding 
targets to upgrade pedestrian crossing facilities to meet the requirements 
of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor John Reynolds, Cabinet Member for 
Environment and Community Services, said: "Improving transport and safety 
are main priorities for Cambridgeshire County Council. The Council has been 
making major progress and investing heavily in improving public transport, 
reducing accidents and maintaining our roads as well as creating new routes 
and cycleways. It is clear from the investment we have received from 
Government that we are doing well nationally compared with other 
authorities. However, Cambridgeshire is undergoing major growth and the 
Council knows that further transport improvements are vital for the County> 
'> s future prosperity. The progress that has been made over the last five 
years, and the continuing development and evolution of transport planning 
into the second Local Transport Plan 2006-11 and Long Term Transport 
Strategy puts Cambridgeshire in an excellent position to continue to meet 
the demands the County faces."

John Reynolds