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Route Management Strategy Overview
2 Route Management Strategy Overview
- 2.1
- Route Management Strategies are being carried out along all the core trunk routes managed by the Highways Agency. They will provide a framework for managing individual trunk roads as part of wider transport networks and ensure that the management of each road interlocks with local and regional transport strategies, as set out in Local Transport Plans and Regional Planning Guidance. They were highlighted in the Government's Integrated Transport White Paper 'A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone' paragraph 3.1.34). 2.2
- The technique has been developed in order to:
- assist the Highways Agency in planning and optimising investment in the trunk road / motorway network (across different budget headings) and in the delivery of the Highway Agency's strategic plans and ten year transport strategy;
- provide consistency, transparency, openness and integration, particularly with other transport related strategies, including local and regional transport plans;
- enable the Highways Agency to provide an input into these strategies and plans;
- maximise customer focus and
- improve forward planning over a ten year horizon.
- An outline of the Route Management Strategy technique is set out in the leaflet entitled 'Route Management Strategies - Seeking Your Views', which is available from the Highways Agency. 2.3
- Route Management Strategies embrace the Government's five policy objectives for transport:
- to protect and enhance the built and natural environment;
- to improve safety for all travellers;
- to contribute to an efficient economy and to support sustainable economic growth in appropriate locations;
- to promote accessibility to everyday facilities for all, especially those without a car and
- to promote the integration of all forms of transport and land use planning, leading to a better, more efficient transport system.
- The development of Route Management Strategies will also assist the Highways Agency in achieving its Strategic Aim and Objectives. 2.4.1
- Highways Agency Strategic Aim
- To contribute to sustainable development by maintaining, operating and improving the trunk road network in support of the Government's integrated transport and land use planning policies.
- Highways Agency Key Objectives
- To give priority to the maintenance of trunk roads and bridges with the broad objective of minimising whole life costs;
- to develop its role as network operator by implementing traffic management, network control and other measures aimed at making best use of the existing infrastructure and facilitating integration with other transport modes;
- to take action to reduce congestion and increase the reliability of journey times;
- to carry out the Government's Targeted Programme of Investment in trunk road improvements;
- to minimise the impact of the trunk road network on both the natural and built environment;
- to improve safety for all road users and contribute to the Government's new safety strategy and targets for 2010;
- to work in partnership with road users, transport providers and operators, local authorities and others affected by its operations, to promote choice and information for travellers, monitoring and publishing information about the performance and reliability of the network, and
- to be a good employer, managing the Agency's business efficiently and effectively, seeking continuous improvement.
- Route Management Strategies will provide a framework and a basis for the development of a comprehensive management plan for all Highways Agency activities along each route. They will be used by the Highways Agency and their agents to develop investment programmes, which not only target specific problems but which benefit from an holistic, in depth knowledge of all of the problems to be solved along each route. 2.6
- In addition to the Highways Agency, strategies can be used by other parties who have an interest in the performance of roads. They will be of particular interest to other transport and network operators who may be affected by decisions taken relating to routes and who may wish to influence the management plans, in particular, by helping the Highways Agency to solve some of the problems identified 2.7
- It is essential that the Highways Agency investment plans are interlinked with those transport and land use strategies and plans emanating from the new regional planning processes, in particular, Regional Planning Guidance with associated Regional Transport Strategies and Local Plans. The views of the Regional Planning Board will be taken into account as Strategies and associated Management Plans are developed. 2.8
- Initially Route Management Strategies will be a means by which the Regional Planning Boards, and those involved in the various elements of Local Plans and Regional Strategy development, will be aware of the limitations of routes, in particular their operation and ability to accommodate possible future growth. In due course, as Regional Planning Guidance, Regional Transport Strategies and Local Plans are published / revised, the Route Management Strategy may need to be reviewed to ensure that they fit closely with them. 2.9
- The relationship between Route Management Strategies and other processes and plans is summarised inDiagram 1below.
- The technique has been developed in order to:
