Trafford Council and partner Amey at One Trafford Partnership have been allocated £366k funding from the emergency active travel grant from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), to improve cycling and walking options for residents and commuters across the borough.
The council have been working rapidly alongside GMCA and TfGM to decide on locations as part of the first phase of the delivery plan, which are planned to be delivered by 18th September 2020.
A range of trials have already been put in place to test the concepts of the temporary measures and works will now expand at specific locations identified by the council and the project team at One Trafford Partnership. This will help deliver the council’s longer-term ambitions for a cleaner and greener transport network that will support and encourage more active travel and reduced car journeys.
Trafford Council launched the #SafeStreetsSaveLives campaign to support social distancing during coronavirus lockdown and recovery, with £5m of emergency funding made available to Greater Manchester Local Authorities through the Mayor’s Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund (MCF). During this campaign, over 1,500 comments were received from residents through the engagement site which have been analysed for phase one of the emergency active travel fund.
The additional Government funding will advance the Greater Manchester wide campaign to provide pop-up infrastructure and temporary measures to enable safe essential travel for all Trafford residents.
Locations selected for phase one of the delivery plan are:
- 12-13 modal filters (road closures for motor vehicles) at various locations
- Lostock Road, in Urmston
- Edge Lane, Stretford (Stretford Metro Link) towards Kings Road
- Pop up cycle lane at Chester Road, Stretford (between City Road and Virgil Street)
- Pop up cycle lane at Marsland Road, in Sale
- Pop up cycle lane Edge Lane, in Stretford (between Lime Road and Ingleby Crescent)
Leader of Trafford Council, Councillor Andrew Western, said:
“Trafford Council have been working with One Trafford (a partnership between Amey and Trafford Council) to put in place a range of temporary measures across the borough, in order to help communities, maintain social distancing, while making safe essential journeys and exercising during the coronavirus lockdown. These proposals have helped ease social distancing at specific locations for cyclists as well as pedestrians with special crossing points being introduced at locations such as bus stops and traffic signals.
“The health and wellbeing of Trafford’s residents is our number one priority and we will do everything we can to make sure people are safe during this crisis. Therefore, works will now expand where the need arises, following £3.1m of funding made available to Greater Manchester Local Authorities through the GMCA.”
Cllr Steve Adshead, Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change at Trafford Council said:
“We will also be looking closely at how these short-term and essential measures that will be introduced can help us move towards a place that we want future generations to be able to enjoy.”
Chris Boardman, Cycling and Walking Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said:
“This emergency funding has empowered Greater Manchester leaders to take immediate action and provide safe travel options for their residents to get to and from key areas.
“By creating temporary space for people to cycle and walk along major protected routes local authorities can support those who want to do their bit to help save public transport for people who need it most. This will also ensure that the third of Greater Manchester households who don’t have access to a car are not denied the right to safe travel options.
“These are big changes to make and I commend the local authorities for mobilising so quickly and showing bravery and commitment in reallocating space. Their actions will truly make a difference to social inclusion during this emergency situation and make sure everyone has access to safe travel.”
Community engagement has played a big role in selecting locations for phase one of the delivery plan and residents affected by works such as road closures will be consulted to have their say through an online survey. All comments received will be reviewed by the council before the works commence.
The plan for this would be to introduce the temporary measures following the end of consultation with the residents or as soon as is reasonably practical.
The temporary works will be designed and agreed with Greater Manchester Police, other emergency services and the GMCA to ensure safe and efficient movement along selected routes, while improving provision and safety for cycling and walking.
If this initiative proves successful and the community welcome the changes then the temporary measures may become permanent in the future following further public consultation.
Letters with further information will be delivered to residents affected by some of road closures who can have their say by visiting the Trafford Emergency Active Travel Fund page.
The survey will be live from Tuesday 28 July until Sunday 23 August.
Posted on Monday 27th July 2020