General comments
We support the Transport Innovation Fund as it secures a £3 billion investment in the Greater Manchester public transport system. At the same time it discourages car use (assuming public transport fares are kept significantly cheaper than the combined congestion charge and city parking fees).
We believe that tackling climate change by reducing our CO2 emissions is now one of the most important tasks for AGMA. Reducing car use by cutting the number and length of car journeys and switching people to more sustainable ways of getting around such as walking, cycling and public transport will play a big part in this. The reduction in pollution and consequent health benefits are an added bonus.
We therefore support the ideas behind TIF – funding public transport and cycling initiatives while ‘taxing’ individual car use. However, we are concerned that the estimated CO2 reductions are limited to 6% (and less than that if measuring from today’s levels). It is not enough to break ‘… the link between economic activity and increases in transport related emissions…’ (p21, Information Pack Document 1).
We must considerably reduce our carbon footprint, probably by 9% year on year, and transport must play its part. As it stands the TIF package fails to do so. The funding for public transport is essential but we need to be more ambitious in what we set out to achieve. That may mean expansion of congestion charging and the provision of further facilities to support a modal shift. And the emphasis must be on planning for local services and local jobs rather than expecting people to commute further.
Specific comments
Public Transport
The TIF seems comprehensive in terms of public transport – addressing additional bus, Metro, and rail capacity. We support the greater public control of public transport planned through utilising the Local Transport Bill. We would also like to see fares kept low to encourage new users.
Cycling
We would support greater funding directed at facilitating cycling and agree with Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign’s suggestions of -
- improving integration with public transport including cycle carriage on Metrolink trams, and improved cycle carriage on local trains
- improving and maintaining off-road cycle trails to make them into proper commuter routes
- building and maintaining cycle tracks beside off-road stretches of tramline to create new cycling routes
We would also like to see pilot schemes designed to help people make the change, for example, providing free cycle training and initial bike loan.
We support 20mph speed limits on residential roads improving safety for cyclists.
Walking
Safety is an important issue in encouraging more walking. We support 20mph speed limits on residential roads and more pedestrianised and car free areas, reclaiming streets for local communities.
Parking
We should encourage ‘bike and ride’ rather than ‘car’ Park & Ride.
AGMA should consider introducing a workplace parking tax and progressively reducing the available car parking.
Car Clubs
There is very little specified on the support for car clubs yet, once commuting can be done without a car, shared car ownership is a good way of taking cars off the road and the overall package supports and reinforces behaviour change. It may also facilitate car free housing developments.
Airport
“Sustainable expansion of Manchester Airport” (p28, Information Pack Document 2) is a contradiction in terms. Aviation is a huge contributor to CO2 emissions. The benefits described are in part welcome, but will do little to mitigate the increasing contribution to climate change made by the airport’s growth.
Interchanges
The design of new transport interchanges should meet the highest eco-standards, using sustainable materials and incorporating green roofs and micro power generation.
Retention of revenue
We see no reason why Greater Manchester should not retain the revenue from the congestion charge after 30 years and it should continue to be ring-fenced for sustainable transport initiatives.
