An end to our traffic woe?
AN AMBITIOUS vision to revitalise the Harrogate district's "saturated" transport network has been unveiled.
Road, rail and green travel have all been scrutinised in a comprehensive review to the town's planners.
The report says there are too many cars, too few trains, a scattered bus supply and such a strained system that it could harm the town's economy.
Drastic proposals to bring the district back from the brink of saturation include a park and ride scheme, a new train station at Knaresborough East and a major transport interchange - re-creating the current train and bus stations and adding homes and shops.
The independent 75-page report was commissioned by the borough council last year, ahead of April's transfer of the local highways management to North Yorkshire County Council.
Findings are that urban areas are congested, particularly on key and commuter routes, which creates long delays and pollution.
The bus network is reasonable, the report says, because the No 36 Bus is an "attractive option", and while some route coverage is "relatively poor", there is scope - albeit limited - to improve frequency.
Trains, it said, are too few, too slow, old and unreliable, while overcrowding is a "severe constraint".
"These congestion issues, if left unchecked, could limit the economic vitality of the town, by reducing the quality of life for residents and the attractiveness of the town as a location to invest in, " the report says.
Top priorities for change include bettering the area's walking and cycling routes, upping the cost of town centre parking, building a park and ride, and improving the rural bus service.
The biggest changes proposed by the review would see a possible introduction of tram-train and the building of a transport interchange.
The measures went before cabinet members on Wednesday night, but some would still need much backing from county or regional level decision makers.
Coun Mackenzie said: "There are several recommendations in this report, we should look at each and every one of them. Some, we are capable of moving forward with ourselves, others, we will have to lobby to get the funding for.
"Better connections and better infrastructure, are vital," he said. "This report gives us a baseline, and the persuasive evidence with which to approach our partners to obtain their support to get things done."
For more on this story, see Friday's Harrogate Advertiser.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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