Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 18)

16. Transport

Introduction

16.1 The delivery of an improved, sustainable and integrated transport network both within Dudley and in links with regional and national networks is fundamental to achieving strategic transport objectives and in helping to transform the area, deliver housing growth and improve economic performance. These policies set out the overarching framework for achieving the strategic transport objectives and its role in helping to deliver sustainable growth within the borough.

Spatial Strategy Plan: Transport

Priorities for the Development of the Transport Network

16.2 The delivery of an improved, sustainable and integrated transport network both within Dudley and in links with regional and national networks is fundamental to helping to transform the area, deliver housing growth and improve economic performance.

16.3 High-quality public transport remains at the heart of national transport strategy. The development of the transport network is focused on a step change in public transport provision serving and linking centres, improving sustainable transport facilities and services, improving connectivity to national networks and improving the efficiency of strategic highway routes. The improvements needed to deliver the transport strategy are shown on the Transport Key Diagram.

16.4 To help address the climate change crisis, strategic and local transport policies, plans and programmes must emphasise the delivery of a modernised and sustainable transport network. Specific objectives should include reducing pollution and road congestion through improvements to public transport, promoting walking and cycling networks and reducing the need to travel. National policy also focuses on the need for the transport network to support sustainable economic growth.

16.5 Additionally, national transport strategy has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions and the impact on the natural environment. The DLP will therefore need to focus on promoting the appropriate design, location and layout of development, increasing investment in infrastructure, improving the quality, equality and accessibility of public transport, supporting walking and cycling, enhancing road safety and reducing the amount of emissions produced by transport.

Justification

16.6 Good connectivity to the wider regional and national transport networks (road and rail) and Birmingham International Airport, for both passengers and freight, has been identified as being necessary to support the regeneration of the West Midlands region.

16.7 Movement for Growth^[46] (the West Midlands Local Transport Plan) seeks to enable all residents to access Strategic Centres within 45 minutes (AM peak). It envisages this being achieved through a combination of frequent rapid transit services and high quality "turn up and go" bus services. This transport strategy is necessary to support the role of these centres as a focus for employment, shopping and leisure and increasingly, housing. On this issue, the combination of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill metro extension and the proposed Dudley Port Integrated Transport Hub will add both Brierley Hill and Dudley to the rapid transit network catchment area.

16.8 The Black Country Rapid Transit Study of 2016 concluded that full delivery of the Public Transport Spine would best be achieved by completing the Stourbridge to Walsall corridor as a tram-based facility (subject to the adoption of Tram-Train technology).

16.9 It is vital that new development has access to high quality public transport facilities and services from the outset as this will ensure that people travelling to and from these areas do not establish unsustainable travel patterns due to the initial absence of good public transport. For this reason, it is essential that all new development provides high quality sustainable/active travel infrastructure and connectivity to existing transport networks.

16.20 The DLP supports the delivery of an enhanced transport network to ensure a seamless integration of land-use and transport planning and to demonstrate the strong interdependency of future land-use decisions and adequate servicing by a variety of travel modes. This is with particular regard to Key Transport Corridors, including the West Midlands Key Route Network and the remaining classified road system, the West Midlands and Black Country Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (including SUSTRANS routes NCN 54 and 81), Dudley Borough emerging Sustainable Route Network and Dudley Borough Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

16.21 The exact mode of public transport should reflect existing demand and also take account of potential future economic or housing growth points to ensure an integrated approach to sustainable development and travel patterns. This is essential to support the scale of growth proposed particularly for the regeneration corridors and strategic centre, and to create an effective transportation system to support sustainable communities. This transport network will provide communities with access to employment, leisure, education and health care and will facilitate improved access to employment sites.

16.22 The operation of the highway network needs to be maintained and improved to support the growth and long-term viability of Dudley's economy whilst limiting the environmental effect of transport usage. Movement for Growth sets out a strategy of making the best of the existing highway network in a coordinated way through a programme of Key Route Network corridor-based multi-modal improvements, to help achieve the West Midland's target for net zero carbon emissions by 2041.

16.23 The building of new highways within Dudley Borough will be mainly in support of regeneration, but there will also be a focus on works within Dudley to integrate into wider regional network improvements. For instance, some key junctions will be identified on the West Midlands Key Route Network, such as important links for public transport and to the motorway network for freight, for improvement. Highway improvements will be expected to address the needs of all users especially pedestrians and cyclists and to cater for bus priority in line with current Government guidance.

16.24 Designated Strategic Employment Areas are defined in terms of good access standards to the motorway network. As no new motorways are planned within the lifetime of this plan, access to the M5, and then on to the wider motorway network provides a vital transport link for business and freight within Dudley.

16.25 Buses will continue to dominate local public transport provision in Dudley Borough throughout the life of the Plan period. The National Bus Strategy (2021) requires bus priority to be an integral part of all highway improvements. Therefore, work on the key highway corridors identified through the Key Route Network Action plans will play a significant role in delivering this requirement through a partnership of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), Local Highway Authorities and operators. Specific local measures to help buses will be delivered in other locations where appropriate along with the upgrading of bus stations/Interchanges in strategic and other centres where demand resulting from the concentration of new developments requires it. Coaches also have a role to play in providing affordable long-distance connectivity and access facilities and will be encouraged. As set out below under 'planning for low emission vehicles' a shift towards such vehicles will be a key focus alongside the provision of an adequate charging infrastructure network.

16.26 While improvement of accessibility to bus services will be a priority, some people will have little choice but to make the first part of their journey by car. The success of Park and Ride in contributing to a sustainable travel pattern will depend on minimising the distance driven before transferring to public transport. Well located Park and Ride facilities can provide a realistic alternative for many car drivers and contribute to environmental improvement by reducing congestion on radial routes into centres at peak times and by improving public transport patronage. New Park and Ride sites will be investigated and developed in accordance with the adopted West Midlands Park & Ride strategy.

16.27 As transport projects reach the design stage there will be a need to safeguard the land needed for the implementation of schemes. When projects are sufficiently advanced, improvement lines will be imposed, or land will be safeguarded.

16.28 The updated West Midlands Local Transport Plan ('Reimagining transport in the West Midlands') is focused on six 'Big Moves' which are Behaviour Change; Accessible and Inclusive Places; Safe, efficient and reliable networks; Walk, wheel, cycle and scoot; Public transport and shared mobility; and a Green Transport Revolution. The Priority Transport Schemes identified within this policy will contribute towards these. As the Local Transport Plans (or 'Area Strategies') for the Black Country and Dudley Borough are subsequently updated to reflect the six 'Big Moves' additional schemes may be identified and will come under the remit of this policy.

Evidence

• West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan - Movement for Growth (TfWM 2016) Movement for Growth - 2026 Delivery plan for Transport (TfWM 2017)
• Black Country Transport - Connected for Growth (BCLEP and TfWM 2019)
• West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan (Core Strategy) – Reimagining transport in the West Midlands (TfWM 2023 and ongoing)
• West Midlands Rail Limited - Single Network Vision (WMRE 2017)
• Driving a Revolution in Rail Services for West Midlands - A 30-year Rail Investment Strategy 2018-2047 (WMRE 2018)
• Black Country Transport Priorities Document (BCA 2017)
• Black Country Plan Transport Modelling Study (2021)
• Black Country Rapid Transit Study (TfWM & BCA 2016)
• West Midlands Park & Ride Strategy (TfWM 2020)
• West Midlands Freight Strategy - Supporting our Economy, Tackling Carbon (TfWM 2016)
• Midlands Connect Transport Strategy (2017)
• Midlands Rail Hub SOBC (2019)

Delivery

• Delivery of the transport priorities will rely on several agencies and multiple funding sources. The main delivery agencies will be:
  • Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)
  • West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE)
  • Dudley MBC, working with the other Black Country local authorities as the Local Highways Authorities
  • Network Rail
  • Midlands Connect
  • Canal & River Trust
• The principal vehicles for delivery will be the West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan – Movement for Growth (and subsequent Transport Plans- Reimagining transport in the West Midlands), the West Midlands Rail Investment Plan and the national Road and Rail Investment Strategies (RIS). Funding will be sought through a combination of national programmes, competitive funding streams such as the Major Route Network Fund and the Large Local Majors Fund, and through local transport settlements including City Regions Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) along with third party contributions wherever appropriate.