Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

16.1. The transport network is integral in keeping the borough moving, in order to support residents, businesses and ultimately the prosperity of our borough. It is fundamental that the network is improved and grown in a sustainable manner to reduce congestion, improve air quality and be resilient in a changing climate.

16.2. These transport policies set out an overarching framework for achieving strategic transport objectives and improving connectivity both within the borough and to the wider transport network

Figure 16. 1 Spatial Strategy Plan: Transport

16.3. National policy focuses on the need for the transport network to support sustainable economic growth, through its role in reducing carbon emissions and the impact on the natural environment. High-quality public transport remains at the heart of national transport strategy. 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 road congestion and pollution through improvements to public transport, promoting walking and cycling networks and reducing the need to travel.

16.4. In Dudley, the development of the transport network is focused on improved public transport provision serving and linking centres, improving sustainable transport facilities, 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.

16.5. The DLP will 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.

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. The transport strategy is necessary to support the role of these centres as a focus for employment, shopping and leisure and increasingly, housing. 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. It is vital that new development has access to high quality sustainable/active travel infrastructure and services from the outset as this will ensure that people travelling to and from these areas do not establish unsustainable travel patterns.

16.9. 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 Route Network, the West Midlands and Black Country Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (including SUSTRANS routes 54 and 81), Dudley Borough emerging Sustainable Route Network (including sustainable and active travel routes) and Dudley Borough Public Rights of Way Improvement Plan. The canal network will also provide an important asset for active and sustainable travel throughout the borough.

16.10. Public transport should reflect demand and take account of potential future economic or housing growth points to ensure an integrated approach to sustainable development and travel. This is essential to support the scale of growth proposed particularly for the regeneration corridors and strategic centres, and to create an effective transportation system to support sustainable communities.

16.11. This transport network will provide communities with access to employment, leisure, education and health care and will facilitate improved access to employment sites.

16.12. Movement for Growth^[67] (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 bus services. The vision for the metropolitan rail and rapid transit network is based on suburban rail, metro (light rail) and tram-train, very light rail and SPRINT Bus Rapid Transit lines on suitable links of one single network. 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. This transport strategy is necessary to support the role of these centres as a focus for employment, shopping and leisure and increasingly, housing.

16.13. 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).

16.14. Buses will continue to dominate local public transport provision in Dudley Borough throughout the life of the Plan period. The National Bus Strategy (2024) 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) and WMCA, 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 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.

16.15. 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.

16.16. 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.

16.17. The emerging update to the West Midlands Local Transport Plan ('Reimagining transport in the West Midlands' which will supersede Movement to Growth) will focus on six 'Big Moves': 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.

16.18. 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. Decision makers must be aware of the multiple functions of the roads with the connected network such as Designated Routes for Unplanned Events, which are used for unplanned events such as Road Traffic Collisions on the Strategic Road Network, as per the latest Transport for West Midlands guidance.

16.19. 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.

16.20. 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.

16.21. 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.

^[67] West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan – Movement for Growth (TfWM 2016)/ Movement for Growth – 2026 Delivery Plan for Transport (TfWM 2017)