Agenda item - Western Orbital

To consider the attached report.

The Executive Board AGREED to:

I. Note the responses to the consultation on the Western Orbital bus infrastructure improvement scheme.

II. the next steps as set out in this report for the ongoing strategic assessment of the Western Orbital scheme as part of the City Deal programme to support related potential Tranche 1 schemes.

III. to take a key role in working with Highways England to establish clear priorities along the M11 corridor and for these discussions to form part of the next report on the Western Orbital, and arrange a meeting of City Deal Board and Assembly members and officers and local MPs with Highways England, the minutes of which will appear on the City Deal’s website, to press the case for firm commitments from them to improve the M11 west of Cambridge including:

(a) Making that section of the M11 a “managed motorway” and seek a date for that, and

(b) Improving the motorway junctions, including priorities for junctions 11 and 13.

(c) Remodelling the Girton interchange.

Ashley Heller, Team Leader – Public Transport Projects, presented this report on the outcome of the consultation on future options for bus and cycle infrastructure improvements along the Western Orbital corridor.

Helen Bradbury gave a presentation on behalf of the Local Liaison Forum (LLF), which made the following points:

· The plan to extend the current Park and Ride site at Trumpington was supported.

· A new Park and Ride site at Hauxton was not supported.

· The Park and Ride sites should be situated further from the City centre.

· There should be a full assessment of the A428 Cambourne to Cambridge options to make best use of the existing infrastructure.

Councillor Lewis Herbert stated that recommendations regarding the Cambourne to Cambridge route did not form part of the report on the agenda and no notice of decisions had been published, so the Executive Board could not make any decision on those recommendations under this item. Helen Bradbury explained that these recommendations went to the Greater Cambridge City Deal Joint Assembly in September and so should have been available to the Executive Board. Councillor Lewis Herbert advised that a meeting would be arranged with LLF and resident representatives, where these issues would be discussed.

Councillor Bridget Smith suggested that the Park and Ride sites should moved further away from Cambridge so that traffic did not have to use a congested road to access the site. It was for this reason that the LLF supported the Scotland Farm site on the Cambourne to Cambridge route. It was suggested that residents could cycle to the Park and Ride sites. A five mile radius from the City Centre was suggested. Councillor Roger Hickford explained that the Park and Ride sites only had the capacity to be part of the solution.

Councillor Bridget Smith explained that she had revised her opinion on the need for bus hub at Foxton, as the village was already served by a train station.

Councillor Francis Burkitt stated that as the City Deal Portfolio Holder for South Cambridgeshire District Council he had contacted all the district’s parish councils, asking if they could suggest a suitable site for a bus hub. He would share the results of this consultation shortly. He expressed the hope that funding could be found for rural transport hubs.

Bob Menzies explained that the Western Orbital scheme was currently not in tranche 1, but that it was closely linked by tranche 1 schemes.

Bob Menzies, Director of Strategy and Development at Cambridgeshire County Council, stated that Highways England were opposed to the inclusion of a bus only slip road on the hard shoulder of the M11. He also explained that whilst making a section of the M11 a “managed motorway” would improve traffic flow it could increase congestion closer to Cambridge, as many M11 journeys were local. Councillor Ian Bates recommended that the Executive Board contact Essex County Council to discuss the possible impact the M11 improvements would have on the southern parts of the motorway.

It was hoped that Highways England would give the go ahead for the M11 to become a “managed motorway” in the period in 2020-2025.

Councillor Francis Burkitt expressed the hope that the access to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus could be improved.

Councillor Lewis Herbert stated that all projects needed to be justified in terms of value for money. He added that on-road options would be pursued where they were practical and there was adequate capacity, with off-road solutions pursued if the case for on-road options was insufficient.

Councillor Roger Hickford explained that the recommendations in the report had been supported by the Joint Assembly with 12 votes in favour and one abstention. There was particular support for improving the Girton interchange.

Councillor Ian Bates proposed amending the recommendations in the report to include arranging a meeting between Highway England and the Executive Board and the Joint Assembly members to make a case for:

· Making a section of the M11 a “managed motorway”.

· Improving junctions 11 and 13 of the M11.

· Remodelling the Girton interchange.

Councillor Lewis Herbert seconded this and requested that the local MPs should also be invited to this meeting.