Plan to make Warrington a “well connected” place

NEW plans to make Warrington a well-connected place with high quality walking, cycling and public transport networks are to be put to residents.
The borough council has published its draft, 4th Local Transport Plan (LTP4), which aims to transform how people travel around borough, make the town centre less car-dominated and create new opportunities to travel in different, healthier ways.
The important plan, which sets out the transport vision for Warrington over the next 20 years, is now available for people to view on-line, ahead of the start of an eight-week public consultation starting next month
A key part of the vision is to reduce the number of trips made by car in Warrington. Currently, almost 75 per cent of commuter trips are made by car. The plan aims to reduce this to 60 per cent by 2041
This would be supported through investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, improving the local public transport offer and giving people more choice about how they travel for each journey.
The plan also aims to manage the demand to travel by car and reduce traffic congestion by improving the “last mile” of journeys into the town centre. This would be achieved through high quality transport infrastructure that makes walking, cycling and public transport the obvious way to get to, from, and through Warrington town centre.
The council’s leader member for highways nd transportation, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: “Transport is an essential part of our lives as it connects us with jobs, education, healthcare, shopping and leisure. It also links businesses with their staff and customers, shapes our neighbourhoods, influences our lifestyles and impacts on our wider environment.
“This plan gives us the opportunity to develop a resilient and efficient transport network that supports the town’s growth over the next 20 years. That’s why it’s vital that it reflects the aspirations and priorities of the residents and businesses of Warrington. I would urge everybody to read the draft plan, so that they can take an active part in our consultation in April.”
The draft LTP4 document also focuses on health and wellbeing, with plans to reduce emissions from transport, encourage healthier, day-to-day lifestyles, improve safety for all highway users and make Warrington a more disabled friendly place.
In addition, it considers the need for a future mass transit solution for Warrington – Light Rail/Tram (LRT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) are both being considered, but no mode is being ruled out at this stage.
The development of LTP4 has been undertaken in parallel with the development of the draft Local Plan, as this provides the opportunity to embed a much more sustainable transport system into Warrington’s growth plans.
If the draft Local Plan is approved for public consultation by the council on March 25, the draft Local Plan and LTP4 consultations will run at the same time. Further details of the consultation process will be provided in the near future.
To view the draft LTP4 document in full, visit www.warrington.gov.uk/info/201080/streets-and-transport/2383/local-transport-plan