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Policy GESP22: Transport Strategy

To support the sustainable growth of the Greater Exeter area and the development of a net zero carbon efficient transport network, the following outcomes will be sought from transport investment and all relevant planning decisions:

  1. Creating a healthy, active city region by delivering an integrated network of active travel routes within and between our towns and cities, providing for walking, cycling and emerging modes
  2. Improving sustainable transport connectivity by achieving a reliable, low-carbon and consistent standard of sustainable travel between Exeter, selected main towns and growth locations, including half hourly rail, quarter hourly bus and strategic cycle routes as indicated on the transport strategy diagram
  3. Enhancing transport choices and alternatives to car ownership by expanding shared mobility (e.g. car clubs and bike hire), requiring their provision in all suitable developments and supporting innovations including a single ticketing system combining low emission modes
  4. Supporting a step-change in digital communications and digital connectivity by investing in a gigabit capable full fibre regional spine and requiring ducting in new developments
  5. Protecting and enhancing the function of the area as the strategic rail, road and air gateway to the south west peninsular through investments in critical infrastructure.

8.4 The network of safe walking and cycling routes connecting our communities that is proposed in draft policy GESP22 is considered essential to providing opportunities for low carbon journeys. This will be supported by a ‘place-based’ approach to street and urban design to make places more pleasant, legible and safe for people to move through or spend time in, thus improving quality of life in these areas. Requirements to enable sustainable travel in new developments are included in draft policy GESP23 and long distance strategic trails are identified in draft policy GESP25.

8.5 In most of our towns, much of the existing road network is already at capacity in peak periods. Given the historic and constrained nature of the road network in most of our settlements, the solutions to urban congestion cannot be found in road widening or other car-based investment. Instead, in order to provide travel capacity for new communities and better travel choices for our existing residents, we must deliver effective sustainable alternatives and more sophisticated management of the travel network. The Transport Strategy Diagram shown in Figure 8.1 has been developed to reflect policy GESP22. It indicates the enhancements to the public transport, inter-urban cycle network and digital requirements described in the policy. An accessible description is provided below:

The Diagram illustrating the present and future levels of connectivity between the main GESP towns. In addition to Exeter, the main settlements include Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Dawlish in Teignbridge, Crediton, Cullompton and Tiverton in Mid Devon and Cranbrook, Honiton and Axminster in East Devon.

The diagram shows the current standard of connectivity by rail, bus, strategic cycle trail and digital spine and how the strategy seeks to improve the current varied provision to provide a consistent standard of sustainable transport connectivity across the GESP area.

The diagram illustrating that the current levels of level of rail and bus are mixed. For rail there are half hourly services to Exmouth, Dawlish, Teignmouth and Newton Abbot, but hourly to others including Axminster, Honiton and Crediton. Bus service frequency also varies, with 15 minute frequency to Exmouth, 20 minutes to Crediton and half hourly to Honiton. The current strategic cycle provision includes the Exe Estuary Trail from Dawlish to Exeter and Exeter to Exmouth. There is currently no Digital Spine.

The future transport strategy is seeking to provide a consistent standard of public transport connectivity, with 15 minutes frequency for buses and 30 minutes rail frequency to all towns on the diagram. The strategic trail network is expanded to link Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Crediton and Cranbrook into the Exe Estuary trail network. There is also new cycle links between Tiverton and Cullompton. In the future diagram all of the towns except Axminster are connected by a Digital Spine to improve internet speeds.

 


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