The preparation of Kent’s second Local Transport Plan has given us the opportunity to review, renew and revise our plans for Kent’s transportation network. Underlying this process have been the twin drivers of Kent’s Supporting Independence Programme, with its emphases on empowering and  helping the most deprived and vulnerable groups in the county towards a more fulfilling future in which they enjoy much enhanced  access to services and better life opportunities; and seeking to enhance the economic regeneration of Kent which is especially important in view of the two growth areas in Kent, Thameside and Ashford, with all the additional demands for employment which they will generate.

Central to the outcome of this review has also been the recognition of the emphasis which we need to place on active traffic management in future in order to gain the maximum benefit from our existing network.

Over the next few years it our intention to invest heavily with the long term aim of delivering a comprehensive, real time, reliable and county wide traffic management scheme. In order to achieve our objectives we will need exploit to the full all the opportunities offered by the Traffic  Management Act 2004. It is our intention to be at the forefront of this work nationally and in doing so we fully recognise the requirement which it will place on us to be at the cutting edge of innovation in this field.  By the end of the period covered by this LTP we expect to be well on the way to achieving our goals, although in one sense they can never be attained since maintaining and improving the scheme to the standard we aim to reach will be a never ending process.

Increasing the use of public transport in Kent is another a key element in this process. While Fastrack and Smartlink provide clear directions in Thameside and Ashford respectively the extension of quality bus partnerships to the remainder of Kent is also a priority.  Increasing the use of Kent's railway lines, with its 99 stations is a demanding challenge, yet one which we are keen to address to reduce the challenges on our road network.  The opportunity represented by the appointment of a new franchisee, GoVia,  is one which we are determined to achieve.

Inevitably we have much more to do than we can possibly achieve in the next LTP period; but we believe that we need to identify in it a clear direction of travel beyond this period. We have a much to do in a time when resources are likely to be much less than we would like to see.  But nevertheless we are confident that with the help of our partners and that by using the totality of KCC’s budget, and not just that which is formally part of the Highways budget, we can deliver the synergies which will make our plans effective and deliverable. 

Keith Ferrin Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways & Waste		Graham Gibbens Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Supporting Independence
	Roger Manning Chairman Highways Advisory Board & LTP Informal Member Group