Tackling Congestion
10.22 Kent does not have a single urban conurbation that meets the Government's urban population threshold of 250,000 for target LTP7, therefore this target has not been included in Kent's LTP. However, journey time unreliability and excess delay are increasingly common in Kent's larger urban areas. To tackle this, Kent recognises the role that can be played by promoting more sustainable modes of travel, which include public transport, walking, cycling and more efficient use of the private car, such as car sharing. Journey time delay is also a common issue outside many of Kent's schools, therefore the need to tackle over dependency on travelling to school by car is also recognised. Kent also recognises the need to make the most efficient use of its existing highway capacity, and the need to improve the functionality of its current transport network. Kent is also committed to tackling excessive levels of traffic growth, which currently exceeds 2% per annum. Target LTP2 will measure the impact of Kent's approach to limited traffic growth to less than 2% per annum. Mandatory target LTP6 (Peak hour traffic) is applicable to the urban area of Thanet, which includes the towns of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate, therefore changes in peak hour traffic flow will be monitored throughout the LTP in this area. Kent's local targets aim to measure the impact of targeted investment, including Quality Bus Partnerships. Where significant LTP investment has been matched by local bus operators in the form of private sector investment, it is important to assess the impact that this investment is making towards improving accessibility, reducing social exclusion and enhancing public transport use. Kent's approach to managing its local highway network more effectively is outlined its Network Management Plan 2006/11, which is presented in Appendix 4
10.23 Kent's Congestion related Targets comprise:
- BVPI 102 Bus Patronage - To increase countywide bus patronage by 2% per annum throughout the period of the LTP (2006/07 to 2010/11).
- BVPI 104u Bus User Satisfaction - To increase bus user satisfaction by 10% between 2003/04 and 2009/10.
- LTP2 Change in Area Wide Traffic - To limit traffic growth in Kent's road to less than 2% per annum throughout the period of the LTP (2006/07 to 2010/11).
- LTP3 Cycling in Kent - To increase the average number of daily cycle trips by 38% between 2003/04 and 2010/11. (Representing a 100% increase between 2000/01 and 2010/11).
- LTP4 Mode Share of Journeys to School - to increase the proportion of pupils travelling to school by sustainable transport modes by 10% (Secondary Schools) and 5% (Primary Schools) by 2010/11.
- LTP5 Bus Punctuality - To increase bus punctuality by 6% by 2010/11.
- LTP6 Changes in Peak Hour Traffic to Large Urban Areas (Thanet) - to restrict peak hour traffic growth in Thanet to less than 2% per annum until 2010/11.
- LTP3 Bus User Satisfaction with Information (BVPI 103) - To increase bus user satisfaction with information by 10% between 2003/04 and 2010/11.
- KLTP4 Bus Patronage in Quality Bus Partnership (QBP) Areas - To increase bus patronage in Kent's QBP areas of Canterbury, Maidstone and Thanet by 3% per annum throughout the period of the LTP (2006/07 to 2010/11).
- KLTP6 Cycling in Ashford - To increase the average number of daily cycle trips by 50% between 2005/06 and 2010/11.