Transport Group Perspective Chris Blow Chair of The Guildford Society Transport Group 21st Jan 2015

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1 Transport Group Perspective Chris Blow Chair of The Guildford Society Transport Group 21st Jan 2015 LET'S REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT A STATION REDEVELOPMENT BUT A STATION SITE REDEVELOPMENT. The big question: Does the station come off well? I will take over from John Baylis by quoting from the Workshop last week with Solum at which transport issues were discussed. I started by quoting from their Environmental Statement (November 2014) Non-technical summary which states: "5.5 The overall residual transportation impacts of the Proposed Development are negligible following the implementation of mitigation measures. The Proposed Development includes a significantly enhanced transport interchange and increased cycle parking, are beneficial in transportation terms. Whilst no adverse environmental effects of moderate or more significance are anticipated, a comprehensive package of measures is proposed which would encourage sustainable travel and ensure there would be no impact on the local roads. WE ARE FUNDAMENTALLY UNHAPPY WITH WHAT IS ON OFFER: WHATEVER HAPPENS WE WANT MUCH BETTER PROVISION FOR BUSES AND COACHES and A BETTER STATION CONCOURSE By terms of traffic, Guildford is a major hub: 8 million passengers per year plus 1 million changing trains growing by 40% by 2043 We need to understand that this plan is only one side of the story, literally, and that the West Side Story will come later - how much later? - although Solum have agreed to show us a preliminary idea of how the Guildford Park Road side can develop when Network Rail's plans make it possible. I refer to this from now on as Phase 2.

2 I have added the pedestrian bridge across the railway, which Solum omitted I will speak first about Buses, Coaches, Taxis and private cars 7% of rail passengers are recorded as arriving and departing by bus/coach. This is pitiful. It directly reflects the current lack of facilities for bus operations on the town side: a single bay with a tortuous route between taxis and short stay parking and difficult access to Bridge Street. More positive measures are needed to encourage the modal shift away from cars than the bland words appearing in many parts of the text: e.g. Promotion of bus services throughout the station. GUILDFORD WILL SORT OUT ITS BUS AND COACH ROUTES. THE STATION IS SO IMPORTANT AND MUST ALLOW FREEDOM FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. The new station forecourt should allow the current 23 buses per hour at peak which pass the end of Walnut Tree Close to call at the station, Two bays plus a passenger waiting area would seem to be minimum requirement. Another measure helping to enhance passenger experience. Buses should have priority over all other motorised traffic.

3 Providing adequate bus facilities at the station (a transport interchange as required by the original station brief) would encourage more passengers to use public transport instead of their cars. (Note shuttle bus on the only stand which must serve many uses...) Remember the level change of 2.5m between the station entrance and square and the pick-up/set down and taxi area. Space should really be allowed now for cars to make way for buses. If there is no space in future and the site is too tightly built on, options will be too limited. The number of pick-up/set-down (KISS AND RIDE) bays is reduced and, although there is a taxi reservoir for 13, there is nowhere for overflow as at present. The 83 short-stay or premium parking spaces in front of the station are transferred into the MSCP. 5% has been added to the total of 420 spaces for rail users. The MSCP has 670 spaces (including the residential allocation and repeat of the Ranger House cars). Incidentally, the 445 flats have 238 parking spaces, the majority within the MSCP. NOTE THAT 60% OF RAIL PASSENGERS COME FROM THE EAST OR TOWN SIDE

4 Can I point out that the station entrance moves to the north, because the new one must be built in order to replace the existing one with Block A1. this slide shows the cycle store and MSCP and the route to the station entrance. I will now talk about walkers and cyclists: Pedestrians, routes to and from town centre, are they improved? and cycles, numbers and routes It is recorded by survey that 3% of rail passengers cycle to the station, and the numbers of cycles which will be stored at the station is planned to rise from 304 to 536, with an additional provision for 464 for the flats The entry to the cycle store is too tightly planned. Solum will look again. Planning cycle routes must go hand-in-hand with doubling of storage numbers. Solum have undertaken to review ramped access from Walnut Tree Close. Disabled provision is lacking and Solum have also undertaken a review.

5 This slide shows Solum relating their proposal to the Vision for Guildford: Are pedestrian routes really enhanced in the short term? I have added the pedestrian route from the Town Bridge towpath to the subway at mouth of WTC in parallel with the towpath route past the YMCA to the steep stairs up to Walnut Tree Bridge. Walk through the site to Yorkie's Bridge does not replace the station bridge in the short term. The pass system must be retained to enable non-rail passengers to cross in advance of future improvements to this route and what about the subway? Back to the Station Square and the Ticket Hall to serve at least 60% of 8 million passengers per year. There is a lack of improvement or safeguard for the future and the pedestrian bridge.

6 This Solum drawing exemplifies the detail in their design. The "Unpaid" concourse area increases slightly but there is nowhere to wait. Note the comparison between 'existing' and 'proposed'. No Travel Centre is provided but Solum are discussing work with SWT for improvements within the station itself and nothing is planned in this phase. We have asked for more thought to be given to the station toilets. Those offered are definitely worse than at present, if that were possible, due to location and size. Point to them. lastly, a word about Traffic circulation, here are the only changes recommended...

7 With more than 250 extra cars parking on the site as well as all additional service traffic, not to say the buses advocated and the 40% growth in passenger numbers within 20 years of the possible completion of this project, there will clearly be more traffic in an already congested area. We expect growth in town centre traffic as Guildford's population grows. We are not clear that even growth-free modelling has demonstrated satisfactory traffic flows. IN SUMMARY We believe the Solum plan depends upon a sustainable-travel-future, but does not sufficiently assist that. All we have are more cycle storage spaces and Travel Plans. Solum have said that funding would be set aside as part of this proposal for links to the West Side Story which would be delivered later. We are concerned that the money from the present development would be taken out now and that, when it came to delivering station and transport improvements in phase 2, we would be told there is not enough money. The big question: Does the station come off well?