appendix 1 – extract from ltp3 volume 2 (policy document ...€¦ · the county council has over...
TRANSCRIPT
10
Appendix 1 – Extract from LTP3 Volume 2 (Policy Document) 3.26 Taxis Taxis form an important part of the integrated passenger transport network. They have a role to play in reducing dependency on the private car by providing a final leg in rail or bus journeys, and by providing an alternative to walking and cycling in inclement weather. In doing so, they remove the need to use a private car and thereby the temptation to use the car when the alternatives are realistic. They also play an important part in evening and social occasions where drinking and driving is an issue. Taxis are provided by private operators, but are licensed by the ten District / Borough councils. Taxis are encouraged where they form part of an integrated transport system. In addition, the county council uses taxis as a significant element of its passenger transport provision for educational and social services transport needs. The county council will promote the use of, and provision of facilities for, taxis where: A. They form part of an integrated transport system/scheme i.e. interchanges. B. They encourage a switch away from the use of the private car, e.g. by providing the final link from the railway station to home. C. They assist in social inclusion by providing car-based trips for non-car owners e.g. from the supermarket to home. D. They deliver a cost-effective means of providing educational and social service transport. Explanatory notes Licensing The ten Districts/Boroughs have a statutory duty to license Taxis and Private Hire vehicles (granted under the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, and Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976). All have policies on vehicle and driver standards. Ranks and Other Facilities Taxi ranks are normally designated by the District/Borough councils, although allocations at rail stations are dealt with by the train operating companies and/or Network Rail. Educational and Social Service Passenger Transport Provision The county council has over 1000 contracts with local taxi/hire car and minibus operators, to provide transport to schools, colleges and adult day services, as required by the county council’s various educational and social service functions. These contracts provide for regular journeys to over 3000 clients across Hertfordshire and are an important part of the taxi and car hire trading. The county council has published operational guidelines as part of these contracts to ensure service standards are improved. These contracts are planned to meet needs and are integrated with other passenger transport provisions wherever possible to obtain cost effective value. Role of Taxis in General Passenger Transport Provision As part of passenger transport policies, the use of taxi and hire cars are promoted as one of the alternative ways to travel under our TravelWise policies and for shopping, social and business journeys they form an important link in overall accessibility. The county council has explored greater use of taxis/PHVs to serve urban areas and provide links to interchanges, rail stations and major business areas for visitors for Hertfordshire’s businesses. They are used widely for airport access journeys and unofficial sharing is much more general than realised.
11
A limited number of taxi bus opportunities exist in relation to rural community transport schemes. Such measures will be considered within the Rural Transport Strategy although the taxis/PHV trade, as a commercial trade, tends to serve the more populated areas with a higher service for obvious commercial reasons. The county council also supports various taxi voucher schemes in the county.
Appendix 2 – Watford Bus Lanes Traffic Regulation Orders and location plans for the existing bus lanes in Watford are provided in this appendix. (Bus only routes have not been included – although a plan of Lower High Street is provided for information.) The following documents are included in this appendix: Reference Title Order Number 5632 The Hertfordshire (A412 St Albans Road and Station
Road, Watford)(Prohibition of Driving, Except for Buses and Pedal Cycles) Order 1999
Order Number 5488 The Hertfordshire (A412 St Albans Road and Station Road, Watford)(Prohibition of Driving, Except for Buses and Pedal Cycles) Order 1998
Order Number 5388 The Hertfordshire (A412 St Albans Road and Station Road, Watford)(Prohibition of Driving, Except for Buses and Pedal Cycles)(No 1) Order 1998
Drawing M/1040340/001 Existing bus lanes – Location Plan Drawing M/1040340/002-1 Existing bus lanes Drawing M/1040340/002-2 Existing bus lanes Drawing M/1040340/002-3 Existing bus lanes Drawing M/1040340/002-4 Existing bus lanes Drawing M/1040340/003 Lower High Street – Current Layout Drawing M/1040340/004 Station Road – Current Layout
13
Appendix 3 – Results of Traffic Surveys
Left Turn (Lower High Street to
Exchange Road)
Straight Ahead (Lower High Street to
High Street)
BUSES TAXIS BUSES TAXIS Morning (7am – 10am) 4 15 40 1 Afternoon (4pm – 7pm) 2 20 39 2
Table 1: Lower High Street Traffic Survey
Left Turn (St Albans Road to
Station Road)
Straight Ahead (St Albans Road)
BUSES TAXIS BUSES TAXIS Morning (7am – 10am) 52 29 2 54 Afternoon (4pm – 7pm) 43 16 1 56
Table 2: A412 St Albans Road Traffic Survey
Left Turn (Station Road to St Albans
Road southbound)
Straight Ahead
(St Albans Road)
Right Turn
(Station Road to St Albans Road
northbound)
BUSES TAXIS BUSES TAXIS BUSES TAXIS Morning (7am – 10am) 4 49 5 46 47 48 Afternoon (4pm – 7pm) 3 39 3 34 52 30
Table 3: Station Road Traffic Survey
14
Appendix 4 – Summary of neighbouring authority’s policy on bus lanes. Allowed in bus lanes
Council Hackney Carriages
Private hire
vehicles
Other vehicles Enforcement
London Borough of Harrow Mobile and
fixed CCTV London Borough of
Hillingdon CCTV
London Borough of Barnet
Motorcycles and bicycles
No information
London Borough of Enfield CCTV
Buckinghamshire Motorcycles and bicycles
No information
Essex Varies across county
None. Ad-hoc police
enforcement.
Central Bedfordshire No information
Bedford Borough Will shortly introduce
CCTV Luton Borough Bicycles CCTV Cambridgeshire No response received