Improvements to transport infrastructure will create healthier lifestyles, better access to jobs, combat the climate emergency and improve air quality. This will lead to a fitter and more active workforce, improved environment and reduced congestion on the roads.
What we will do
- improve north-south road and rail links
- reduce congestion and improve air quality
- maintain current bus and rail services provision including access to education
- improve reliability of journey times through more efficient use of existing transport network
- facilitate healthier lifestyles through modal shift to active travel, i.e. walking and cycling
- work with the Western Gateway Sub-Regional Transport Body to write the Regional Transport Strategy
- review the Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset Local Transport Plan
How we will do it
- work with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and other partners to implement sustainable transport initiatives using £79m from the Transforming Cities Fund – including improving walking and cycling to Ferndown Ind Estate and other employment sites across south east Dorset.
- encourage engagement with the Dorset Business Travel Network, including promotion of workplace travel plans to increase sustainable travel
- promote Car Share Dorset to reduce single occupancy car use
- work with providers to install more publicly available EV (electric vehicle) charging points
- encourage more home working/virtual meetings to reduce the need to travel
- work with rail and bus service providers to maintain and where possible, improve services
- utilise Government funding for resurfacing and reconstruction work on roads (£9.1m funding in 2020 from Department for Transport)
- reduce carbon emissions by using low energy asphalt on all resurfacing schemes and new construction projects, such as cycleways
- review the Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset Local Transport Plan, which will include:
- access to Gillingham – improve access to housing and employment sites within the Gillingham Southern Extension including providing a new road link between A30 and B3081 west of Shaftesbury
- safety and capacity improvements on the A35 Dorchester Bypass at Stadium and Monkey’s Jump roundabouts
- A354 Corridor improvements
- Dorchester Access to Growth – a package of cycle improvements
- provide Express Bus services to Verwood, Ferndown, West Moors and Wimborne
- improve railway stations including provision of travel interchange facilities at Wareham and Wool