Highways Agency

• Executive summary
• 1 introduction

Executive summary

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Route Management Strategies.

The Highways Agency has been developing a technique to provide a framework for managing individual trunk roads in the wider context of the National Transport Network. This has resulted in a series of Route Management Strategies, that assist the Highways Agency in planning and optimising investment in the Trunk Roads, focused over a 10 year period. Each Strategy concentrates on making better use of the existing infrastructure by traffic management, network control and better integration with other transport modes, rather than promoting major capital investment. The Strategies provide a vision to develop safer and more reliable routes and, by considering land use planning issues, allow road planning and future investment to better relate to regional transport and planning decisions.

This Route Management Strategy has been developed for the 177 kilometres (110 miles) of the A30 between Penzance and Exeter.

Consultation

Consultation related to this section of the A30 was first carried out during Government's London to South West and South Wales Multi Modal Study (May 2002), which proposes long term transport strategy between London, South West England and South Wales. As part of the A30 Route Management Strategy additional Stakeholder consultations were undertaken throughout the latter half of 2003. Major Stakeholders included were Devon County Council, Cornwall County Council, Exeter City Council, Dartmoor National Park, the various District Councils adjacent to the route, representatives from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, the Government Office for the South West and the South West Regional Development Agency. Stakeholders views on this Proposed Route Management Strategy were sought in the format of both a stakeholder brochure / questionnaire and a detailed Draft Route Management Strategy report. The brochure and questionnaire were also sent to a wider group of over 230 other interested parties and organisations.

Of the 16 major stakeholders 9 commented on the Proposed Route Management Strategy in the form of either a returned questionnaire, a letter, via email or in a telephone conversation. A further 31 of the wider group of stakeholders responded to the brochure/questionnaire. In total 18% of all stakeholders commented on the Proposed Route Management Strategy. Responses from stakeholders were considered and where appropriate have been incorporated into this finalised Route Management Strategy report.

Route Objectives & Functions

Route Objectives set out future roles and aims and were derived from the Government's objectives for transport, the Highways Agency Strategic Plans, as well as from Regional and Local Plans. In examining the A30, Route Objectives provided the direction and guidance needed in developing the Route Management Strategy.

Route Functions were also developed for each section of the A30 to describe the role that the A30, either serves now, or is envisaged to serve in the future. The Route Functions were used in the analysis and evaluation of Route Problems and Performance issues.

Route Problems and Performance

Problems and performance issues were identified, either from the London to South West and South Wales Multi Modal Study, raised during the consultation process or identified by data collection exercises and then analysed as part of the Route Management Strategy. Each issue raised was assessed against the main Route Functions and the Government's Five Core Objectives, which are to:

• Protect and enhance the built and natural environment;
• Improve safety for all road users
• Contribute to an efficient economy
• Promote accessibility to everyday facilities
• Promote integration of all forms of transport and land use planning

Route Outcomes

Issues identified during the Route Management Strategy analysis were categorised into over one hundred problem areas. These were subsequently grouped and, as a result, 22 Route Outcomes were developed to address identified problems and performance issues. These form the basis of the Route Management Strategy and will be used by the Highways Agency, agencies, organisations and other interested parties in the management of the route and as a source of information on the performance of the route.

Ten-year Route Management Plan

The Route Outcomes are summarised in a ten-year Route Management Plan intended to be a working document that will be rolled forward each year. The Plan will be used to support the funding process, however the implementation of the Route Outcomes will still depend on the availability of funds.