Highways Agency

• Introduction
• 2 Description of the route
• 3 Initial policy objectives
• 4 Route functions
• 5 Initial route problems andperformance
• 6 Initial route outcomes

Introduction

Introduction

1.1 Route Management Strategy

The Route Management Strategy (RMS) is a technique developed by the Highways Agency (HA)to provide a framework for managing individual trunk routes as part of the wider transportnetwork. The RMS process has been developed in order to:

• Assist the HA in planning and optimising investment in the trunk road/motorway network and in the delivery of HA strategic plans and ten year transport strategy;
• Provide consistency, transparency, openness and integration, particularly with other transport related strategies, including local and regional transport plans;
• Enable the HA to provide an input into these strategies and plans;
• Maximise customer focus;
• Improve forward planning over a 10-year horizon.

The RMS consists of several elements as follows:

• HA Policy Objectives for the route to cover planning, economic and transport objectives
• Route Functions and Performance. This will describe the purpose of the route now and how well it serves that purpose both now and in the future;
• Land Use and Development Control. This will outline the HA's approach to the future land use and development issues which materially affect the route;
• Route Problems and Issues. These will be the issues that concern the HA, stakeholders and the public and may hinder the performance or the route function;
• Route Outcomes. This will set out what the HA will seek to achieve over the next 10 year period. Some of the outcomes may point towards individual projects and investigations, which will be developed by the HA as a Route Management Plan.

Figure 1 shows the relationships between the strategy elements and show the key role of the Route Outcomes. The figure shows that each element is influenced by the other elements.

Figure 1 - Route Management Strategy Element Relationships

Once it has been developed, the Route Management Strategy will be used by the HA to develop a Route Management Plan through which the strategy is implemented.

The RMS brings together:

• A range of policies and objectives, which are pertinent to the route;
• Other relevant information including current conditions on the route;
• The views of stakeholders and the public.

Figures 2 shows how these relationships between the Route Management Strategy process andthese inputs can be illustrated.

Figure 2 - Route Management Strategy Inputs

1.2 Details of the Author and Date of Production

Halcrow Group Limited
Lyndon House
62 Hagley Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 8PE

March 2005

1.3 Details of Public Consultation

Public Consultation commenced 5 April 2004 and ended 2 July 2004

Stakeholder Seminars were held at:

• The Oxford Centre - 6 May 2004
  333 Banbury Road
  Oxford
  OX2 7PL

• Warwick Race Course - 13 May 2004
  Hampton Street
  Warwick
  CV34 6HN

1.4 Report format

Chapter 2 provides the description of the route, which includes relevant facts and figures on asectional basis travelling from the southern end of the route to the north;

Chapter 3 details the Policy Objectives, with a plan showing policy areas, plus a written list ofpolicies that have been used in the development of the RMS. Also described are brief details ofother Route Management Strategies and studies carried out for routes that intersect the M40.

Chapter 4 describes Route Functions and explains how they were derived. This chapter alsoincludes a discussion on problems and conflicts;

Chapter 5 highlights the Route Problems and Performance. This chapter includes theexplanation of the problems along the route and how they were derived, including those problemsidentified through the consultation. It gives a description of the problems along with sectionalroute plans indicating problem locations;

Chapter 6 is dedicated to the Route Outcomes. The chapter explains how they were derived, aswell as including Outcome Summary Sheets and sectional route plans indicating the location ofRoute Outcomes;

1.5 Reports/data used in the production of the RMS

In general, data for the M40/A40 was collected from Government Objectives and Policiesincluding the 10 year plan, Highways Agency Plans & Initiatives, National Policies, DevelopmentPlans (Local Plans, Structure Plans), Local Transport Plans, Regional Planning Guidance andTransport Strategies and Mineral and Waste Plans. Data was also collected throughconsultations with stakeholders including:

• Highways Agency and related organisations - HA Route Manager (M40 J15 to M42 J3a), HA DBFO Manager (M40 J1 to J15), UK Highways M40 Ltd (DBFO Company M40 J1 to J15), Amey Mouchel (Managing Agent Contractor for the M40 J15 to M42 J3a) and Mouchel Consulting Ltd (Managing Agents from the GLA boundary to M40 J1);
• Police - Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) and Thames Valley Police;
• Local Authorities - Buckinghamshire County Council, Warwickshire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Northamptonshire County Council;
• Government Office Representatives - for the West Midlands, the South East and East Midlands;
• Thames Valley Police Safer Roads Partnership, through Thames Valley Police.