Highways Agency

• Final strategy report
• Route functions
• Route objectives
• Route Problems And Issues
• Performance Frameworks
• Route Actions Studies
• Public Consultation
• Conclusions

Final strategy report

Final Strategy Report

1 Introduction

This report has been prepared as part of the development of the M6 RouteManagement Strategy (RMS), extending from Junction 20 near Warrington to theScottish Border and including the A74.

A Route Management Strategy is

"a 10 year strategy that sets out and guides all Highways Agency actions and expenditure for an identified route. It consists of the following elements: RouteFunctions and Objectives, Route Problems, Route Actions, Route Management Planand Review. It is the delivery mechanism for the Highways Agency network strategyand strategic plans".

RMS Guidance, January 2002

1.1 Purpose Of This Report

The purpose of this report is to summarise the information gathered through the RMSprocess and present a Route Action and Management Plan for this RMS route for thenext 10 years.

The Action Plan is a three-year plan that includes more details about the proposedstudies, designs and implementation. The Route Management Plan is a prioritisedprogramme set of route actions that includes the three-year Action plan as well as anoutline of the programme for the ten-year strategy period. Additionally, an OperationalPlan has been developed for the route as part of the Development Control Strategy.

The operational plan shows the junctions and links along the route and, using a colourscheme, indicates which locations have operational problems. This has been includedin Appendix F.

1.2 Background

Hyder Consulting (UK) Limited was appointed as the RMS Consultant by the HighwaysAgency in May 2001.

Since the study began:

• a Bus Tour of the route was held on 26th March 2002 - initial problems and issues were identified
• an Initial Internal Workshop was held on 9th May 2002 in Manchester in order to determine more specifically the problems and issues of the route and the Route Functions and Objectives
• two seminars were held - the first was located in Penrith on 26th June 2002 and the second was located in Preston on 27th June 2002 - the route functions and objectives were considered further, problems and issues identified and potential solutions discussed
• the First Value Management (VM1) Workshop took place in Manchester on 17th September 2002 - the Action Studies required to develop the Draft RMS were determined
• Action Studies were completed - the subjects covered were Safety, Congestion, Development Control and Park and Ride / Park and Share / Public Transport Crossings
• the Second Value Management Workshop (VM2) was held in Manchester on 26th February 2003 - this workshop revised the Draft RMS and agreed the form to be adopted for the Public Consultation phase
• the Public Consultation phase was held from 6th May 2003 until 31st July 2003.

The complete study process for the M6 RMS is illustrated below in Figure 1-1. A more detailed summary of the key milestones of the study is included in Sections 1.2 to 1.6.

Figure 1-1 M6 Route Management Strategy Study Process

A map of the route covered by the M6 RMS is included below as Figure 1-2. As can beseen, the route was divided into ten sections. This helped to simplify any processes ofanalysis.

1.3 Plans and Policies

The documents that were used at the start of the M6 RMS were as follows:

• Government Objectives for Transport;
• Highways Agency Strategic Plans;
• Highways Agency Business Plan 2002/03;
• Highways Agency Management Plan 2002/03;
• Highways Agency Network Strategy North West Regional Brief (Jan 2002).

The following documents were also considered:

• Regional Planning Guidance (including Regional Transport Strategy);
• Local Transport Plans;
• Local Plans;
• Development Plans.

A comprehensive list of all of the Plans And Policies that have been referred to can befound in Appendix G.

1.4 Bus Tour

On 26th March 2002, a Bus Tour of the M6 RMS route was conducted. Those who attended were key stakeholders and had a keen personal interest in the operation ofthe route. The aim of the tour was to encourage the participants involved with the day-to-day operation, maintenance, policing and control of the route to provide informationabout issues along the route.

A number of issues were identified and recorded. These were then used as a startingpoint for discussion of the route problems and issues at the Initial Internal Workshop.

1.5 Initial Internal Workshop

An Initial Internal Workshop was held on 9th May 2002 to set out the strategy of the M6 RMS and to highlight the main problems and issues that were known to the HighwaysAgency. Various Managing Agents and members of the HA attended.

A list of such problems and issues was formulated and a ranking system devised. Theoverall list was taken from that which was originally discussed at the Bus Tour. It wasthen further expanded and developed to focus upon the proposed strategies of theroute. These overall strategies were then taken forward for discussion at the RMSSeminars.

1.6 Seminars

Due to the length of the route and the different characteristics of the northern andsouthern sections of the route, two Seminars were held for this RMS. The southernsection, from Junction 20 to Junction 32, was considered at the Preston Seminar on27th June 2002, while the northern section, from Junction 32 to the Scottish Border,was considered at the Penrith Seminar on 26th June 2002.

The purpose of the Seminars was to present the initial strategy as work in progressand to give an opportunity to those invited, either by attendance or written contribution, to comment on the RMS proposals. As a result of these Seminars, the route problems and issues were developed as well as the route functions and objectives.

1.7 First Value Management Workshop

The First Value Management Workshop (VM1) was held on 17th September 2002 atthe Highways Agency Offices in Manchester.

The aim of the Workshop was to agree proposals for further investigation of solutionsand actions required to develop the draft strategy and to finalise agreement on thefunctions, objectives and problems of the route.

As a result of VM1, several Action Studies were recommended and carried out. Theseincluded:

1. Safety Action Study
2. Congestion Action Study
3. Development Control Action Study
4. Park and Ride / Park and Share / Public Transport Crossings Action Study

The recommendations from these Action Studies have then been used to develop thedraft strategy.

1.8 Second Value Management Workshop

The Second Value Management Workshop took place on 26th February 2003 at theHighways Agency Off ices in Manchester. The aim of this workshop was to revise theDraft Action and Management Plan and to agree the form of public consultation for thestrategy. The comments made about the strategy were then adopted and the Actionand Management Plan was finalised for presentation during the Public Consultationphase.

1.9 Public Consultation

Exhibitions about the M6 RMS were held at motorway service areas along the routeand in the town centres of Warrington, Preston and Carlisle. A four-panel exhibitionwith display boards was available as well as information leaflets and a questionnaire.The information leaflets discussed Safety, Congestion, Development Control, PublicTransport & Car Share and the proposed Action and Management Plan.