Highways Agency

• A650 Bingley Traffic Impact Study
• Executive Summary
• 1. Introduction
• 2. Data Collected
• 3. Summary of Results
• 4. Local Impacts
• 5. Conclusions

3. Summary of Results

AUTOMATIC TRAFFIC COUNTS (ATC)

Traffic Volume Changes - Local Area

3.1 Figure 3.1 below shows the changes in traffic volumes in the A650 Bingley corridor. A summary of traffic data is provided in Annex A.

Figure 3.1 - 'Before' and 'After' Traffic Flows around Bingley

3.2 Traffic volumes provided in the Traffic Impact Study are based on seasonally adjusted flows such that traffic volumes from June 2003 are factored to represent traffic volume levels for April/May 2004. Thus, any changes in flow are due to the impact of the A650 Bingley Relief Road rather than seasonal differences between June 2003 and April 2004.

3.3 The seasonality factor from June 2003 to April/May 2004 for sites on the trunk road network in this area (derived from previous years) is very close to 1.0 (see Annex B). Other sites in Bradford City Centre show seasonality of 0.990 for June to April and 0.999 for June to May (school holidays excluded). Therefore, traffic volumes shown in Figure 3.1 were not adjusted.

The main points to note are:

• Traffic volumes of around 28,000 vehicles per day (vpd) are shown on both sections of the A650 Bingley Relief Road;
• On Main Street in Bingley, traffic volumes fell from 28,500 vpd before opening to 14,400 vpd after opening, indicating a reduction of 14,100 vpd, or 49%; and
• Traffic volumes on the old road at Crossflatts, North-west of Bingley, fell from 29,500 vpd before opening to 12,500 vpd after opening, a reduction of 17,000 vpd or 58%; and

The scheme has therefore been successful in routeing traffic away from the town centre of Bingley and the residential areas to the south of the town centre and at Crossflatts.

Other points to note are:

• Traffic volumes have increased by 2,000 vpd from 33,100 vpd to 35,100 vpd on the A650 (west of the A6035) at Keighley, but east of the A6035, traffic volumes are 6,000 vpd higher, suggesting traffic from other corridors is diverting onto the A650, particularly from the A6035 itself;
• This increase is partially due to a switch of traffic from the B6265, north of Keighley, which shows a reduction of 1,600 vpd, falling from 19,300 vpd to 17,700 vpd; and
• On the A650, south of the bypass, traffic volumes have increased from 29,300 vpd to 35,100 vpd, an increase of 5,800 vpd or 20%, however, there is evidence that the June 2003 count here was low due to the roadworks associated with the scheme (see Table 3.4).

3.4 Table 3.1 below shows the changes in traffic flows at different times of the day observed on Main Street, Bingley between Park Road and Ferncliffe Road. Two 'Before' counts are presented, one from the Autumn of 1999 and one from June 2003, and 'After' counts from Jan 2004 and April 2004 are also shown. With the exception of the April 2004 survey, all the flows are based on manual counts.

Table 3.1 - Traffic Flow Changes on Main Street, Bingley

Period	Oct 1999	June 2003	Jan 2004	April 2004	% increase from
					Oct 99	June 03	Jan 04
0800-0900	1525	1721	1053	1048	-31	-39	0
0700-1000	4984	5606	2705	2701	-46	-52	0
1700-1800	1864	1996	1065	1098	-41	-45	3
1600-1900	5671	5823	2994	3100	-45	-47	4
AWT	26600	28500	14000	14400	-46	-49	3

3.5 These changes show:

• Traffic volumes were higher in June 2003 than in October 1999, whereas in the after situation, traffic volumes in January and April 2004 are very similar;
• Average weekday two-way traffic flows on Main Street have fallen by 49% since June 2003; and
• The morning peak (0800-0900) shows a reduction of only 39% during the same period, however, the peak period (0700 . 1000) shows a 52% reduction. The peak hour reduction on the old A650 is slightly less than the peak period daily reduction, suggesting less diversion onto the Relief Road in the peak hour.

3.6 The traffic flow changes on the A650 east of Keighley and north-west of the scheme are shown in Table 3.2 below.

Table 3.2 - Traffic Flow Changes on A650 to North-west of Bingley Relief Road

Period	Oct 1999	June 2003	April 2004	% increase from
				Oct 1999	June 2003
0800-0900	1681	1706	2158	28	26
0700-1000	4520	4638	6114	35	32
1700-1800	1743	1575	1974	13	25
1600-1900	4876	4621	5839	20	26
AWT	22200	22200	28200	27	27

• The average weekday traffic volume at this site in June 2003 prior to scheme opening was the same as in October 1999;
• Weekday traffic volumes at this site have increased after scheme opening, by 27% between June 2003 and April 2004; and
• The morning peak period (0700 . 1000) shows a higher increase of 32% since June 2003, indicating that drivers may be retiming their journeys back into the morning peak period.

3.7 Table 3.3 below looks at the traffic flow changes on Bingley Main Street and Bingley Relief Road combined, to see how much traffic has been attracted to that corridor.

Table 3.3 - Traffic Flow Changes on Bingley Main Street and Relief Road Combined

Period	Oct 1999	June 2003	Jan 2004	April 2004	% increase from
					Oct 99	June 03	Jan 04
0800-0900	1525	1721	2757	2997	97	74	9
0700-1000	4984	5606	8081	8721	75	56	8
1700-1800	1864	1996	3037	3327	78	67	10
1600-1900	5671	5823	8503	9235	63	59	9
AWT	26600	28500	39500	42,000	59	47	7

3.8 The main points to note from Table 3.3 are:

• All day traffic volumes across the narrow corridor have increased by 47% between June 2003 and April 2004;
• In the morning and evening peak periods, the increase is higher still at 56% and 59% respectively;
• In the morning peak (0800 . 0900) and evening peak (1700 . 1800) the increase is highest at 74% and 67% respectively; and
• There has been a 7% increase in traffic volumes between Jan 2004 and April 2004.

3.9 The combined weekday volume of traffic carried by both roads in April 2004 is shown to be 42,000 vpd, increasing from 28,500 vpd in June 2003. The percentage increases in the peak hour are higher, suggesting drivers are retiming their journeys back into the peak hour (i.e. a reduction of peak spreading).

3.10 Finally, the 7% increase in traffic volumes between January and April 2004 suggests that the demand for the new road has not stabilised, as drivers adjust their choice and time of routes in the first few months following the opening of the relief road.

3.11 The traffic flow changes on the A650 to the south-east of Bingley Relief Road are shown in Table 3.4 below.

Table 3.4 - Traffic Flow Changes on A650 to South-east of Bingley Relief Road

Period	Oct 1999	June 2003	April 2004	% increase from
				Oct 99	June 03
0800-0900	2035	1750	2357	16	35
0700-1000	6252	5578	7056	13	27
1700-1800	2414	1769	2366	-2	34
1600-1900	6959	5488	6864	-1	25
AWT	30900	29300	35100	14	20

3.12 The main points to note from Table 3.4 are:

• The average weekday traffic volume at this site was 1600 vehicles per day less in June 2003 than October 1999, suggesting traffic patterns at Nab Wood may have been influenced by roadworks during construction at the south-east end of the scheme;
• Average weekday traffic volumes have increased after scheme opening, by 14% between October 1999 and June 2004 and by 20% from June 2003; and
• The evening peak and peak period, however, shows a slight decrease between October 1999 and April 2004, suggesting that there are no additional journeys through Nab Wood in the pm peak even after scheme opening.

Traffic Volume Changes - Wider Area

3.13 In order to assess traffic volume changes across corridors, an assessment has been made across four screenlines, as shown in Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.2 - Daily Traffic Flows 'Before' and 'After' Scheme Opening

3.14 The main points to note are:

Screenline 1 - North of Keighley: B6265, A650

3.15 Screenline 1 is at the north-west end of the A650 Bingley Relief Road. The detailed results of the count sites on this screenline are shown in Annex A and the key points of interest are as follows:

• The daily total across the two roads on this screenline shows an increase from 41,500 vpd to 45,900 vpd, an increase of 4,400 vpd or 11%;
• On the A650 north west of the new road, traffic volumes rose by 6,000 vpd, from 22,200 vpd to 28,200 vpd; but
• On the B6265 which is parallel to the A650 at this point, there was a decrease of 1,600 vpd, from 19,300 vpd to 17,700 vpd.

Screenline 1 suggests that there has been a switch of some 4,400 vpd longerdistance traffic into the A650 corridor from other corridors such as the B6144, south of Bingley and A65 through Ilkley.

Screenline 2 - West of Bingley: A65, Carr Lane/Swine Lane, A650 Old Road and Relief Road, B6429, B6144

3.16 Screenline 2 is North to South, from Ilkley to Wilsden. The key results are as follows:

• Daily totals on this screenline have increased by 6,410 vpd, from 84,330 vpd to 90,740 vpd, which represents an increase of 8%;
• Daily traffic volumes on the A650 Bingley Relief Road at this point are around 27,600 vpd;
• The relief road has attracted traffic from a variety of other roads;
• Traffic volumes on the old A650, south of Morton Lane decreased by 17,000 vpd, or 58%, from 29,500 vpd to 12,500 vpd;
• Daily traffic on the B6144 at Wilsden fell from 17,100 vpd to 14,500 vpd, a reduction of 2,600 vpd;
• Daily traffic on the u/c road at East Morton fell from 6,300 vpd to 5,400 vpd, a reduction of 900 vehicles or 15%; and
• Daily traffic on the A65 at Ilkley fell from 22,200 vpd to 21,100 vpd, a reduction of 1,100 vpd, or 5%.

Screenline 2 suggests that the new A650 Relief Road has attracted traffic from a range of other roads as well as the old A650. The amount of traffic on the Relief Road still exceeds the total of the reductions identified elsewhere, which suggests that other minor roads that have not been counted are likely to have seen a reduction in traffic levels. There may also be an element of generated traffic within Bingley, perhaps arising from the freeing up of the previously congested Main Street and the progression of new housing developments. This conclusion can be drawn as screenlines 3 and 4 south of the Relief Road are showing an increase in the range 2,500 to 4,100 vpd, compared to an increase of nearly 6,500 vpd at this location. Similarly, screenline 1 north of the Relief Road is showing a significantly smaller increase in traffic volumes than screenline 2.

Screenline 3 - East of Bingley: Otley Road, Glovershaw Lane, A650, B6416, B6144

3.17 Screenline 3 is East of Bingley. The key points are as follows:

• Daily totals across the screenline increase by 4,100 vpd, from 81,320 vpd to 85,420 vpd;
• South of the scheme, on the A650 at Nab Wood, weekday traffic volumes have increased by 5,800 vpd, from 29,300 vpd to 35,100 vpd, an increase of 20%; and
• Traffic reductions are observed on the B6144 at Wilsden (2,600 vpd) and on the Glovershaw Lane (u/c road), north of Baildon (900 vpd); and
• Traffic has increased on the B6146 south of Cottingley by 1700 vpd, an increase of 9%.

Screenline 3 suggests that traffic has routed away from local minor roads between Bingley and Shipley onto the A650, however, traffic levels have risen on the B6146 at Cottingley.

Screenline 4 - South of Shipley: A650, A6037.

3.18 Screenline 4 is a screenline across the A650 and A6037, South of Shipley. The main points are:

• Weekday traffic volumes have increased from 52,300 vpd to 54,800 vpd, an increase of 2,500 vpd or 5%;
• Traffic volumes on the A650 at Shipley have increased by 1,500 vpd from 22,700 vpd to 24,200 vpd; and
• Traffic volumes on the A6037 have also increased by 1,000 vpd from 29,600 vpd to 30,600 vpd.

Screenline 4 confirms therefore that traffic has diverted into the A650 corridor from routes between A65 in the north to B6144 in the south.

Historical Traffic Volumes

3.19 Table 3.5 summarises historical traffic levels for twelve count sites in the corridor.

Table 3.5 - Historical Traffic Volumes

Source	Site	1999	2001	2003	% growth, 1999 to 2001	% growth, 1999 to 2003
HA	A650 Airedale 2, Airevalley Road (A6035 - Aireworth Road)	22409	23494	22173	+4.8	-5.6
HA	A650 Bradford Road, Shipley (A6038 - Frizinghall Road)	25401	24602	22629	-3.1	-8.0
HA	A65 Skipton Road, West of Ilkley (A6034 - A660)	20673	20751	22179	+0.4	+6.9
HA	A650 Hard Ings Road, Keighley (A629 - A6035)	32032	32051	33118	+0.1	+3.3
CBMDC	A6037 Valley Road/Canal Road		28230	29606		+4.9
CBMDC	B6265 Bradford Road, Stockbridge	19290	17300	19278	-10.3	+11.4
CBMDC	B6146 Bradford Old Road, Cottingley			18672
CBMDC	B6144 Wilsden Road		16610	17093		+2.9
CBMDC	Otley Road, Bingley Moor	7810	9000	9716	+15.2	+8.0
CBMDC	B6429 Harden Road		7680	9263		+20.6
CBMDC	Glovershaw Lane, Baildon	5076		6503		+28.1
CBMDC	Carr Lane/Swine Lane, East Morton	5810		6271		+7.9

3.20 The main points to note from Table 3.5 are:

• Weekday traffic volumes on the A650 Bradford Road decreased from around 25,400 vpd to 22,600 vpd, from 1999 to 2003, suggesting a certain amount of diversion due to the delays during the construction of the relief road; and
• Other parallel roads such as the A65, B6265, B6429, Otley Road and Glovershaw Lane all see larger than normal traffic growth between 1999 and 2003, again suggesting re-routing of traffic onto these roads due to the existence of the road works in 2003 as well as increasing general congestion.

3.21 In the lead up to the opening of the A650 Bingley Relief Road, there were major online works and diversions. These were in operation for more than six months before the scheme opened, and thus the 'Before' surveys may have been affected by the atypical flows, during this period. Table 3.5 outlines the maximum effect of these diversionary issues.

3.22 It is also likely that traffic levels on these rural roads in 2001 were also affected by the Foot and Mouth outbreak. This may explain why flows were relatively low in 2001 but regained a more normal growth pattern by 2003. It is less likely that roads south of Bingley and in the town itself were noticeably affected, since they are considerably less rural.

JOURNEY TIMES

3.23 A summary of the journey times from the 'Before' and 'After' scheme opening surveys is shown in Table 3.6 below. These journey times relate to the section of A650 between Thwaites and Saltaire.

Table 3.6 - Comparative 'Before' and 'After' Journey Times

Direction	Period	Journey Time (in minutes)
		Old A650 'Before' (June 03)	Old A650 'After' (April 04)	New Relief Road (April 04)	Saving on Old Road	Saving on Relief Road
Southbound	AM	20.6	12.7	9.2	7.9	11.4
	INTER	15.9	12.7	8.6	3.2	7.3
	PM	16.5	10.9	7.5	5.6	9.0
Northbound	AM	15.5	10.4	7.3	5.1	8.2
	INTER	17.3	11.2	7.6	6.1	9.7
	PM	19.7	10.6	7.5	9.1	12.2

Note: AM = 0700-1000, INTER = 1400-1600, PM = 1600-1800

3.24 The table above clearly shows that significant time savings are being observed by using the new A650 Bingley Relief Road. Time savings of around 12 minutes are being observed in the AM peak Southbound and PM peak Northbound.

3.25 The reduction of traffic volumes on the old A650 has also improved journey times through Bingley, such that the old A650 is showing up to 9 minute time savings compared to June 2003.

3.26 Figures 3.3 and 3.4 below show the journey time profiles for the AM peak, travelling southbound from Thwaites to Saltaire (towards Bradford) and PM peak northbound.

Figure 3.3 - Journey Time Profile for AM Peak (0700-1000)

Figure 3.4 - Journey Time Profile for PM Peak (1600-1800)

3.27 A shorter journey time route, between Crossflatts and Saltaire Roundabout, Shipley, was surveyed by CBMDC in May 1999, i.e. before construction began. The June 2003 surveys covered a longer route (and the morning peak a longer time period) and so the relevant sections of the June 2003 and April 2004 have been extracted in Table 3.7 to allow us to make comparisons on a like-for-like basis.

Table 3.7 - Comparative 'Before' and 'After' Journey Times for Shorter Route

Direction	Period	Journey Time (in minutes)
		Old A650 'Before' (May 99)	Old A650 'Before'(June 03)	New Relief Road (April 04)	Difference Old Road (1999 to 2003)	Saving on Relief Road (2004 v 1999)
Southbound	AM	14.4	21.2	7.9	+6.8	6.5
	INTER	10.9	13.7	6.7	+2.8	4.2
	PM	11.0	14.0	5.7	+3.0	5.3
Northbound	AM	15.6	14.7	5.4	-0.9	10.2
	INTER	10.1	15.0	5.6	4.9	4.5
	PM	14.2	17.4	5.5	3.2	8.7

Note: AM = 0700-1000, INTER = 1400-1600, PM = 1600-1800

3.28 May 1999 and June 2003 surveys both represent the 'Before' situation, but Table 3.7 shows that the difference in journey times between 1999 and 2003 can vary by over five minutes. The historical traffic patterns suggested atypical conditions in 2003, and thus it is also likely that the June 2003 journey times have been affected by road works linked with the scheme. Table 3.7 shows that comparing 'before' journey times from 1999 and times on the relief road between Crossflatts Roundabout and Saltaire, up to 10 minutes has been saved in the AM and PM peak periods northbound, and at least four minutes in every other time period.

3.29 In summary, therefore, journey time savings past Bingley as a result of the new relief road are probably somewhere between the 1999 and 2003 results; up to 10-12 minutes in the peak periods, and around 5-9 minutes in the interpeak.

3.30 It is important to consider, however, the impacts of the scheme on journey times in the wider area. Increased levels of congestion in Cottingley, Saltaire and Shipley, and on radial routes to and from Bradford City Centre, caused by the removal of the Bingley Main Street constraint has increased journey times through these areas which offsets, to some degree, the improvements described above.

3.31 A summary of journey time information collected in May 1999 and April/May 2004 on three different routes is shown in Tables 3.8, 3.9 and 3.10 below. The times in 2004 are for traffic using the Relief Road.

Table 3.8 - A650/A657 Crossflatts to Calverley - Journey Times

Direction	Period	Avg journey times in mins		Crossflatts to Saltaire	Saltaire Calverley	Total Change
		1999	2004
Eastbound	AM	28.1	23.7	-6.5	2.1	-4.4
	INTER	22.8	20.0	-4.2	1.3	-2.8
	PM	25.9	25.1	-5.3	4.5	-0.9
Westbound	AM	31.7	27.8	-10.2	6.3	-3.8
	INTER	22.4	23.1	-4.5	5.1	0.6
	PM	31.6	29.7	-8.8	6.8	-1.9

Note: AM = 0700-1000, INTER = 1400-1600, PM = 1600-1800

Table 3.9 - A650 Crossflatts to City Centre - Journey Times

Direction	Period	Avg journey times in mins		Crossflatts to Saltaire	Saltaire to Forster Sq	Total change
		1999	2004
Southbound	AM	26.3	24.1	-6.5	4.3	-2.2
	INTER	21.7	18.9	-4.2	1.4	-2.7
	PM	22.2	19.2	-5.3	2.2	-3.1
Northbound	AM	25.9	16.5	-10.2	0.8	-9.3
	INTER	21.2	19.2	-4.5	2.5	-2.0
	PM	27.9	21.8	-8.8	2.7	-6.1

Note: AM = 0700-1000, INTER = 1400-1600, PM = 1600-1800

Table 3.10 - A650/B6144 Crossflatts to City Centre - Journey Times

Direction	Period	Avg journey times in mins		Crossflatts to Cott Bar	Cott Bar to J Well	Total change
		1999	2004
Southbound	AM	26.8	24.3	-6.3	3.9	-2.5
	INTER	21.3	18.3	-4.0	1.0	-3.1
	PM	21.6	20.9	-4.6	3.9	-0.7
Northbound	AM	20.6	16.4	-4.9	0.7	-4.1
	INTER	20.2	19.7	-3.4	2.9	-0.5
	PM	26.1	23.6	-5.8	3.3	-2.5

Note: AM = 0700-1000, INTER = 1400-1600, PM = 1600-1800

3.32 The above tables reveal that, as would be expected over these longer routes, time savings are not as large as those described earlier. In all cases, journey times on roads to the south and east of the Bingley Relief Road have increased. These increases are, however, in all but one case outweighed by the savings made on the new road. It is important to highlight however that those drivers who do not use the A650/B6265 through Bingley and who commence or finish their journey to the south or east of Bingley are suffering increased delays as a result of the opening of the new road.

Journey Speeds

3.33 A summary of the journey speeds from the 'Before' and 'After' scheme opening surveys is shown in Table 3.8 below. The journey speeds relate to the route from Crossflatts to Saltaire.

Table 3.11 - Comparative 'Before' and 'After' Journey Speeds

Direction	Period	Journey Speeds (kph)
		Old A650 'Before' (May 99)	Old A650 'Before' (June 03)	New Relief Road (April 04)	Difference Old Road (99) v Relief Rd (04)
Southbound	AM	26	19	47	+21
	INTER	34	27	69	+35
	PM	34	26	55	+21
Northbound	AM	24	25	66	+42
	INTER	37	25	65	+28
	PM	26	21	67	+41

3.34 The main points are as follows:

• The speeds on the new Relief Road in 2004 are at least 20 kph faster than the old road in 1999, and up to 40 kph faster in the peak hours northbound;
• In the Northbound direction the 2004 bypass speeds are consistent across all time periods, indicating a significant improvement in journey reliability; and
• Peak period speeds in the southbound direction are affected by congestion at Saltaire roundabout, the first main junction to the south of the scheme.