Shetland Transport Strategy

1
Shetland Transport Strategy

• Public Consultation Event, Lerwick Hotel

16 January 2007
2
Shetland Transport Strategy - Public Consultation
- Programme

• 18.30-18.45 - Registration and Coffee
• 18.45-19.15 - Introduction
• Welcome and Introduction
• Progress and Update
• Shetland Transport Strategy
• 19.15-20.15 - Discussion Groups
• 20.15-20.30 - Feedback
• Feedback from Workgroup Discussions

3
Summary

• The Big Picture
• Focus on essential rather than desirable.
• Prioritise on basis of need and effectiveness.
• A key challenge is maintaining current transport
  provision.
• External Links
• Must be top priority. Use evidence to support
  improvements.
• Inter-Island Links
• Investment required to secure reliable and
  efficient links.
• Internal Links
• Opportunity for development of community based
  services.
• Opportunity for addressing wider issues

4
Shetland Transport Partnership

• Shetland Transport Partnership (STP) was
  established following the introduction of the
  Transport (Scotland) Act 2005, following a
  successful campaign to be recognised as a
  Regional Transport Partnership in its own right.
  
• It has a statutory responsibility to prepare a
  Regional Transport Strategy.
• Basis for maintenance and development of all
  forms of transport in short, medium and long
  term. Key for securing external support. A
  basis for partnership working.

5
Process to develop the Strategy so far

• Problem Identification ?
• Initial Consultation ?
• Vision, Objectives, Constraints, Uncertainties ?
• Option Development ?
• Appraisal (high level, and scheme options) ?
• 2nd Consultation Phase (until Jan 26th)
• Finalisation of Strategy with Implementation Plan
  and Targets
• Submission to Ministers (by March 31st)
• Approval from Ministers 3 months

6
Complies with Transport (Scotland) Act 2005
Is realistic and affordable
Is generally publicly and politically acceptable
7
What we want to achieve

• VISION
• Safe, healthy, vibrant and inclusive society
• Diverse, successful and self sufficient economy
• Enhanced environmental quality
• A number of principles, objectives and
  sub-objectives express this vision for Shetland.

8
ConstraintsFinancial Reality

• Currently, over 20 years, 27 of SICs Capital
  Plan allocated to Transport/Roads projects
• Maintaining / Renewing what we have could mean,
  over 20 years, around 50 of Capital Plan
  required for Transport/Roads.
• SICs Capital Plan will be reducing from 123m to
  72m in the 4 years between 2006/07 2009/10,
  18m pa thereafter.
• General Fund Revenue demand on reserves required
  to fall to zero by 2012/13.
• Significant competition for SIC funding with
  other projects. Significant competition for
  external funding.

9
Five Scenarios
E Aspirational
Capital Funding
C Spend to Save
External Sources
A LTS 2000
B Cut Backs
D Comfort
SIC Sources

Existing
ve
-ve
More Publicly Provided Accessibility More
Inclusion Equal Access to Opportunity
More Reliance on Individual Accessibility Social
Inclusion Risks On Your Bike
10
Individual Appraisal Outcomes - External Links

• Air Services
• Ongoing development of existing approach,
  continued support for PSOs.
• UK Ferry
• Gather evidence to support consideration of
  options for ongoing improvements.
• European/Scandinavian Ferry
• Seek complimentary services
• Ports
• Support for ongoing development

11
Inter-Island Links Fixed Links

• Long term potential benefit demonstrated
• Need external support - Business case driven by
  financial benefits, despite wider benefits
• Have to prove value for money over ferry link
• This has been demonstrated for Bressay fixed link
  project
• For longer sub-sea tunnels, UK Costs vs
  Faroe/Norwegian Costs
• 15k/m vs 6k/m
• More research to gather evidence to support
  business case

12
Inter-Island Links - Bluemull

• Currently, would be priority for fixed link over
  Yell and Whalsay
• Fixed link means single vessel, but requirement
  for additional crew
• Otherwise, assume continued service pattern with
  replacement vessels, and new terminals
• 2nd crew for Fetlar vessel but 0.25m pa
• Breakwater at Hamars Ness but 2.5m to 3.0m

13
Inter-Island Links - Bressay

• Current commitment to fixed link
• Report going to Council on recent developments
• Fixed link provides significant savings
• If no fixed link, requirement to replace MV
  Leirna

14
Inter-Island Links - Whalsay

• Least Cost Refurbish existing terminals,
  replace MV Hendra with vessel of similar size to
  MV Linga. Does not address issues, but
  affordable.
• Optimum Larger vessels, larger terminals,
  higher cost, addresses problems on route, but
  likely to require additional funding.
• Inter-Island Links - Yell
• Recently benefited from investment.
• A fixed link has stronger financial case, but
  more risky.

15
Inter-Island Links - Smaller Isles

• Fair Isle Medium term replacement of MV Good
  Shepherd More air service charters. Shoulder
  season sailings?
• Foula Monitor ferry tender. Consider medium
  term options. Additional winter day return
  flight?
• Papa Stour Short term use of MV Thora in
  Summer. Replace MV Snolda in short term.
  Withdraw flights, but provide additional sailing?
  
• Skerries Issue of service unreliability.
  Deepen South Mouth 0.36m? Service to Vidlin
  only (PT, Freight, Service levels)?
• Support reopening of Unst Airport for chartered
  flights

16
Internal Links - Travel Behaviour Change

• Driven by higher fuel prices, green agenda,
  health agenda, and social inclusion agenda.
• Need to demonstrate corporate leadership but
  have to make it work in Shetland
• School and Workplace Travel Plans, promotion of
  flexible working, car sharing and ICT, walking,
  cycling
• Support for alternative fuels, fuel efficiency
• Walking - Continue developing key links in
  settlements, Access to the countryside
• Cycling Soft measures, more than hard
  measures

17
Internal Links - Road Schemes

• Road investment planning needs to be part of the
  strategy
• A number of existing discrete schemes identified
  in the strategy
• Other road improvements based on
• Improving specific links between settlements and
  spine road
• Larger scale housing development
• Footway works in settlements
• Structural improvement of minor roads
• Junction improvements to respond to changing
  traffic flows

18
Internal Links - Road Management and Maintenance

• Structural Maintenance, routing maintenance,
  street lighting
• Road Safety
• Education, enforcement and engineering (i.e.
  traffic calming)
• Parking
• Support for Park and Ride
• Lerwick disk zone

19
Internal Links - Public Transport

• Bus network little opportunity for substantive
  change. Support for separating Sumburgh service
  from South Mainland service
• Support for shopper services, dial a ride
  services etc
• Opportunity for more work with community / demand
  responsive services.
• Integration of public transport services with
  ferry and air terminals.
• Trial new or amended services i.e. evening and
  late night buses.
• Support for concessionary travel schemes
  (pensioners and youth groups)
• Greater public transport marketing, recognising
  tourism benefits

20
Process more than a Document

• Strategy is a process, not just a document
• Feedback from national processes eg Strategic
  Projects Review
• Feedback at local level - Annual Progress
  Reports, 4 yearly reviews
• Should help to increase awareness of the
  Transport Strategy as a working document.

21
Summary

• The Big Picture
• Focus on essential rather than desirable. Fit
  for purpose.
• Prioritise on basis of need and effectiveness.
• External Links
• Must be top priority. Use evidence to support
  improvements
• Inter-Island Links
• Investment required to secure reliable and
  efficient links
• Internal Links
• Opportunity for development of community based
  services

22
How to respond

• This meeting
• Questionnaire
• Shetland Transport Partnership website
  www.shetland.gov.uk/transport/stp/transportstrateg
  y
• E-mail or letter
• Responses welcome until 26 January 2007.