Transport versus planning in Herts
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
A SUMMARY REPORT on Transport in South West Herts published last week outlines proposals for dealing with the relentless build-up of traffic congestion in an area with no less than 50 accident black-spots. The study area takes in Watford, Rickmansworth and Boreham Wood, one of the most densely builtup areas in the county.
To apply the strategy drawn up by the study team immediately would cost some £24m and this investment is thought to be unlikely within the next five or six years. Indeed, to carry out all the desired improvements may take up to 10 years.
The study team says that unless substantial improve ments to public transport and the road network are made, the build-up of traffic, the incidence of traffic congestion, the restriction of access to key shopping and business centres and the deleterious effect on the environment are likely to get worse. There would be no chance of lessening the present mounting conflict between pedestrians and traffic throughout the area.
Twenty per cent of 'the through traffic consists of heavy goods vehicles. Local traffic is increasing and road improvements are made more costly by existing transport links. Three rivers, the Grand Union Canal, MI and the main rail line from Euston to Glasgow run through the area, escalating the cost of new crossing routes.
The study team urges a £20m road-building programme with a direct link into MI from Watford and many local road improvements. The introduction of high-frequency bus services in each of the three towns linking into other bus and rail services and speeded up by a.bus priority system at key junctions is recommended. The cost of a fleet of buses is put at £2m and a new bus station for Watford at Elm. Traffic management provision and other measures to get a fast bus service operating would cost from Cirri to Elm. Such a service would probably need to be subsidised initially but could ultimately prove viable.
Another major conclusion is that drastic measures to reduce street parking are necessary to enable all bus services to run more freely. Car parking fees will have to rise to encourage motorists to leave their cars out of town.
The report says there is no implied commitment to any of its proposals at present; each element of the suggested strategy would be subject to full public consultation before there was any question of implementation.
Transport in South West Herts: A summary report, is available price 30p from : The County Surveyor, Goldings, North Road, Hertford, SG14 2PY.