York kicks off transport consultation

City of York Council has instigated a 10-week public engagement exercise as it seeks to pull together a transport strategy for the city and surrounding villages.

This is the first time since 2010 that all aspects of transport have been looked at together, rather than as individual projects, the council said.

The consultation will ask residents, businesses, tourists and commuters how they currently travel, how they’d like to travel, and to explain the reasons change is needed.

A series of events is planned before and after Christmas, including fully accessible drop-in sessions in central York, as well as the project team visiting libraries and schools in villages and rural areas.

The online consultation can be accessed here.

Along with trying to meet net-zero targets, in line with all other UK authorities, there are pressing needs for stronger policy at local level.

York needs to prepare a new local transport plan by summer 2024 – writing that plan will be aided by this process, setting in place an evidence base for the incoming mayor of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority to use from May 2024 onwards.

Once the plan is finalised and approved by full council, anticipated to happen in spring 2024, the council will then put its case to government and seek funding for the improvements required. Linked in to the transport survey is research in air quality, an area the city is keen to keep on top of.

The city is certainly exploring its options, being shortlisted this month for a Toyota-backed global innovation challenge on urban mobility.

At the same time, plans to improve pedestrian and public transport access around the landmark railway station are struggling to make progress in the planning system.

A 10-point list of policy themes is in place to guide the transport discussion:

• Accessibility – so that everyone can access the areas and facilities they need and want
• Improving walking, wheelchair access, wheeling and cycling – so that these become real alternatives to driving a car
• Shaping healthy places – offering a range of ways to move around and using the opportunity to provide better places for us to live, work and visit
• Improving public transport – upgrading and improving our bus and rail services
• Safeguarding the environment by cutting carbon, air pollution and noise – meeting climate change targets and improving the health of the city
• Creating a Movement and Place plan – creating safe, connected transport networks for residents, businesses and visitors
• Reducing car dependency – supporting people to change how they travel, and encourage those who can, to reduce their journeys by car
• Improving freight and logistics – creating efficient access for businesses while reducing the impact of heavy vehicles
• Effective maintenance and enforcement – so that people choosing sustainable travel are safe, and that cycling, walking and wheeling routes are well maintained
• Monitoring the transport network and financing the changes –to ensure the effectiveness of our policies and attract funding to deliver York’s new transport strategy as effectively as possible

Cllr Pete Kilbane, executive member for economy and transport, said: We have ambitious targets to tackle climate change, including reducing carbon emissions from transport by 71% and reducing the number of miles travelled by car by 20% by 2030.

“This will not happen overnight and we know that if we are going to free up the roads for those who need to use them, we have to make improvements so that walking, cycling or taking the bus are reliable, practical and attractive options for those who can make the change. We also recognise that we need to better support our disabled residents and visitors.

“We have a wide range of ways you can take part, from accessible and wheelchair friendly drop-in sessions; school visits; our staff going out and about with the mobile library, and a comprehensive online portal. I’d really encourage everyone who travels in York to take part.”