Agenda item

To receive the report outlining the North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study.

The Service Director Democratic Services outlined the report and the intention for the

Overview & Scrutiny Committee to comment upon and feedback to Cabinet in respect

of the North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study. It was confirmed that identical

reports were being considered by Cardiff City Council.

The Service Director advised that the Scrutiny working group to consider the development of future transport infrastructure in response to the South Wales Metro as a result of a Notice of Motion to Full Council would resume on the 7^th July 2021 to consider the responses sought by partners in 2020 alongside the information contained with the attached Cabinet report and a wider update on public transport infrastructure.

The Service Director Frontline Service presented his report which explained how due to significant growth identified along the corridor linking Talbot Green, Llantrisant and North West Cardiff, in terms of residential development and economic activity which has been highlighted by the respective Local Development Plans of both Cardiff and RCT, the NW Cardiff corridor was identified as one of the top 4 corridors and was awarded funding in 2020/21 to progress through the first stage of the WelTAG process (Strategic Outline Case (SOC)), with the outcome of the WelTAG Stage 1, being a short list of potential solutions for the corridor. It is a significant corridor which lacks real public transport options at this time.

The Service Director advised that there was already a significant amount of work being carried out such as working with Transport for Wales on the Metro concept to deliver 12 trains per hour, to the Rhondda Valleys benefitting those communities along the route to Cardiff. Work on new stations in Treforest Estate, Upper Boat and the potential for Pontypridd North. Extensions of rail networks, Aberdare towards Hirwaun and commissioning a study looking at a Treherbert extension to Tynewydd. The Mid Valleys corridor from Porthcawl (with a line running along the A473 corridor through Treforest to Pontypridd to Abercynon and a new rail link towards Treharris.

The Porth Hub continues to be developed and Park and Ride considerations around Pontyclun, Porth, Treorchy, Trecynon and Hirwaun. The integrated ticketing project is also being considered.

In conclusion, the Service Director explained that the report is being presented under the Weltag framework and a shortlist of options has been identified which merit further development and assessment at WelTAG Stage 2.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee discussed the report and noted the short-term

and long-term public transport options that offer the best business cases in order to

improve access from RCT through North West Cardiff towards the city centre.

They raised the following queries-

Members were keen to identify how the options within the report connected with the RLDP in terms of whether the routes and sites already allocated in the current LDP would be protected to support the roll out of the work and ensure future funding.

Members made comments and sought assurance that:

• The proposals within the report were realistic proposals and could be delivered within the 2020-2030 timescales (It was noted that some of the projects wouldn’t be implemented until the end of this decade)
• The proposals would bring economic benefits to RCT which on first glance were not evident.
• There will be a more enhanced and joined-up approach to bus and rail travel and timetables to accommodate commuters travelling later in the evenings
• The electrification of the South Wales Main Line, which did not receive funding from Central Government, could still be progressed

Members noted that the immediate economic benefits included employment and training opportunities and a joined-up public travel experience between Talbot Green, Llantrisant Industrial Estate and surrounding areas which will bring significant advantage to these communities.

The Committee commented on the number of large housing developments in the South of the County Borough which have created their own volume of traffic and is growing and sought assurance that the Council’s own impact assessments are robust enough to inform its decision making. It was pleased to hear that influencing and allocating sites close to transit interchanges would be a way forward and work in tandem with the Council’s Tackling Climate Change Strategy would develop a step change approach to the current travel movements, of which 80% are by car.

Referring to the Post Covid planning, forecasting, residents’ patterns of movement and the impact on office buildings where employees are only travelling into Cardiff two days a week, Members felt there was little evidence within the report that this had been considered.

It was noted that bus journeys into Cardiff are easier with good infrastructure to support travel and residents are using their bus passes. Members were pleased that a similar infrastructure will extend to other areas of RCT but asked how, in the interim period, improvements can be made to the Bus Rapid Transit services between areas such as Gilfach Goch and Cardiff?

The Service Director alluded to the provision of priority bus lanes along the corridors which would disadvantage cars, could bring improvements to busy routes.

Committee discussed the benefits of electric vehicles which they considered would be more sustainable and acceptable and the importance of having available infrastructure to support the approach such as charging points close to train stations. They also noted the recent news about the development of hydrogen vehicles. Members were reminded that the Overview & Scrutiny Working Group had undertaken a review into the development of infrastructure to support low carbon vehicle ownership.

Committee spoke of the importance of consulting on the proposals with residents, so they feel included and engaged. The Service Director advised that any consultation would be wide-ranging and involve Cardiff residents and businesses as well as those in RCT via a new online engagement platform and social media as recently undertaken with the Climate Change and Active Travel consultations. He also emphasised that the proposals were long-term, and a number of schemes would come before the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in time as and when necessary.

Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To acknowledge the outcome to date of the North West Cardiff Corridor Transportation Study;

2.     To request that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communication facilitate the feedback of comments and observations to the Cabinet on this matter on the 17^th June 2021;

3.     To receive further reports for future scrutiny by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.