Agenda item

Presentation by Head of Transport, Tees Valley Combined Authority

The Head of Transport, Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) gave a presentation on the Tees Valley Combined Authority Strategic Transport Plan (STP).

Details were provided on the challenges and opportunities in the Tees Valley; and the proposed vision for Tees Valley, to provide a high quality, clean, quick, affordable, reliable, integrated and safe transport network for people and freight to move within, to and from the Tees Valley.

The STP had been developed by the Combined Authority for the period up to 2029 to deliver three broad objectives; social opportunity, economic growth and environmental protection and enhancement; detailed why investment was needed; the schemes and initiatives to achieve the vision; and set out how the plan would be delivered and funded.

Members were advised of the pertinent highlights for Darlington including Darlington Station; Darlington Northern Link Road and wider connectivity along the A66; capacity enhancement scheme for the A19 Tees Crossing; Demand Responsive Transport pilot; cycling and walking infrastructure; Wheels to Work Scheme; electric vehicle charging infrastructure; bus partnership and bus improvement corridors.

It was confirmed that formal consultation on the STP had begun. The documentation and a questionnaire were available on the TVCA website and a number of public events had been held across the Tees Valley.

Following a question raised by a Member in respect of the pinch points at Darlington and Middlesbrough train stations, it was confirmed that the TVCA have engaged with the East Coast Mainline Programme Board; a business case was in development; and that this would improve the capacity for East-West train services.

Members highlighted the issue of deliverability by the TVCA and were assured that there was only £66.5 million of the budget left to approve; the TVCA were working closely with Darlington Borough Council to ensure project funding was released in good time; and a project programme board was in place to monitor project progress.

Members queried the aspirations for the plan in respect of the different modes of transport and noted that whilst there were no specific targets, the aim was to reduce the number of car journeys by improving the public transport network and that research was to be undertaken in the Tees Valley with non-bus users.

Discussion ensued on the Darlington Northern Link Road and A19 Tees Crossing, both of which were a strategic transport priority for the Tees Valley Combined Authority; the draft business case for the northern link road was being revisited to identify lower cost options; and due to the 5-year investment periods it was unlikely that both schemes would be progressed in one period.

RESOLVED – That the presentation be noted.