Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Environment

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/049

Contact: Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager Tel: (01865) 815673

Report by Director for Environment & Economy (CA9).

The A40 is a single carriageway Primary Route linking the M40, Oxford, Cheltenham and South Wales. It is the main route connecting Witney and Carterton, the two biggest towns in West Oxfordshire with Oxford. Both towns have seen considerable growth over the last 30 years. Consequently, the daily flow of vehicles on the A40 exceeds the road's link capacity creating congestions and increasing journey times.

OCC has taken a ‘strategic corridor’ approach to developing solutions to the existing (and projected) congestion issues for the A40 with a number of schemes delivering some capacity and efficiencies on the network in the short term and assessment of the scale and approach for a full ‘access solution’ to the A40 corridor.

This report gives an overview of this on-going and planned multi-million investment. In order to extent the number of short-term measures delivering capacity on the A40, Cabinet's approval to add the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme is required. Furthermore, Cabinet is asked to approve the proposal to consult with the public on the long-term options for a full access solution to the A40 corridor.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

(a)            approve the inclusion of the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme;

(b)            note the context of a wider delivery programme of schemes currently underway which will improve congestion along the A40 corridor; and

(c)            agree that the proposal to schedule a public consultation as part of ‘Connecting Oxfordshire’ on the options for a long term strategy approach for further A40 access improvements be undertaken in Autumn 2015.

Recommendations agreed

The A40 is a single carriageway Primary Route linking the M40, Oxford, Cheltenham and South Wales. It is the main route connecting Witney and Carterton, the two biggest towns in West Oxfordshire with Oxford. Both towns have seen considerable growth over the last 30 years. Consequently, the daily flow of vehicles on the A40 exceeds the road's link capacity creating congestions and increasing journey times.

OCC has taken a ‘strategic corridor’ approach to developing solutions to the existing (and projected) congestion issues for the A40 with a number of schemes delivering some capacity and efficiencies on the network in the short term and assessment of the scale and approach for a full ‘access solution’ to the A40 corridor.

Cabinet considered a report giving an overview of this on-going and planned multi-million investment and seeking approval to add the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme and to approve the proposal to consult with the public on the long-term options for a full access solution to the A40 corridor.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            approve the inclusion of the A40 Science Transit Public Transport Scheme to the capital programme;

(b)            note the context of a wider delivery programme of schemes currently underway which will improve congestion along the A40 corridor; and

(c)            agree that the proposal to schedule a public consultation as part of ‘Connecting Oxfordshire’ on the options for a long term strategy approach for further A40 access improvements be undertaken in Autumn 2015.