Nestrans, the Regional Transport Partnership for the North East of Scotland, have released their monitoring report for 2019. The monitoring report is designed to show progress against the objectives of the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) which is delivered by Nestrans and its partners.
Nestrans chairman, Councillor Peter Argyle, “We are pleased to see that 19 of our indicators are on target and 15 continue to have some success following on from the 2018 report. As the AWPR has recently opened the benefits are yet to be reflected in improved journey times and reduced congestion indicators but we look forward to seeing these results in the future.”
This is the eleventh annual monitoring report and provides information against a total of 48 monitored indicators, of which 38 have targets against them. Some of the key indicators on target include:
The first cycle count survey was carried out by Aberdeen Cycle Forum in 2008 at 11 points throughout the city during morning peak hours (0700-0900). This count has continued annually in May and since 2008 there has been a 40% increase in the number of cyclists recorded during these counts.
The number of injuries in road traffic collisions in the north east has seen a further reduction with a total number of casualties in 2017 62% lower than in 2005 and the lowest ever recorded.
The aim is to also reduce the number of deaths from road traffic collisions by at least 50% of the 2001-05 average to an average of fewer than 20 per year by 2017-2021. Aberdeen City is currently at -38%, Aberdeenshire -42% and the north east -42%.
There has been a significant increase in the number of plug-in electric vehicles across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. In Q3 of 2018 there were a total of 872 electric vehicles in the north east (an increase of 27% on the previous year’s total of 689). The number of publicly available chargers in the area has also increased. In 2017 there were 52 but as of 2018 this number has increased to 85, 8% of the total charges available in Scotland. Work continues to install more rapid and fast chargers in order for users to charge their vehicles more quickly.
Nestrans supports a car share database www.getabout.liftshare.com to encourage sharing where possible. In 2007/08 there were a total of 811 members in the scheme. By 2018/19 that number has increased to 3,420, a 322% increase. There has also been increase in the number of vehicles in the car club scheme. In 2012 it started with 12 cars and by 2018/19 that has increased to 44 cars and 4 vans and a membership increased from 104 in 2012 to currently 1,023 members.
There has also been improvement in air quality within the City. Three areas have been identified as air quality management areas, city centre, Anderson Drive and Wellington Road. These areas have been identified for projected exceedances in permitted levels of both Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Particulates (PM10) and the City Council had produced a plan of action for reducing emissions to within European defined maximum levels in these areas. There are a variety of monitoring stations placed at six locations and provide data on the current situation as well as annual average concentrations of pollutants. Results show that only one of the six locations exceeded the annual mean objective in 2017, although it has been steadily decreasing since 2012. In addition the annual mean objective for particulates reduced almost across the board and levels are now the lowest recorded with all sites remaining within target.
For the first time restrictions on trunk roads have been removed. The construction of Inveramsay Bridge upgrade on A96 in 2016 allows for two-way traffic flow and the removal of height limitations. The completion of the AWPR earlier this year also allows an option for an unrestricted route for HGVs on trunk roads.
Nestrans always attempt to be open and transparent in regard to its own performance, particularly in relation to travel and transport. Of 416 approved business journeys, 77% of miles travelled were undertaken by bus or rail. Just 6% of business mileage was by car driver. Nestrans’ office staff travel to work with a majority of travel by sustainable modes: 18% Active travel and 34% public transport.
Nestrans continue to work closely with partners to achieve these indicators and work on the new Regional Transport Strategy, Nestrans2040. A website has been created, Nestrans2040.org.uk which is the focus of all the consultation and engagement activities on the developing strategy. Businesses and communities can help by sharing their views and commenting to influence the long-term vision for transport in the north east.