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The Benefits of Red Routes
Red Routes make best use of the existing transport network to bring a range of benefits to businesses, commuters and residents by keeping vehicles on the move.
The anticipated key benefits of Red Routes are shorter and more reliable journey times and a reduction in the number of road traffic accidents, which is good news for everyone using the transport network.
Red Routes work
Surveys from the introduction of the national award – winning pilot route on the A34 in Solihull show congestion is reduced, journey times are more reliable and businesses continue to prosper good news for traders. Similar benefits are expected as the network expands across the West Midlands. Traders benefit from better legal loading and parking facilities, whilst inconsiderate and dangerous parking is tackled accordingly.
Red Routes tackle illegal and inconsiderate parking, loading and stopping, which restricts traffic flow and causes delays for drivers, bus passengers and cyclists. They improve traffic flow, increase the reliability of journeys by road and provide more legal parking and loading for access to shops and businesses and can reduce road traffic accidents.
- Less traffic queuing on our roads means better air quality and reduced noise and pollution.
- Bus passengers benefit from shorter journey times and more reliable services.
- Pedestrians and cyclists benefit with better crossing facilities and cycle routes.
- Businesses benefit from improved, more reliable journey times, both in terms of deliveries and improved access to the hub of the nations motorway network.
- Fewer road traffic accidents is good news for everyone and is a key objective of the West Midlands Local Transport Plan.
To ensure the benefits are achieved and sustained, a comprehensive monitoring programme is in place to accurately assess all schemes. This information also helps to guide development of further routes throughout the network.
Why we need Red Routes in the West Midlands
- Red Routes will mean shorter average journey times (by up to 10%) and improved journey time reliability (by up to 20%) on the West Midlands most important roads for drivers, goods deliveries and bus users alike.
- Bus passengers will benefit from shorter journey times and more reliable services.
- Red Routes can reduce accidents (by up to 6%) on roads where they are implemented and the West Midlands Local Transport Plan recognises their importance as part of a series of measures to make our roads safer.
- Evidence from the Solihull pilot scheme indicates that local businesses will suffer no adverse effect on trade.
- Local traders and customers will benefit from convenient and legal loading and parking facilities, while inconsiderate and dangerous parking will be tackled accordingly.
- Pedestrian crossings, cycle and other facilities will be improved and made safer, particularly important for people with disabilities.
- People with disabilities will also benefit from clearly signed, dedicated parking spaces.
- Improvements to the physical environment will be included and noise, air pollution and road accidents will be reduced.
- All road users and residents will benefit through reduced congestion, which costs the West Midlands economy £2.2 billion each year.
- The implementation of Red Routes will make enforcement more effective and easier by the adoption of consistent standards throughout the West Midlands Conurbation.
- Red Routes support the network management duties set out in the Traffic Management Act 2004, assist in the achievement of network integrity and are flexible enough to support the development of emerging demand management strategies.