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The Benefits of Red Routes
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. This is being acheived by making best use of the existing transport network by keeping vehicles on the move.
What We Set Out To Achieve
The business case for Red Routes set out the main benefits as:
- Improving general traffic journey times by up to 10% and reliability by 20%.
- Reduce in accidents along the route by up to 6%.
Early Pilot Results
Surveys from the introduction of the national award – winning pilot route on the A34 in Solihull showed reduced congestion, more relaible journey times and minimal impact on business, which is good news for traders. Similar benefits are expected as the network expands across the West Midlands.
Latest Emerging Results
A compreyensive monitoring exercise has been rolled out as the Red Route network is expanded to ensure that the main benefits of the scheme are being realised. This monitoring has enforced the finding of the pilot study and the emerging results are summarised below.
- Reduced journey times of over 8%.
- Reliability improvements of up to 40%.
- Bus journey times reductions and reliability improvements of up to 21% and 30% respectively.
- Illegal parking reduced by 60%.
- Evidence of increased pedestrian usage.
- An accident reduction of around 8% (further long term assessment is required).
What This Means For The West Midlands
Obviously, this is good news for the West Midlands and we can all look forward to:
- 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.
- Shorter journey times and more reliable services for bus passengers.
- Accident reduction (by up to 6%) on roads where they are implemented.
- Minimal efect on lcoal busineses and traders thereby ensuring the economic viability of local centres.
- Better and more convenient loading and parking facilities at the expense of inconsiderate and dangerous parking.
- Improved facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities, which will include clearly signed, dedicated parking spaces.
- Improvements to the physical environment in terms of noise and air pollution.
- Reduced congestion, which is estimated to cost the West MidlandsÂ’ economy £2.2 billion each year.
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