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What is a Local Transport Plan?

A Local Transport Plan lays out a vision for an area, analyses travel problems and opportunities, and sets objectives and targets. It includes a five-year programme of integrated transport and maintenance capital schemes that will help to achieve these targets. It provides the basis for gaining government approval for Major Schemes – those that cost more than £5 million.

Transport networks cross administrative boundaries so we must prepare an LTP for the whole Metropolitan Area, including the Local Authorities of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton. The West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority (WMPTA), which acts through its implementing agent Centro, is also a partner. An LTP is a policy document adopted by local transport authorities in line with the Transport Act 2000.

An LTP only deals with investment in local transport networks. Responsibility for investment in motorways, trunk roads and strategic rail schemes lies with government bodies such as the Highways Agency and Strategic Rail Authority. However, the LTP has been drawn up in close consultation with these bodies.

LTPs must be submitted to Government every five years. The first round of LTPs covered the five-year period from 2001/02 to 2005/06. Most local transport authorities are now required to prepare a second LTP, referred to as LTP2. The West Midlands Metropolitan Area is one of only two areas in England which, for special reasons, submitted a second LTP in 2003. So although this is our third LTP, it is referred to as LTP2 in order to be consistent with Government terminology.

The Government has now changed the way in which LTPs must be prepared. The first LTPs set out a desired programme that formed the basis of a bid for five-year capital funding. LTP2s must be drawn up against a pre-determined capital expenditure programme and be designed to make the best possible use of that money to deliver improvements.

The Government has also established a new, two-phase process. This provisional LTP2 will be submitted in July 2005. Our final LTP2, containing more detail, must be submitted in March 2006. Both will contain annual programmes for the five-year period from 2006/07 to 2010/11.

Our LTP2 must set out a strategy, objectives and targets, and an investment programme focused on what is called the Transport Shared Priority. This is one of seven shared priorities agreed between national and local government, designed to improve public services. The four themes of the Transport Shared Priority are:

Our LTP2 must also take account of Government Guidance. This is set out in ‘Full Guidance on Local Transport Plans: Second Edition’, issued in December 2004, which in turn refers to the Government’s Transport Strategy as set out in ‘The Future of Transport’ White Paper. Both assist the development of LTP2s.