Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport Fund - Integrated door-to-door journeys

Kent Thameside: Integrated door-to-door journeys is a package of measures to reduce congestion and improve accessibility through the delivery of an integrated sustainable transport network, allowing the user to transfer seamlessly between modes and making sustainable transport a real alternative to the private car.

The objectives of the scheme are to:

• reduce private car use in favour of more sustainable transport modes
• improve air quality in Kent Thameside
• improve health and wellbeing in Kent Thameside
• improve accessibility to jobs, education and training for all Kent Thameside residents

This capital package was be supported by our 2015/16 Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid, which includes the development of Kent Connected and a smartphone app.

Cost

The Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport Fund is a £4.5 million project to be delivered by 2020/2021. The scheme is funded by the Local Growth Fund, provided by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership.

Formal decisions

The approval to progress the Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport Integrated door-to-door journeys was taken by Kent County Council on 9 April 2015.

The decision by the SELEP Accountability Board to grant Local Growth Funding for the Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport Integrated door-to-door journeys was made on the 20 March 2015.

The individual projects currently being developed are:

• Princes Road cycle path - This project will provide a shared use cycle path on Princes Road, Dartford between the M25 roundabout and Watling Street. It is expected to be completed by summer 2021.

To date, the Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport Fund has delivered:

• a bus hub in Gravesend town centre to improve the transport connections between rail and bus linking with the completed Rathmore Road scheme.  The improvements include:
  • 4 new bus stops in Barrack Row
  • more pedestrianised space and prioritised crossings
  • 2 Fastrack stops
  • Sapphire service improvements on Garrick Street
  • electric bus charging point infrastructure
  • real time information screens
  • new, quality seating and gull wing canopies.
• a new shared use cycle path between Cyclopark and the new cycle hub at Gravesend station.
• a new cycle hub at Gravesend station. This has provided 218 secure cycle parking spaces accessed by a fob and 48 drop and go cycle parking spaces as well as CCTV, lockers and bike maintenance equipment.
• 140 additional cycle parking spaces at Dartford Station, 80 of which require fob access for additional security
• increased cycle parking provision at Ebbsfleet International Station.
• 40 additional cycle parking spaces at Greenhithe station, accessed by a fob.
• 10 additional cycle parking spaces each at both Meopham and Longfield Stations.
• a new fleet of 21 vehicles for the Fastrack service
• improved infrastructure (such as shelters and Real Time Information displays) on the Fastrack route, as well as upgrades to traffic signals to give priority for buses.
• bus stop improvements on the 306 bus route from Vigo to Bluewater
• a system of wayfinding signs in Dartford town centre to promote walking and cycling throughout the town
• improved signage and lighting at both ferry pontoons serviced by the Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry
• a system of wayfinding signs for Gravesend Town Centre to promote walking and cycling through the town
• a puffin crossing, on Burnham Road in Dartford to improve connectivity and crossing links for cyclists and pedestrians.

For more information on the Kent Thameside Local Sustainable Transport Fund, contact Transport Innovations via the contact centre on 03000 41 81 81.