One aspect of the Councils announcement – that it hoped to see an additional 22,000 homes constructed in the City during the next 15 years – which raised concerns was the effect that such growth would have on transport.
Congestion and parking click to enlarge
We have been fortunate that traffic levels have been stable in the City for the last 5 years.
Modest improvements to some of the A1237 roundabouts have eased congestion while the Council has invested to encourage people to use buses and cycles when ever possible.
Many of these policies are to be continued in the new plan, but hopes that congestion will ease have been crushed as the Council now admits that growth in traffic of around 2.5% per annum can be expected as a result of the building boom.
It goes on to say that this will mean a substantial increase in congestion levels on most major roads in the urban area.
Planned road investment click to enlarge
Dualling of part of the northern by pass (Wetherby Road to Haxby Road) will not start for at least 10 years. It pointedly fails to identify how the £200 million bill for such an upgrade would be funded.
Labours strategy seems to be to reduce still further car parking provision in the City Centre, introduce more road closures and even introduce parking charges at out of City centre retail centres.
Their intention is to force cars off the roads of York.
All in all to looks like a profoundly inadequate approach to catering for a 25% increase in the City’s size.