The changing face of transport in the Liverpool City Region

1. The changing face of transport in the Liverpool City Region CILT Merseyside and Warrington Group Cllr Liam Robinson Chair, Merseytravel Committee February 24th 2015

2. Overview of presentation • New governance of transport locally • Overview of key policy areas affecting transport policy locally, including • The growth agenda • The Local Transport Plans • SUPERPORT and the opening of Liverpool 2 • The Growth Deal • HS2 / ‘HS3’ discussions • Devolution

3. The times we live and work in • Changing times… • Governance • Profile of transport going up • Challenging times… • Spending reductions • No room for complacency • Opportune times… • Devolution and new funding regimes • A “Northern Renaissance”?

4. Transport in the Liverpool City Region until 31st March 2014 • Two local transport authorities • Merseytravel’s remit covered Merseyside • Formed of two separate bodies • Integrated Transport Authority • Passenger Transport Executive • 18 district representatives • Halton a separate transport authority

5. A new approach – the Combined Authority from April 1st 2014 • Statutory city region body, effective from April 2014 • Remit includes transport, economic development, regeneration, skills and housing • Formed of 6 LA leaders/Mayor and Chair of the LEP • Functions of former Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority and Halton local transport authority powers • Levy-raising powers • accountable body for new funds • Strong model of governance, to join-up policy and funding

6. The CA’s main structures • A 20 member Merseytravel Committee advises the CA on transport • Other thematic sub-groups to offer detailed advice and oversee specific matters

7. Merseytravel • The CA’s transport delivery body and strategic transport advisor • Headed by David Brown, Chief Executive • Head of Paid Service to the CA • Lead Chief Executive on transport issues • Merseytravel’s Finance Director is also the CA’s Treasurer • Retains Passenger Transport Executive powers • ‘Merseytravel’ an official name, rather than a brand name • Moving towards multi-modal remit and city region-wide coverage • Halton BC responsible for delivery of transport locally, under transitional arrangements

8. Merseytravel’s current delivery role Builds and maintains public transport infrastructure in Merseyside Manages Merseyrail concession Operates Mersey Ferries and Mersey Tunnels on behalf of CA Administers Merseyside travel tickets and concessionary travel Funds non-commercial bus services

9. The big picture – economic growth • LCR GVA per head is £15,600, UK is £20,900 - equates to £8.2bn gap • The gap has remained largely unchanged over the last decade • To tackle this gap we need: • 18,500 businesses to match UK average business density • Additional 35,000 individuals to be economically active to match national average • An additional 46,200 individuals in employment • Respond to shortfall of 90,000 jobs in our economy • Increase household income per head – the deficit is £1,700 per person GVA per head per annum Source: Office for National Statistics, Regional Accounts Note: *=UK less Extra Region, excludes output that cannot be assigned to regions

10. Transport and growth • Transport a long standing economic ‘enabler’ • Integral to SuperPORT and Atlantic Gateway • The attractiveness of the LCR • The competitiveness of the LCR • Supports the Visitor Economy • Transport important to accessing opportunity, tackling poor health and social exclusion • Reflected in our local strategies and plans

11. Local Transport Plans – Facilitators of sustainable growth “Help create the right conditions for sustainable economic growth by supporting the priorities of the Liverpool City Region, the Local Enterprise Partnership and the Local Strategic Partnerships.” • Themes: • Support economic growth • New Mobility Culture • Reduce carbon • “Health is Wealth” • Social inclusion • Clean cities are prosperous cities

12. Growth Plans • New capital funding regime ‘going live’ from April 2015 • Growth Plans provided basis for bidding into Local Growth Fund • ~£2bn each yearnational pot • 50% from Department for Transport • LCR’s Growth Plan co-ordinated by the LEP and submitted to government March 2014 • Transport a key theme within the Growth Plan • Five strategic growth projects:- • Liverpool City Centre • Liverpool City Region Freight and Logistics Hub (SuperPORT) • Multi-modal Port Access – Accessing the Port of Liverpool • LCR2 Energy • City Regional Capital Investment Fund • Transport central to first three

13. The SuperPORT opportunity – transport and economic regeneration benefits • Liverpool City Region’s ports are a market facing opportunity • 90% of imports enter via South of England but 60% consumed North of midlands • Global (& UK) logistics industry changing – Liverpool ideally placed to take opportunities • Need for sites and premises to support logistics • National benefits • Remove 150m HGV miles p.a. • “Decongest” the midlands and SE

14. Liverpool Two • £340m ‘Liverpool 2’ deep sea terminal expansion underway • Increases port capacity by factor of three • high value containers passing through port rising to 2,000,000 units from 700,000 • Logistics sites and access to these promoted through Growth Plan e.g. • 3MG • Knowsley Industrial park • Parkside • Multi modal port access options being evaluated by multi-agency steering group • Long term freight strategy in development to plan for further growth (via SuperPORT Committee)

15. The Atlantic Gateway • Concept based on unique sea and inland waterway assets between Liverpool-Salford • Ports / Liverpool Two • Ship Canal • Rail • Road • Key development/freight sites along route • By 2030, potential for 250,000 new jobs to be created • Good transport central to its success

16. LCR Strategic Sites & Jobs Potential Total jobs enabled in Liverpool City Region 22,500 Knowsley Industrial Park Development & expansion 2,000 net new jobs Dunningsbridge Rd, Atlantic Park & Senate Business Park Site development 1,183 net new jobs Haydock Industrial Estate Development & expansion 500 net new jobs Parkside Logistics Hub 3,750 net new jobs Wirral Waters Including Advanced Supply Park & International Trade Centre 10,500 net new jobs 3MG & Widnes Waterfront Site development & expansion 2,713 net new jobs Daresbury Science & Innovation Campus New build & expansion 617 net new jobs Wirral International Business Park Development & expansion 1,163 net new jobs The Heath Site development 80 net new jobs

17. The LCR’s Growth Deal in Figures and Schemes • £264 million award overall • Very significant funding for transport schemes available to support key sites and priorities • Funds governed by Combined Authority • Effective delivery is key – funding not ring-fenced

18. The Autumn Statement in December further transport funding

19. The Case for Rail • LCR a strong advocate of the HS2 scheme • Rebalance the UK • Additional rail capacity • Current proposals for HS2 do nothing to free up capacity for freight north of Crewe and will place additional pressures on the existing network • Concerns about rail freight capacity (SuperPORT) • Concerns about some economic assumptions used • Direct HS2 link to Liverpool would generate an uplift in GVA of c. £8.3bn on a 60 year NPV basis • Need to “future proof” Lime Street station • 4-track Liverpool Lime Street station “throat” area • short platforms can’t accommodate 400m long trains

20. A ‘Northern Powerhouse’ • Northern core cities identifying a programme to deliver transformational change in connectivity • One North report recognises UK economy is unbalanced:- • London generating 25% of national GVA • Poor transport links E-W • Uses European comparators • Proposal is for a single, labour market across the city-regions helped by better transport connectivity • Provides counterbalance to the South East

22. Transport for the North • The aim is to develop a Transport Strategy for the North in conjunction with Department for Transport, Highways Agency, Network Rail and HS2 Ltd. • Liverpool City Region is seeking: • commitment to high speed east-west rail line which connects Liverpool to other key city regions and to the HS2 network, • Capability to accommodate 400m long HS2 trains. • recognition of importance Liverpool2 and SuperPORT • secure infrastructure and capacity improvements to ensure freight sector reaches maximum growth potential • Would give improved east-west and north-south connectivity • Interim report being submitted to Chancellor March 2015 – a programme of work • Final report March 2016

23. A New Long Term Rail Strategy • Growth forecast present opportunities for enhanced local rail offer across a widened travel-to-work-area • Packages of measures being proposed in response e.g. • Liverpool city centre station capacity • Better national passenger and freight connections • City Line enhancements • Better connectivity beyond the boundary • North Wales • Skelmersdale • Supported by 5 year growth plan for locally managed Merseyrail network • Merseyrail rolling stock options being evaluated

24. An example – Developing the Halton Curve • Existing rail line with occasional “parliamentary service” • Link would improve connectivity between North Wales, Chester and LCR • Scope for new Liverpool-Runcorn-Frodsham-Chester-Llandudno etc services • access to employment, education and tourism • direct link to Liverpool John Lennon Airport via Liverpool South Parkway interchange • Allows development of rail freight links • Capital secured, now pursuing revenue for service delivery with partners

25. Rail Devolution in the North • Amalgamation and devolution of Northern Rail and Trans Pennine Express (TPE) rail franchises • Partnership between 33 local authorities in Rail North area, and DfT • Seeks to support economic growth by delivering:- • more rail capacity and better connectivity • improved service quality • greater VfM and efficiency • Invitation to Tender (ITT) anticipated shortly • Step change needed in quality and capacity

26. Developing the bus offer • Merseytravel developing “packages” of measures to improve the bus: • better bus stops and infrastructure • better bus services • easier and more accessible ticketing • high quality information • marketing and publicity campaigns • Statutory Quality Partnerships between operators, LAs and Merseytravel • ‘My Ticket’ - partnership with operators to address high cost of bus travel for young people • Review of bus priorities across Liverpool in response to evidence • New long term bus strategy in development

27. Walrus: a game changer? • Aspiration to become most advanced Smart Card after Oyster • Aids access to the network and makes payment and interchange simpler • All concessionary passes now smart • Roll-out of smart Saveaway tickets next month

28. The Devolution Agenda • A major opportunity for transport • Equip the CA with wider range of tools • Greater Manchester devolution deal November 2014 showed the potential:- • Smartcards • Bus franchising powers • New funding freedoms • LCR developing its proposition e.g. • Ability to franchise bus services – lower the bar • Longer term funding allocations

29. Concluding remarks • New governance arrangements in the LCR link transport with wider agendas and across a single footprint • Transport clearly recognised as an enabler of growth • Importance of sea, river and port assets locally • Significant funds secured through Growth Deal to deliver transport schemes that support growth • Lobbying for a better rail offer (HS2 / HS3) • Importance of better bus and rail offer locally • Seeking additional powers to aid the above

30. The changing face of transport in the Liverpool City Region CILT Merseyside and Warrington Group Cllr Liam Robinson Chair, Merseytravel Committee February 24th 2015