PERTH & KINROSS COUNCIL COMMUNITY LINKS PLUS
Political Support
Importantly, the City Plan has generated a conversation of how our streets function. It sets out the significance of investing in sustainable travel and appropriate infrastructure to provide people with a viable alternative to motor vehicles for short journeys, which ultimately, will deliver numerous social and economic benefits for Perth and the wider city region.
It is on this basis that the Council has engaged with local communities, businesses and our elected members on proposals for investing in placemaking and active travel routes across Perth and beyond.
In order to deliver a cohesive approach, the Council approved an Active Travel Strategy (ATS), which outlining its commitment to encouraging shorter journeys by sustainable modes of transport. Subsequently, the ATS, combined with the City Plan, led to the political acceptance of a cycle network for the city and development of the Perth Cycle Network Masterplan. Together, they demonstrate political support for investment in active travel across all parties in the Council. This has been reinforced over the last twelve months with Bike Life Perth, along with the business case for investment from Sustrans and the Green Infrastructure Fund.
As part of the Councils CLPLUS application, and in recognition of continuing to promote the bid to the public, Councillor Lewis Simpson was appointed Active Travel Ambassador by the Administration to highlight our business case for investment in active travel and outline the benefits for people, businesses and the wider communities. This approach, as well as blogs by other Councillors and a commitment to cycling by the Chief Executive, has attracted a large amount of attention in the local media and helped spread the message on what this investment is about. People, Place, Perth,
The project team were accompanied by the Conveners of the Enterprise & Infrastructure and Planning & Development Committees to the Netherlands, which is considered the place for cycle infrastructure. In collaboration with our consultants, Royal HaskoningDHV and The Dutch Cycling Embassy, a three day site visit was arranged, giving the team a taste of the infrastructure on offer, as well as the local political, social and economic issues stakeholders had to contend with.
The visit to the Netherlands allowed the Convenors the opportunity to question local leaders and ask them what challenges they faced and what social/economic benefits active travel infrastructure delivered for the local communities. Whilst it was acknowledged the Dutch still face challenges, it was recognised the benefits of safe, segregated cycle lanes were substantial – over 25% of journeys in the Netherlands are done by bike - and similar investment would make a significant impact to Perth and the wider area, which is reflected in our target of a modal shift of 25% by 2030.
The Perth City Plan 2015 - 2035
Smart Growth for Perth City
PKC Active Travel Strategy Bike Life Perth
Collaborative Approach
On the back of the visit to the Netherlands, Perth & Kinross Council established a Steering Group to oversee the development of the CLP bid and ensure that key areas of the business case were addressed. Members include:
• Perth & Kinross Council elected members (Cross Party)
• Perth Traders Association
• Perthshire Chamber of Commerce
• Perth City Development Board
• Tactran
• NHS Tayside
• Police Scotland
• Centre for Inclusive Living Perth and Kinross
• PKC Transport Planning
• PKC Road Safety
• PKC Community Planning
• PKC Community Safety
• Perth University Highlands & Islands
• Local interest groups: Perth Bike Station, Perth Active Travel Hub & Bycycle
The Steering Group has provided Perth & Kinross Council with another platform for wider collaboration, allowing us to actively develop an understanding with key stakeholders, who have actively supported and challenged throughout the process to date. This accountability has led to the development of a business case which suits the needs of the many, not the few, resulting in a bid which is inclusive and accessible to all.
In the case of Perth Active Travel Hub (PATH) – this group has become constituted as a result of the CLP bid being developed by PKC, it has become a vocal voice in promoting the benefits of active travel via social media.
Our Track Record
Our CLP bid is ambitious and will be transformational for the City of Perth and our communities. We recognise our proposed programme of investment requires significant resources. We will address this, by adding to the depth of knowledge and experience we have internally, with the necessary skills and expertise we require from external consultants. We welcome the fresh ideas and impetus third parties will bring to the process and our team.
In preparation for the CLP bid, the current project team has been undertaking site visits to establish best practice, as well as examining the issues other local authorities have faced/ experienced when designing and constructing active travel routes. This has included visits to Manchester, Waltham Forest, Glasgow and the Netherlands, along with attending conferences such as Sustrans ‘Raising the Standards’ and Living Streets Walking Summit.
Our research is the recognition that we are not just delivering cycle lanes, but better streets for people. We recognise we need to constantly challenge perceptions about what makes a great space and/or creates a ‘sense of place’. We also realise that what works for Manchester or Glasgow does not necessarily mean it will work for Perth. One of our current strengths has been designing and delivering schemes which function for the locality and space.
Modern urban design has changed – it’s now about how you move people, not traffic and recognising what the opportunities are once you look at alternatives forms of transport beyond motor vehicles. This requires a change in our culture as a society and an organisation. This is a challenge we are more than up for.
‘Modern urban design has changed – it’s how you move people, not traffic’
In terms of delivery, we are ready to start. Perth & Kinross Council has already set up a team – Roads Infrastructure –tasked with delivering public realm and large infrastructure projects, with great success. This team will be led by a Project Manager (City Development), who will focus on the engagement with stakeholders and delivery of strategic outcomes. The core team will also be supported by the wider Perth & Kinross Council network of internal teams highlighted below
PROJECT TEAM (ROADS INFRASTRUCTURE) TO BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH THE FOLLOWING RESOURCES:
Senior Engineer, Engineer and 3 x Technicians
SUPPORT NETWORK:
City Development (Client & Project Manager)
Structures & Flooding Team
Traffic & Network Team
Community Greenspace
Community Planning
Transport Planning
Property Services
Corporate Procurement
Finance & Legal
Roads Maintenance Partnership
SPECIALIST CONSULTANTS (DELIVER WORK PACKAGES):
Landscape Architect Design – our in-house team is small in size. As such, we will work with a Landscape Architect Design Team to collaborate with the local communities and with the Council, to identify, capture and deliver a vision for places, which create a series of bespoke community spaces which function for local residents and users. The Landscape Architect will be required to deliver urban spaces which incorporate green infrastructure and help foster a sense of community and inspire creativity for children. We will create spaces for people to live life well. The designs will be signed off internally to ensure there is no impact on future maintenance regimes.
Infrastructure for Smart Growth delivered by Roads Infrastructure Team:
A9/85 Junction (bottom left)
New active travel bridge over the A9 (bottom right)
Forthcoming Cross Tay Link Road (top)
CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNICAL DESIGN AND ADVICE (DURING CONSTRUCTION) – There is an opportunity to create a legacy with this programme, not just through infrastructure, but delivering good practice. We will seek a Design Consultant experienced in designing cycle infrastructure which functions for people, by taking into account human behaviour. This knowledge will be used by our engineers to the benefit of future schemes and communities across Perth and Kinross.
STRUCTURAL
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION WORK PACKAGES (BRIDGES) – similar to Community Greenspace, our Flooding & Structures Team has a full programme of work. We recognise structural engineering is a specialist skill set, so we will appoint externally. While our internal team will oversee the design approval process, the consultant will manage the design, procurement and construction process of the new structures.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST – While we have significant in-house experience of engagement, we are aware of research which shows there are barriers for certain demographics when undertaking active travel. As a result, we will employ specialist consultants to help tackle these barriers, identify the issues and remove them via the design process. The consultants must evidence previous engagement work with young people in particular, as they are the future generations we need to liaise with and ensure their voice is heard. They are the city’s future custodians and we need to make sure the place and spaces function for them accordingly.
LEGAL (TROS AND GENERAL) – Like other in-house teams, our Legal resource is there to deal with the day to day business. We will engage with consultants to assist with any necessary legal agreements relating to land access/ acquirement, as well as the TROs for the routes we are seeking to deliver.
Over the last five years, the Housing & Environment Service has taken forward a number of regeneration projects across Perth and Kinross. These include recent public realm enhancement schemes – Mill Street, Kinross High Street, Alyth – as well as a number of projects currently being delivered –St Paul’s, Aberfeldy Square and Perth City Hall.
The City Development Team has either been the lead Client or budget holder (sub-Client). This has provided consistency in the vision and design of public spaces, with the Roads Infrastructure Team managing and delivering the Technical Design, Tender and Construction work packages. This collaborative approach has worked well, delivering high quality public realm schemes, which we will replicate as part of the active travel investment programme.
The boldness of our ambition is also demonstrated by the installation of infrastructure along the River Tay, which enabled boat trips for the first time in three decades. The installation of pontoons (pictured right) at Perth and Willowgate in 2016 formed the first phase of investment along the river. We will build on this with the CLP Bid and Tay Cities Deal funding, as we link the Park & Choose facilities at Walnut Grove with the city centre.
We have extensive experience and knowledge when it comes to public and community engagement, but equally, we will develop this further to overcome the barriers of those hard to reach groups, to ensure this process is inclusive as possible.
The initial phase of community engagement has set the benchmark for us to work on and take forward. We see the addition of a specialist consultant as another piece in the jigsaw; adding another dimension and new ideas to what we already have.
This is about everyone living life well.
‘We want to create spaces for people to live life well’
Our behavioural change programme has been running for the last three years, thanks to funding from the Smarter Choices, Smarter Places programme, which helped create the PK On The Go branding. The Council promotes as part of events/ workshops with our partners The Bike Station, Perth. Events have included Dr Bike for members of the public to learn how to fix and maintain their bikes, experience e-bikes, as well as closing off streets to cars.
Aligned with these events, there has been investment in bike infrastructure around the city, along with workshops with children and local primary schools, as part of the safer routes to school programme.
This is all part of the Active Travel Strategy, which the Council will build on, by taking a lead on behaviour change as a cycling friendly employer and showing other organisations the benefits on investing in active travel. We will work with the likes of SSE, the NHS and Aviva, along with other major employers going forward in the design and planning stage.
• Over 21 km of segregated cycle lanes connecting to key trip generators
• Complete junction re-design along major transport corridors into Perth City Centre
• Riverside cycle path
• Connections to new developments and national/regional road and rail infrastructure, allowing multi-modal travel with rail, bus, car and bike.
• A new active travel bridge across the River Tay
• 2 new community parks
• Installation of 30+ trees along active travel corridors
• Public art programme
• Extensive community engagement programme
• Development of MaaS and connections to wider transport network
• Promotion and incentivisation of sustainable and active travel via Mi Rewards in collaboration with Stagecoach (the only scheme in the UK)
Infrastructure: £31,237m
Staff costs : £1.316m
Consultancy & Development costs : £1.981m
Total : £34,534m
From Luncarty to City Centre (South Street) via Dunkeld Road
From Scone (P&R) to City Centre (South Street) via A94
From Walnut Grove to City Centre (South Street) via Riverside
From Glen Earn Road to Mill Street via Edinburgh Road/ Golden Route
From Broxden (just west of A9) to City centre (South Street) via Glasgow Road
From Perth UHI to City Centre (Mill Street) via Creiff Road
From North Methven St via King St to Train Station
Description
Preliminaries inc. Traffic Management
Site Clearance
Guard Railing and Barriers
Drainage
Earthworks
Pavement
£813,670.72
£249,466.27
£0.00
£255,380.40
£272,960.69
£1,869,960.81
£1,408,885.80
£396,150.81
£550,000.00
£7,666.45
£5,824,141.95 £1,747,242.59
£7,571,384.54
Description
Preliminaries
Guard Railing and Barriers Drainage
Earthworks
Pavement Construction
Kerb and Footways
Signs and Markings
Street Lighting Structural Foundation
£561,189.55
£343,402.11
£0.00
£510,760.80
£224,629.13
£696,100.79
£724,416.00
£121,621.50
£550,000.00
£7,666.45
£3,739,786.33
£1,121,935.90
£4,861,722.23
Additional sections (corridor extensions and connections) and elements (structures) have been included. The background detail for these is included in the appendices.
£558,013.51
£230,290.52
£0.00
£383,070.60
£229,361.00
£1,375,547.91
£350,460.00
£179,693.36
£550,000.00
£7,666.45
£3,864,103.35
£1,159,231.01
£5,023,334.36
Scone to Bridgend
City of Light Capital Programme
Placemaking Capital Programme