Memorandum submitted by the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport
The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee
requested an update of the Millennium Access Transport Strategy,
including the New Millennium Experience Company's (NMEC) proposals
for "kiss-and-drop" and park-and-ride.
The fundamental message underlying the transport
strategy, and the related ticketing and information strategy,
remains the promotion of access by public transport and the provision
of a "car free" event.
IMPLEMENTATION OF
STRATEGY
Very good progress continues to be made towards
implementing the transport strategy in time for the opening of
the Millennium Experience at Greenwich on 1 January 2000:
Jubilee Line Extension
The opening of Phase 1 of the JLE (Stratford-North
Greenwich) on 14 May was a major achievement, a sound basis on
which we can build. Phases 2 and 3 remain on schedule to open
in late summer and late autumn respectively.
Millennium Transit
The Millennium Transit bus services are on schedule
to commence in December.
The new bus turning circle facility at Charlton
station is complete, and work on the redevelopment of Charlton
station itself recently started, for completion in October; construction
of the electronic guideway and turning circle at the Dome are
on programme for completion in August, and HMRI are already actively
involved in the project and have recently attended an informal
demonstration of the electronic guidance system in Eindhoven.
River services
The central London and Historic Greenwich river
services are on programme to be introduced on1 January 2000, with
the provision of the new vessels currently ahead of schedule.
Construction of the Dome pier is on programme
for completion in July; Blackfriars pier in November, and the
Millennium Wheel Pier in December.
NMEC's Park and Ride strategy
The Committee specifically requested clarification
of NMEC's park and ride strategy. A more detailed note of this
is attached.
Cycle and pedestrian routes
The provision of a continuous cycle and pedestrian
route through the peninsula is on schedule to be completed by
December. There is an unsettled dispute over a short stretch of
land (which is due to be heared in the High Court shortly), but
an alternative route for the last part of the new cycle/walk-way
already exists and could temporarily be used if necessary.
OTHER TRANSPORT
DEVELOPMENTS
In addition to the above main elements of the
transport strategy, London Transport Buses has commenced the re-routing
of a number of existing local bus services to serve the newly
opened North Greenwich interchange as its seeks to integrate the
new extended Jubilee Line into the wider transport networks. The
London Borough of Greenwich is also working closely with the Traffic
Director for London to improve bus and pedestrian flows in and
around Greenwich Town Centre.
THE "CAR
FREE" MESSAGE
In its latest report, the Committee shared Glenda
Jackson's concerns that the provision of a kiss-and-drop facility
was contradictory to the overall car free message. The issues
surrounding kiss-and-drop continue to be looked at in detail and
a decision on whether kiss-and-drop should be prohibited will
be made in the next few weeks.
TICKETING AND
INFORMATION
The arrangements for ticketing and information
are an integral part of making public transport an attractive
option and ensuring the effectiveness of the transport strategy.
Ticket prices have been announced and NMEC has reached agreement
with key transport and tour operators to make available Dome and
travel ticket packages (some including accommodation) which represent
good value for the Dome visitor and which will be widely marketed.
Travel information will be available in advance
of ticket sales and will also be provided to all Dome ticket purchasers
in the ticket wallet. This will give the various transport options
nationwide, provide contact numbers for the purchase of travel
tickets and for further information, and have a London wide map
showing the different transport routes to the Dome. NMEC and transport
operators are working closely together to ensure that the optimum
travel information is provided. London Transport are also producing
a larger more detailed leaflet on travel to the Dome from within
London.
CONTINGENCY PLANS
London Underground's dedicated team continue
to work closely with NMEC, the London Borough of Greenwich, the
Metropolitan Police and transport operators to ensure that suitable
contingency arrangements will be in place to manage problems on
any of the main transport links to the Millennium Experience.
Progress is on schedule to have those arrangements in a "state
of readiness for operation" by the Autumn.
CO -ORDINATION
OF TRANSPORT STRATEGY
The progress that has been achieved so far is
very much a result of the close co-operation of all involved,
both on a day-to-day basis and through Glenda Jackson's higher-level
Millennium Access Co-ordination Group.
PARK-AND-RIDE
STRATEGY
The Dome will not provide general visitor parking
with the exception of Orange Badge holders. In recognition of
the fact that some visitors will want to use their cars for the
first part of their journey even though they will not be able
to park at or near the Dome, NMEC is providing park-and-ride car
parks at strategic locations around London. Car park sites have
been selected on the basis of their good road links from or proximity
to the M25 and good onward links to the Dome either by shuttle
bus or public transport. There are five park-and-ride car parks
proposed for Dome visitors. Two of these make use of existing
car parks and three require some construction works. All are on
programme to be fully operable before 1 January 2000 when operations
will commence.
Stratford
The car park at Stratford in the north-east
uses part of the site designated for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link
and Terminal. A planning application is scheduled to be considered
by the London Borough of Newham at the next Planning Committee
meeting. Commercial terms have been agreed with the landowner.
A specification of works for 1,000 car park spaces has been drawn
up for tendering. A short shuttle bus ride will take visitors
to Stratford JLE station, just three stops from the Dome. To facilitate
bus drop off and pick up at the station, NMEC is proposing to
create a new bus layby. A planning application for these works
is under consideration.
Wembley
The car park at Wembley will make use of a minimum
of 500 spaces of the existing car parks and will be operated by
the Wembley car park managers on NMEC's behalf. Heads of terms
of the agreement covering operational and commercial matters have
been drawn up. These provide a flexible arrangement that will
enable NMEC to respond when demand for park-and-ride is highest.
The car park is situated within walking distance of Wembley Park
tube station, although an optional mini-bus is proposed, which
has a direct route to the Dome on the Jubilee Line.
Sandown Park
Like Wembley, the car park at Sandown Park would
comprise 500 spaces of an existing car park that would be operated
by the current car park managers. The racecourse is close to Esher
station, which has frequent fast trains to Waterloo from where
it is a 13 minute journey on the Jubilee Line to the Dome. Again,
an optional shuttle bus is proposed for the short journey to the
railway station. NMEC has had reservations about the mode change
that would be an issue for any suitably located site in the south
west, because this could be regarded as a less attractive option.
Motorists from the south west could be directed either to Wembley
or round the M25 to Swanley. However, Sandown Park is prepared
to enter into a flexible arrangement that is reponsive to the
level of demand. NMEC will be taking a final decision shortly.
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
Demand for park-and-ride is estimated to be
strongest from the south east and therefore two car parks are
proposed, one at Royal Arsenal, Woolwich and one at Swanley. English
Partnerships are the developers of the Royal Arsenal where NMEC
secured planning permission for a car park last year. Since then
plans for the Royal Arsenal development have evolved and the proposed
location for the NMEC car park has now had to be moved within
the site. A variation to the planning permission is required and
LB Greenwich, the planning authority has said that it will seek
to deal with this as quickly as possible. A specification for
the works required for 1,000 car park spaces has been drawn up
and is most likely to be carried out by the construction company
already on site for the development. The principle issue outstanding
with English Partnerships is site access.
The link to the Dome will be provided principally
by shuttle bus. LB Greenwich has always been keen that a park-and-sail
opportunity should be provided at Woolwich. It is now recognised
that this would have to be in addition to the shuttle bus. NMEC
cannot justify the expenditure required to provide a pier in addition
to the bus service. However, LB Greenwich has been seeking pier
funding from other sources and has invited expressions of interest
for a boat service. If successful, the pier could also be served
by the car park and Dome visitors could choose the boat option.
NMEC would be able to accommodate the boat service at Millennium
Pier.
Swanley
The car park at Swanley is being progressed
as part of a private development. It is located on the M25 and
therefore has very good road links. The developers' planning application
for up to 1,000 car park spaces is under consideration and construction
is programmed for the Autumn. Dome visitors will be transported
by shuttle bus via the A2.
Car Park Operations
The park-and-ride strategy is based on an upper
estimate of 17 per cent demand for park-and-ride. Assuming an
average car occupancy of three and a maximum Dome capacity of
55,000 on days which have daytime and evening sessions, this translates
into a requirement for 3,200 spaces (2,000 every day with an additional
1,200 for evening sessions). The 4,000 spaces referred to previously
assumed that evening sessions would have the same capacity as
daytime sessions giving a maximum Dome capacity of 70,000. Planned
capacity will accommodate the estimated demand for park-and-ride
on the basis that each space is sold only once per day.
Dome visitors will have to pre-book their car
park spaces. This message will be made clear in all travel information,
including the ticket wallet, which will also provide the telephone
number for making car park reservations. It will be possible to
make a reservation, pay the car parking fee and, as appropriate,
buy a London Transport Millennium Travel ticket in the same transaction.
"How to get to the Dome" maps will
show the location of the car parks. Routes to the car parks (which
will also be signposted as agreed with the relevant authority)
will also be available. The car park reservation will most likely
take the form of a windscreen sticker. In the event there is insufficient
time to send this, the driver will have a reference number to
quote on entry to the car park where the parking fee will also
be paid.
Car parking charges will be set at a level to
meet operating costs and may be equalised across the car parks.
Charges in the range of £6-£10 per car per day are expected.
Car park and associated shuttle bus operations
will be tendered in the next few weeks. NMEC has already had a
number of approaches from companies interested in car park and
shuttle bus operations.
July 1999
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