New regional model to signpost transport projects across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough receives approval

New regional model to signpost transport projects across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough receives approval

At a board meeting of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority today (24 March), £750,000 was approved for the development of a new Regional Transport Model to assist with future investment within the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough region. For the first time, it will be possible to assess transport projects across the whole of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area using one tool.

Transport schemes need to be based on good evidence that they will make a difference: computer models are used to do that. The new model will replace the geographically limited Cambridge Sub Regional Model (CSRM), which is currently maintained by Cambridgeshire County Council, with a detailed model which covers the whole of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority area. It will allow the costs and benefits of proposed schemes, and the transport impacts of new housing developments, to be fairly assessed for the whole area, as well as taking into account the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Climate Change.

A Combined Authority working group will include representatives from Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council, and the Greater Cambridge Partnership together with an interface with Highways England and Network Rail to ensure the new area-wide model can also identify synergies with strategic road and rail networks.

Outputs from the new model will support areas like:

• Developing business cases for highway and public transport schemes that are compliant with the Department for Transport’s TAG rules,
• Supporting Local Plan development, testing both different land use scenarios, and the transport measures to support them,
• Development and testing of transport and environmental strategies to consider the growth predicted for the region and recommendations of the Independent Commission on Climate Change.
• Providing evidence for scheme development and funding bids, and
• Undertaking quick high-level scheme tests.

After the meeting, a spokesperson from the Combined Authority said:

“We recognise the importance of having an updated and robust regional model which will allow us to stress test our future transport plans across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Working with our partners we aim to create a holistic strategic network that allows for sustainable growth across the region.”