UG346 - Monitoring the effects of Road User Charging in Durham
Overview
Background & policy context:
A survey was conducted in 1991 in order to assess pedestrian, servicing and general traffic behaviour on the Peninsula Area of Durham County. Following this survey Durham County Council introduced The County of Durham (Peninsula Area, Durham City) Traffic Management Order, 1994.
This introduced restrictions, which included Weight Restrictions on Saddler Street, Disabled Parking Places and Loading Areas to the Market Place, Prohibition of Coaches, and Prohibition of Waiting and Loading. These restrictions successfully reduced traffic by 45% but did not deter all non-essential vehicles from entering the Peninsula, thus posing a significant hazard to pedestrians. The Introduction of the Transport Act 2000 provided the opportunity to deliver an effective solution to the traffic problem through Road User Charging. This research is an evaluation of this scheme.
Objectives:
The primary objectives of this scheme were to:
- Improve pedestrian safety;
- Improve access for the disabled;
- Enhance the World Heritage Site, whilst preserving the viability of the Peninsula as a working part of the City Centre.
Methodology:
In order to ascertain if the primary objectives of the scheme have been achieved several surveys have been conducted.
These are:
- Exit Method Survey;
- Vehicle Usage Log;
- Bollard Collision Data;
- Pedestrian Counts.;
- Cathedral Bus Usage. Accident Data;
- Questionnaires.
Also in order to identify meaningful trends from the data obtained using the above survey methods it is important to consider external data, including tourist information figures for Durham City and its main attraction, the Cathedral as well as retail sales figures.
Share this page