RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

East of England Plan 43
7.16 In sections of the inter-urban network where public transport services are poor and there is no viable rail option the option
of investing in high quality bus and coach services should be considered. This is unlikely to require new large scale
infrastructure and is a relatively deliverable solution.
7.17 Strategic rail and bus services should be integrated with local public transport services and facilities for walking and
cycling.
POLICY T6: Strategic and Regional Road Networks
The strategic and regional road networks identified on the key diagram should be improved, managed and
maintained in accordance with priorities for the strategic and regional functions of the region’s motorway, trunk road
and primary route network with the aim of achieving the following outcomes:
• improved journey reliability as a result of tackling congestion
• improved access to key centres for development and change, strategic employment locations and priority
areas for regeneration;
• efficient movement of freight which cannot be carried by rail or waterway so as to minimise its impact on the
environment and local transport networks;
• improved safety and efficiency of the network;
• mitigation of environmental impacts;
• maintenance of the benefits from managing traffic demand; and
• the effective operation of ports and airports which act as international gateways.
7.18 The strategic and regional inter-urban road network will continue to be economically important for the region and its
development. Strategic roads cater principally for longer distance traffic but their regional and local roles, including for the
strategic bus and coach network, should also be recognised. The regional road network should be the lowest level
carrying significant volumes of heavy goods vehicles. Roads not within this hierarchy should carry predominantly local
traffic, apart from commuting flows, and should only be used by lorries for access.
7.19 The relationship between the strategic, regional and local networks should be considered in Local Transport Plans to
ensure that local access improvements enable links to be made to the strategic and regional networks. The contributions
of maintenance and management of the network for environmental impacts and safety should also be recognised.
POLICY T7: Transport in Rural Areas
In rural areas priority should be given to providing sustainable access from villages and other rural settlements to
market towns and urban areas. Measures should include:
• support for public transport where viable, walking and cycling, to improve accessibility to services;
• innovative approaches to local transport provision including community based transport initiatives, delivering
services to remote areas and measures to assist people without use of a vehicle; and
• support for increasing the availability and use of communications technology to reduce dependency on travel.
7.20 Rural areas have transport needs which are different from those of towns and cities but policy still needs to emphasise the
need to move to more sustainable transport. Key drivers are access to jobs, schools and other services and sustaining
rural communities and their economies. The much lower density of rural movement patterns means meeting access