Airport Masterplan 2035 LOW RES

Masterplan 2035
9.48 A significant amount of housing may be developed to the
north of the Airport, which as a result may increase the
population to support improvements to local bus services.
There may also be developer subsidy for new services as
part of their green travel plans. It is likely that such services
will travel to Tyne and Wear via the A696. We will work
closely with any developers and the local planning authority
to ensure that new services incorporate stopping at the
Airport.
Improved Airport Bus Facilities
9.49 Presently there is somewhat limited information for bus
services in the terminal. An electronic display board within
the building to give route information and departure times
could be added, which would be especially useful for
passengers if there is an increased number of services. This
could be coordinated with improved in-terminal information
about the Metro to create a passenger information hub. As
with the Metro, improved staff training would also allow for
passengers to receive sound advice about how to travel on
from the Airport by bus.
9.50 In the long term we will consider how bus services might
be better physically integrated with the terminal and
Metro station.
Ticketing and Technology
9.51 As stated in relation to Metro travel, the widening of the Pop
Card payment system across the whole bus network and
making online top-ups easier for airline passengers would
help to make bus travel a more convenient travel option,
especially for regular airport users. Improved Wi-Fi on
buses will be essential to support online passenger check-in
and journey planning.
Staff Travel
9.52 We currently allow for the cost of annual bus travel tickets to
be paid for through spread staff salary deductions; however
there is no discount to incentivise this. There are various
tickets types available depending geography and the
number of operators required. The widening of the Pop Card
system to all operators could result in a single prepayment
system. One possibility could be a staff incentive for annual
bus travel, and include free or discounted taster tickets
for new staff such as a preloaded Pop Card, to establish
sustainable modes as a viable option at an early stage of
planning a new commute.
Key Actions and Investments – Bus Travel
By 2025
l Work with operators and transport bodies to encourage new
routes for local, regional, and long distance bus services
with focus on places of origin where bus travel may be the
quickest public transport option;
l Explore options for improved bus connectivity from other
new developments and an increased local population
around the Airport;
l Encourage the widening of the Pop Card system to all bus
services and improved options online and in the terminal for
top-up payments;
l Explore options to provide better incentives / discount for
staff to commute by bus;
l Consider staff starter packs with free of taster tickets such
as Pop Card to help establish sustainable commuting.
Beyond 2025
l Improve on-site or near site bus facilities at the Airport, and
improve integration with the Metro.
Cycling and Walking
9.53 Given the need to normally travel to the Airport with luggage
and the distance of the Airport from settlements, these
modes form a small proportion of passenger journeys;
under 1% based on our passenger survey. Staff who are
able to use cycling and walking are more likely to, with 1%
commuting by cycle and 2% walking.
9.54 The Airport is connected to Tyne and Wear by footpath,
via Woolsington to the south, and Ponteland to the North.
Both routes can be used for cycling, although there are no
dedicated cycle lanes directly connected to the Airport.
There are currently cycle racks for passengers in front of
the terminal and within the short stay car park. Racks for
staff are located throughout the Airport site and there are
dedicated cycle lockers within the staff car park south of the
terminal and at the Freight Village. Changing and shower
facilities are also available for staff.
9.55 The concentration of staff in Tyne and Wear means that
cycling and walking is a viable option for many. The Airport
currently runs the ‘cycle to work’ scheme to offer discounts
on equipment. We will continue to promote and improve this
program and encourage other businesses on the Airport
site to adopt it. We will also run one off events such as ‘cycle
to work days’ to promote the benefits and convenience of
cycle commuting. As demand grows the current changing
and shower facilities may become crowded, and therefore
we will look to expand them in line with demand.
9.56 Given the practicalities of travelling to the Airport on foot or
cycle, we believe there is only limited scope for growing the
proportion of passengers utilising this mode. However we
will look to audit existing infrastructure in order to identify
the potential for improved cycle lanes serving the Airport
and surrounding communities, and any pinch points where
the routes could be made more appealing and safer. We will
also look to produce cycle route maps to connect to local
communities and make these available on our website.
9.57 To promote regular cycle patronage for passengers, it is
apparent that changing and showering facilities would
be needed if demand was high enough. We will therefore
explore the possibility of a passenger cycle hub, which
could be combined with secure storage facilities and basic
maintenance equipment.
Key Actions and Investments –
Cycling and Walking
By 2025
l Review current cycle and walking links serving the Airport,
and with partners identify reasonable improvements;
l
Continue to promote the ‘cycle to work’ scheme and one off
events to encourage cycle commuting.
Beyond 2025
l Review the potential for passenger cycle hub offering
changing, shower, and storage facilities in one hub facility;
l
Expand staff shower and changing facilities in line with
demand.
Private Car and other Road Transport
9.58 The Airport is primarily accessed from the A696, a dual
carriageway which connects to the A1 trunk road about 2.8
miles to the south and runs northward to connect to the A68
9.59 Strategically the A1 is the primary artery to connect to the
Airport, providing a direct link from centres of population
to the north and south of the region. The ‘Western Bypass’
section of the A1 particularly suffers from peak time
congestion. Scotland is also connected by the A1, but
the A68 and the A696 also provide good A-road access.
The A69 is an important east/west link to our passengers
in Cumbria and along the Tyne Valley, whilst the A19 and
A167 are the primary routes linking the wider Tyneside
conurbation with the Airport.
9.60 Our surveys indicate that accessing the Airport by private
car is the most popular mode of travel for passengers
Figure 26 – Key Airport Highways Connections
and staff. Although we are committed to driving forward
increased use of sustainable transport over the Masterplan
period, the forecast growth of the Airport will result in some
growth in vehicle movements. Owing to the nature of the
Airport’s large catchment area, the time of day of some
flights, and the convenience and reliability of travelling to
the Airport by car, it will always be a popular. It is prudent
that we plan for the infrastructure to enable this to continue.
It is recognised however that the nature of road travel could
change significantly over the Masterplan period, with the
increased use of electric and driverless vehicles.
in Northumberland.
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