Phase 3 requires the development of an agreed long term transport strategy for the area to inform the ongoing local transport plans and development of major schemes for funding through the Regional Funding Allocation (RFA) and other funding programmes where appropriate.

The overall objectives of the sub-regional Transport Study are to:

1. Undertake an investigation into the current performance of both the strategic and local highway and public transport systems serving the SE Dorset sub-region, including the immediate surrounding areas and cross boundary movements;
2. Understand the impact of population and employment growth on future travel patterns and implications for capacity across the transport system;
3. Identify and appraise transport strategies that embrace all modes of travel to address current and future transport related problems and issues over the short, medium and longer term;
4. Undertake a range of assessments of transport and development scenarios to determine how well they support the local transport plan and the local development framework, urban extension proposals, and in doing so support future aspirations for economic activity, sustainable development and regeneration of urban areas;
5. Provide specific evidence that can be used to inform and support the development of business cases for future transport intervention across the sub-region, including those schemes already included in the Regional Funding Allocation (please refer to SWRA website);
6. Provide a series of policies and priorities that will feed into and influence future rounds of community and corporate planning across the sub-region and support the emerging Multi Area Agreement;
7. Examine the scope for different funding sources (eg: Regional Funding Allocation [RFA], Developer contributions [Section 106], Growth Point funding, Local Transport Plans [LTP], Community Investment Fund [CIF], Transport Innovation Funding [TIF], European Grants and subject to Planning Bill receiving Royal Assent, the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy) to support future transport investment across the sub-region and to assist the sub-region in the development of a business planning approach for the delivery of infrastructure, identifying a programme for implementation;
8. Provide an essential framework for future developer contributions, which are likely to be crucial for the funding and successful delivery of necessary transport infrastructure improvements.

Specific model tests to be undertaken in Phase 3 are likely to include:

• alternative land-use development scenarios, including RSS proposals for an additional 28,000-38,500 houses in SE Dorset between 2006 and 2026, mostly located in the Poole, Bournemouth, and Christchurch urban areas, but with about 3,000 houses proposed for Ferndown, Wimborne Minster, and other towns to the north of the conurbation; (Details of these emerging proposals can be found on the SWRA’s website, in the draft RSS and panel report)
• new highway infrastructure options, including widening of sections of the A31, the A31 to Poole corridor improvements, and improved access to the airport, including a new link from the A338;
• bus priority measures and implementation of intelligent transport systems in Prime Transport Corridors, including A35 Poole-Bournemouth, A3049 East-West corridor, A341/A347/A3060 Northern corridor and A35 Eastern corridor;
• park and ride schemes for access to the urban areas;
• railway improvement schemes, including Poole Station interchange, a new station at Boscombe, reconnection of the Swanage line, and improved east-west cross-conurbation services;
• road user charging and tolling of strategic routes;
• work-place parking charges, parking restrictions, reallocation of road space, and other forms of restraint.

The Transport Study should identify and appraise a number of transport strategies that seek to both address problems and issues and meet the study aims and objectives, embracing all modes of travel.

The transport schemes/measures included within various strategies will need to be deliverable within the appropriate time horizons of the study. This will involve, where appropriate, consideration of the engineering feasibility, planning and financial issues associated with each scheme/measure or policy. This will also involve full consideration of the local environmental designations and constraints, in particular the internationally recognised coastline, heathland and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

The study will need to consult with key stakeholders to ensure the appropriate level of integration of localised approach to addressing actual and perceived transport issues within the context of a more ambitious strategic vision. This will require effective engagement with an appropriate set of stakeholders, and in doing so gain support for the principals of the study, as well as achieving good alignment of policy, strategy and delivery plans amongst the representatives of the different organizations.

The preferred strategy should support the growth of the sub-region in line with the RSS. It will be important to have an understanding of the priority and timing of each intervention. Where possible transport interventions should be phased to support the delivery of regeneration sites and urban extensions.