Woking Sustainable Transport Package (Phase 1)

Project description

The scheme consists of a sustainable transport package for walking and cycling infrastructure to support access to employment and to rail stations in the growth town of Woking. This is a package of measures which can be delivered in phases as appropriate. The project includes:

• Improved cycle links to rail stations in Woking borough (Woking, Brookwood, West Byfleet and Worplesdon) and to Byfleet & New Haw station (located in Runnymede, but serving residents in the north east of Woking borough).
• Links to and from stations to Brooklands Business Park (170 businesses are located within a 1 mile radius of the park).
• Improve cycle links between Woking Railway Station and Sheerwater Business Park and the Sheerwater regeneration area.
• Improved cross-boundary links thereby improving accessibility for businesses in neighbouring areas.
• Building on the delivery of measures implemented under the Local Sustaianble Transaport Fund and Cycle Woking by, for example, completing ‘gaps’ within the existing network.

Project output

Whilst some employment sites in Woking town centre enjoy good quality travel links from a variety of modes of travel, key employment areas such as Goldsworth Park, Sheerwater Business Park, Brooklands and Byfleet industrial estate are locations where sustainable access is limited. With most strategic employment centres located near to population centres, and with areas such as Brooklands very nearby, the potential for people accessing work via walking and cycling, in addition to public transport, is significant. By linking these sites with the existing provision in Woking, a more holistic use of the transport system will be made available. This will ease congestion on the road network and enable greater economic growth. Improved cycle accessibility to stations would encourage more sustainable trips. This would mean greater access from employment sites to rail stations and would reduce pressure on the road networks, especially at peak travel times.

Other expected impacts include:

• Encourage modal shift (to walking, cycling, bus and rail)
• Reduced congestion
• Improved journey time reliability
• Reduced journey times
• Reduced vehicle operating costs
• Increased accessibility to economic centres and railway stations
• Reduce road casualties
• Deliver increased bus reliability and patronage to major employment sites, town centres, hospitals and education centres.