Q&A ATNM routes - prioritisation for funding and development
How are ATNM routes funded?
Development of routes on the ATNM can be done through various funding sources including Welsh Government funding, Section 106 and UK Government funding. Funding is allocated for development and construction, as well as performance monitoring, certain facilities and promotion.
Active Travel funding does not currently support maintenance of routes, which means that routes that are not privately maintained are part of the maintenance responsibility of various other County Council departments.
The need for funding can be avoided by securing the construction/improvement and safeguarding of routes through the planning process, as part of developments. Certain off-site improvements can be achieved through highway or funding agreements as a condition of gaining planning permission. It is essential to map those routes so as to ensure that routes and facilities meet active travel standards without needing to be revisited in the near-term. The need for funding can also be reduced through partnership working - e.g. part-funding work to include betterment for Active Travel in work focused on another issue such as drainage.
Active Travel route development funding has changed recently to a regional model. It was previously centrally administered by Welsh Government and Transport for Wales. Monmouthshire County Council can now apply for funding to develop and improve Active Travel routes and facilities via the Cardiff Capitol Region’s Regional Transport Fund, which regionally manages Welsh Government’s Transport Funding. Funding is governed by policies in the Wales Transport Strategy, Future Wales and the Active Tavel Act, amongst others.
How are ATNM routes prioritised for development?
Generally, routes with the greatest potential for increasing levels of active travel and supporting ‘modal shift’ (replacing car trips with walking, wheeling and cycling), are prioritised for development. High-impact routes are often those around schools, public transport hubs and other ‘trip attractors’ including shops and services, hospitals and health services, libraries, community centres, and leisure centres, and to connect residential areas to those trip attractors.
How are ATNM routes brought up to standard
Routes that exist on the ground are audited using the Welsh Government’s Active Travel audit tools. Some ATNM routes do not yet exist on the ground and need to be developed from scratch. Routes that fail audit or do not yet exist can be developed through different scales of intervention – development can vary from minor works such as installing cycle parking and dropped kerbs, to full re-designs of the highway.
The process of developing the route depends on the scale of intervention, with larger schemes needing studies, permissions and multiple stages of design and consultation prior to construction. The work to develop routes is grant-funded and a limited number of routes can be funded and developed each year.
‘Scheme’ and ‘minor works’ funding can allow MCC to work on different scales of scheme in the same year.
Minor works can be completed in a shorter time-frame and include works such as improving side-road crossings, installing cycle racks and benches, and removing barriers.
Larger projects, called ‘Schemes’, that require extensive, multi-year investigation, development and construction funding will go through the ‘Welsh transport appraisal guidance’ (WelTAG) process, used in the development and appraisal of transport proposals promoted or funded by Welsh Government. The WelTAG process determines what the issue is, and options on how the problem could be solved, then develops detailed plans to install or construct the chosen option. The WelTAG process includes consultation with the public and stakeholders (people/groups with specific relevance to the area, scheme or design) to determine the preferred location, alignment, design details and accessibility considerations.
What is the WelTAG process?
The Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG) process covers the complete lifecycle of a proposed intervention in the transport system from assessment of the problem, consideration of possible solutions and scheme design, through to implementation and project evaluation. The WelTAG process is used in the development and appraisal of transport proposals promoted or funded by Welsh Government. Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG) | GOV.WALES or Arweiniad ar arfarnu trafnidiaeth Cymru (WelTAG) | LLYW.CYMRU
Will the route that I comment on be developed
Mapping and updating the ATNM allows us to capture the current situation and prioritise improvements accordingly. All comments on routes, both future and existing, are reviewed by the MCC Active Travel team and used to adapt the ATNM as needed, prior to submission of the map to Welsh Government for approval. All routes on the ATNM are prioritised by a combination of information gathered at public and stakeholder consultation, the Transport for Wales (TfW) route impact tool and TfW prioritisation mapping.
The routes that are assessed to have the biggest potential impact in supporting active travel journeys and to modal shift will be prioritised to be developed first. Improvements to other routes alongside prioritised schemes achieved wherever possible, through partnership working - e.g. part-funding work to include betterment for Active Travel in work focused on another issue such as drainage.