Coventry: changing a city built for cars

The authors investigate the link between design and implementation in integrated transport studies using Coventry in the late 1980's and early 1990's as an example. The study described was designed to propose and justify a wide range of policies up to the year 2005 with specific policies for the following decade. Economic regeneration, social equity and environmental quality were to be the main issues considered. Initial surveys identified the need for increased pedestrian amenity. Traffic intrusion was often concentrated in areas of high pedestrian activity or low car-owning residential areas: public transport and interchange facilities were poor. An economic and transport base was first developed followed by economic projections corresponding to alternative scenarios and the development of possible strategies. An evaluation framework was developed so that comparisons of a range of strategies could be made. The proposed strategy recommended greater investment in public transport facilities, including light rail and bus priority corridors, the development of comprehensive traffic calming measures, proposals to enhance the image of the central area and the continuous development of a high quality primary route network. The first schemes were completed within one year of the completion of the study and work is progressing well on all other action plans.