Dorset's Economic Growth Strategy - Transport infrastructure

Improvements to transport infrastructure will create healthier lifestyles, better access to jobs, combat the climate emergency and improve air quality. This will lead to a fitter and more active workforce, improved environment and reduced congestion on the roads.

What we will do

• improve north-south road and rail links 
• reduce congestion and improve air quality 
• maintain current bus and rail services provision including access to education
• improve reliability of journey times through more efficient use of existing transport network
• facilitate healthier lifestyles through modal shift to active travel, i.e. walking and cycling
• work with the Western Gateway Sub-Regional Transport Body to write the Regional Transport Strategy
• review the Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset Local Transport Plan

How we will do it

• work with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and other partners to implement sustainable transport initiatives using £79m from the Transforming Cities Fund – including improving walking and cycling to Ferndown Ind Estate and other employment sites across south east Dorset.
• encourage engagement with the Dorset Business Travel Network, including promotion of workplace travel plans to increase sustainable travel
• promote Car Share Dorset to reduce single occupancy car use
• work with providers to install more publicly available EV (electric vehicle) charging points
• encourage more home working/virtual meetings to reduce the need to travel
• work with rail and bus service providers to maintain and where possible, improve services
• utilise Government funding for resurfacing and reconstruction work on roads (£9.1m funding in 2020 from Department for Transport)
• reduce carbon emissions by using low energy asphalt on all resurfacing schemes and new construction projects, such as cycleways
• review the Bournemouth, Poole, Dorset Local Transport Plan, which will include:
  • access to Gillingham – improve access to housing and employment sites within the Gillingham Southern Extension including providing a new road link between A30 and B3081 west of Shaftesbury
  • safety and capacity improvements on the A35 Dorchester Bypass at Stadium and Monkey’s Jump roundabouts
  • A354 Corridor improvements
  • Dorchester Access to Growth – a package of cycle improvements
  • provide Express Bus services to Verwood, Ferndown, West Moors and Wimborne
  • improve railway stations including provision of travel interchange facilities at Wareham and Wool