12/06/2008
CCMS first stage complete
The opening of the first phase of Liverpool One development has also marked the completion of the first part of the strategy to improve travel across throughout the city centre.
The City Centre Movement Strategy (CCMS) is a £73m package of road improvements to provide a balanced and sustainable transport system, accessible to all.
Work on the Castle Street Enabling works scheme - in North John Street and Lord Street - which includes improving public transport access to Liverpool One was finalized in time for its opening.
Schemes in CCMS have included improvements to the carriageways and public realm on the following areas:
Williamson Square
Cavern Quarter
Covent Garden Quarter
East Moorfields area
Hunter Street and Byrom Street
Renshaw Street and Berry Street
Seymour Street and Copperas Hill
Tithebarn Street/Chapel Street
Hope Street
Church Street, Lord Street and Whitechapel
The Strand from James Street to Chapel Street
Lime Street/Skelhorne Street
CCMS's objectives are:
To Improve accessibility to the city centre to aid economic regeneration and to provide access for all
To create a people friendly city centre that is safe, clean and attractive for work, shopping, business, tourism and leisure
To make best use of the city centre's key transport assets - the Merseyrail stations, bus facilities, ferries and major car parks
To support the improvement of the city centre's architecture and townscape
Further phases of the strategy will take place up to 2011 in the Knowledge Quarter around the University, the Baltic Triangle area, Castle Street and the Dale Street/Victoria Street area. Work in these areas will be mainly improvements to the public realm.
Councillor Peter Millea Executive Member for Assets and Development, said: "Now that this phase of CCMS is complete we will be able to evaluate its effects more effectively. Up to now, inevitably there has been a concentration on individual schemes and the disruption that work around them has inevitably caused.
"But it has to be remembered what CCMS is all about- we introduced it to bring the city into line with modern traffic and pedestrian requirements at a time when the city is undergoing the biggest changes in its infrastructure for generations.
"We could not continue with a situation where cars had unrestricted access to the city centre. That would have led to unacceptable levels of congestion and air pollution.
Many drivers were going through rather than around the city centre when they had no need to do so and many still do so,
"Good alternative routes now exist - using the improved Hunter Street/Byrom Street route rather than Dale Street , for example - which help the traffic flow.
"But it is not just about motorists - it is improving getting around the city centre in all forms. There have been improvements for pedestrians and cyclists and we have worked with Merseytravel and bus operators to help access for public transport.
"In some areas things have not worked as well as we would have liked - most notably in Tithebarn Street - but we have taken advice and amended schemes.
"Overall, however, we now have a city centre with vastly improved public realm and which provides a coherent way of moving about whether by car, foot, on a bike or by public transport."
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