July 25, 2013 9.00 am This story is over 136 months old

What Access LN6 has done for Lincoln so far

Better transport: Lincolnshire County Councillor in charge of Access LN6, Richard Davies, explains what the £6.5 million Lincoln project has done so far.

It’s estimated that more than 30,000 cars are travelling in and out of the LN6 area of Lincoln each day. There’s no surprise then that traffic congestion, carbon emissions and journey times are increasing.

Although Lincolnshire County Council is carrying out major improvements to areas like Newark Road, Brand Road and Rookery Lane, there is of course an impact on traffic congestion in the short-term whilst these works are taking place.

To alleviate this and congestion across the whole of LN6, a programme called Access LN6 aims to improve sustainable transport options by increasing opportunities to walk, cycle, use public transport and car share.

We can only assume that if drivers complaining about the improvements and the impact on congestion were to commute by bus, train, bike or foot, we’d see a huge impact on Lincoln roads, particularly in the LN6 area.

Successes

Since Access LN6 began in 2012, there have already been a number of successes, and we’re seeing an increase in numbers of people using public transport, walking and cycling (especially in this beautiful weather).

In the last 12 months, Access LN6 has:

  • Made improvements to a number of bus services including the 44a service to Doddington Business Park and Teal Park, and services to rural villages including Witham St. Hughs and Swinderby
  • Increased the number of trains stopping at Hykeham Station
  • Launched a new car share website
  • Conducted a three month walking and cycling survey of the LN6 area – £500,000 will now be invested into the area as a result
  • Worked with a number of businesses in the LN6 area offering business grants and support to encourage sustainable travel
  • Launched LN6 Active – the healthy lifestyles element of Access LN6 which encourages more people, to be more active, more often
  • Supported the development of a shared footway and cycle path along Whisby Road
  • Started planning improvement works at Hykeham Station including new lighting, signage, improves surfacing and secure cycle storage

Coming soon

In the next few months, the Access LN6 team will be at a number of events, including the Hartsholme Family Fun Day at Hartsholme Country Park on Sunday, August 11, and a Family Fun Day at North Kesteven Sports Centre on Saturday, August 17.

In August, we’ll also be officially launching hirebike – Lincoln’s ‘Boris bike’ scheme, and we’re already making lots of plans for new projects in 2014.

For more information, visit accessln6.co.uk, or follow the team on Facebook and Twitter.

Councillor Richard Davies is the executive councillor for Highways and Transportation at Lincolnshire County Council. He is also responsible for Access LN6, a £6.5 million programme to improve sustainable transport options in the LN6 area of Lincoln and Hykeham.