Please note the 20mph application window opens on 15 January 2024 and closes on Friday 15 March 2024 at 5pm
Cambridgeshire County Council have created an annual 20mph funding programme to install either 20mph zones or limits countywide.
The programme will open for applications annually and anyone can apply if they have the support of their local County Council member. Once an application has been submitted it will be prioritised and scored by officers. This will produce a long list which will then be worked through until all the schemes applied for have been delivered.
The prioritised schemes will be entirely funded by the council out of a budget of £150,000 per year specifically set aside for 20mph schemes. This is expected to fund the delivery of around eight individual schemes per year.
The 20mph restrictions will:
- make streets safer by reducing speeds and enabling a more equitable use of the road space for all users (vulnerable road users, sustainable transport, businesses, and car users)
- encourage residents to walk or cycle by reducing speeds
- reduce noise and pollution by amending the way vehicles accelerate/decelerate
The initiative will not be compulsory (but the greater level of coverage we attain across the county the greater level of compliance we will gain) and needs to be supported by the parish/town council and by the local county councillor.
Which areas are eligible
In general, a new 20mph limit should be in an area with features that justify a lower speed limit to drivers, for example, an area that has:
- evidence of traffic incidents or potential dangers within an existing 30/40mph
- vulnerable road users e.g. pedestrians (of all ability), cyclists, equestrian users and motorcyclists
- visible homes, shops, and business frontages
- a school or a school route
- a cycling route
- a quiet lane designation
- an area that would benefit from more active travel such as cycling and walking
The anticipated benefits
Road safety
Research by the UK Transport Research Laboratory has shown that every 1mph reduction in average urban speeds can result in a six percent fall in the number of casualties. It’s also been shown that you are seven times more likely to survive if you are hit by a car driving at 20mph, than if you are hit at 30mph. If a child suddenly steps in front of a car, you are much less likely to seriously injure or kill them if you keep to a 20mph limit.
Active Travel
Research indicates that people are much more likely to walk or cycle when vehicle speeds are lower as they feel safer. The installation of 20mph zones or limits, especially in urbanised areas is expected to have positive impacts on the amount of people walking, cycling or horse riding. This has additional benefits to the environment as well as lowering the speed limit could encourage more people to use non-motorised means for shorter journeys such as walking to school or visiting the shop.
Congestion
Research shows that slower speeds encourage a smoother driving style with less stopping and starting which helps traffic to flow. Evidence from other areas shows that slower speeds encourage more people to walk and cycle.
Air pollution
Driving at 20mph causes some vehicular emissions to rise slightly (mainly Heavy Goods Vehicles) and some (car) to fall. Reduced acceleration and braking will help to reduce fuel consumption and the associated particulate emissions from items such as tyres and brakes.
Longer journeys
Research in other cities, suggests that journey times do not significantly increase. Where proposals are requested on a bus route the authority will work with the bus companies to assess the likely impact on bus journey times to enable a balanced approach to be taken.
How motorists will know they are in a 20mph area
Signs and lines will be installed in line with the relevant traffic and road safety traffic signs manuals.
If a new area is changing to 20mph local residents are informed in advance.
20mph signs will mark the entrance and exit of a 20mph area where the speed limit changes. Smaller repeat signs and or road markings will supplement these signs.
Some of the signs and road markings you can expect to see are as follows –
20mph speed roundel road marking
20mph terminal sign
20mph zone sign
Will street signs and markings increase?
The new 20mph zone or limit will rely primarily on signs and road markings. Care will be taken in conservation areas and around historic buildings.
Existing flashing speed signs will be changed to show a 20mph version if possible. Unfortunately, due to the age of some flashing speed signs they will have to be disconnected and removed.
In areas where there are existing school time amber flashing signs, with advisory 20mph speed limits, once the new 20mph zone or limit has been installed these will also be removed as the new 20mph limit will be in force all the time.
If further measures are needed to maintain lower vehicle speeds Town and Parish councils would be expected to part fund these extra mitigation measures through our Local Highway Improvement process.
How to complete the online application form
Your scheme should meet the aims of the 20mph initiative as set out below. You will be asked to demonstrate how your scheme fulfils the criteria on the application form. It is important to provide as much relevant information as possible.
For any applicant wishing to complete the 20mph application form offline first, you are free to use the “20mph Application Paper Form” in order to complete a draft version. We then ask you to submit your application online through the link under the ‘Applying’ subheading below.
The following interactive map provides information which you will need to include in your application including current accident data. You can also make sure that your requested improvement is on the public highway.
(If the map does not load, please view it on the MapsCambridgeshire website.)
Does your application address a known safety issue?
Evidence should be provided that demonstrates there is an existing safety issue or problem. This can be with reference to -
- Existing recorded accident data which can be found on our website.
- Anecdotal evidence of accidents including reference to photographs or emails where an injury accident may not have occurred.
Could the suggested scheme increase safety for vulnerable highway users?
Evidence should be provided in the application of how the scheme will make it safer for different user groups. Specific reference should be made to the expected safety improvements the requested changes will have for groups such as pedestrians, cyclists, or vulnerable users.
Could the suggested scheme encourage active travel modes?
You will need to specifically reference any local trip attractors, such as amenities, schools or sports facilities which fall within the extents of the proposed 20mph area and how the 20mph could result in an increase in the amount of people using active travel modes, such as walking or biking. The list should be exhaustive as the scoring here is cumulative.
Does the application maximise the impact of the introduction of a 20mph?
Your application should detail the area covered and expected compliance. You should include any speed data you have available for reference. You should make clear how your proposal positively impacts the most people within your local area and why these extents have been chosen.
You will be able to provide a drawing, map or pdf separately once you have completed your online application.
Does the application have demonstrable local support?
Does the wider community, particularly those directly affected, support this scheme proposal? How important is this issue on a local level? Evidence that your proposal is supported by the local community including your local county councillor, along with the level of local consultation that has been carried out.
For example, you should provide a detailed summary of what consultation you have undertaken to date, for example a parish newsletter, online survey, or presentation at a council meeting. You will need to satisfy those scoring your application that should it be successful local stakeholders will be in support of the scheme and are aware of what has been applied for.
Further scoring criteria
In addition to the above five criteria your application will also be assessed on how deliverable your project is perceived to be based on your requested improvement, and how fully the above criteria has been answered in your submission.
Read the document below for more information.
Frequently asked questions
Timeline
The application window proposed for the next 20mph application round will be as follows: -
- Application window opens on Monday 15 January 2024
- Application window closes on Friday 15 March 2024 at 5pm
- Prioritisation process undertaken between April and June 2024
- Report to committee including prioritised list for approval - TBC 2024
What happens next?
- The applicant will submit a completed online 20mph form
- Applications are then sifted, and checked by officers
- 20mph applications are reviewed on a district wide basis and assigned to individual officers to progress
- Officers will review their assigned 20mph applications and produces a high-level cost estimate for each application
- If needed, officers will liaise with the applicant if anything about the application is unclear
- The officer group will reconvene to score all 20mph applications as a group for each district using the prioritisation matrix and moderate
- The 20mph scheme scores are then ranked for delivery up to the budget available and the prioritised list is shared with the 20mph member working group to review. The final list will then be presented to the next available Highways & Transport Committee meeting.
Delivery
If your application receives funding, you will be asked to confirm in writing that you approve commencement of the scheme.
If we do not receive the above, or if circumstances have changed, we will reallocate funding to the next prioritised application.
The projects will be designed and delivered sequentially as a package to get best value.
