Parcel pipes beneath the carriageway to help with deliveries? Is this the future of road architecture? A major regional transport body believes it might be.
England's Economic Heartland has released an outline transport strategy for initial feedback before a formal consultation in the first half of 2020.
Along general principles and plans the wide ranging and topline document features a representation of what the future high street could look like. It includes a range of assets, some more unexpected than others:
- Highways redesigned to support local bus routes, freeing up the street section to support walking and cycling.
- New wider pavements allow for the inhabitation of the street space.
- Cycle lanes and associated infrastructure including parking and charging locations for ebikes.
- Introduction of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and tree planting to respond to the challenges of climate change and improving air quality.
- Decluttering the streetscape of unnecessary signage and street furniture.
- Provision for local deliveries to be made by electric/hydrogen vehicles, providing first mile/last mile logistics.
- Supporting the uptake of local deliveries by electric cargo bikes.
- Potential for ‘parcel pipes’ to be integrated beneath carriageways.
