Plans for new Bristol bus route
A disused railway line in South Bristol is being targeted as a possible route for a high-speed bus link.
The track runs from Brislington to Arnos Vale, from the Tesco roundabout at Callington Road up to the Sainsbury's at St Philips Causeway.
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Plans have been in the pipeline for years to use the mile-long line in a bid to ease congestion heading to and from the city centre.
Now the West of England Partnership, which governs transport improvements in all four councils in the former Avon area, is working to bring the scheme to fruition.
It hopes to submit a bid to the Government for funding for the plan by 2010, with construction possibly starting by 2013.
Proposals are at very early stages as yet, although five options, including road, bus rapid transit and cyclepaths and a pedestrian route, are currently being tested and assessed.
These options could go out to public consultation next year.
The A4 Bath Road through Brislington suffers from heavy congestion, as a result of traffic on the A4 merging with south Bristol traffic using the A4174 Airport Road and Callington Road.
Julia Dean, spokeswoman for the West of England Partnership, said: "This link will tackle congestion, reducing traffic queues and delays in the area, help improve air quality and improve journey times along the A4 for buses and cars.
"It should also improve road safety, help us get to work and school more efficiently and provide an improved cycle route to the city centre.
"We are currently investigating possible options including public transport, a road, a cycle route and improvements to nearby junctions.
"We need to assess the engineering options, the environmental and other impacts before we know what is feasible. We will then be seeking views on our proposals."
Plans are yet to be finalised for the route but a rough draft has been drawn up, shown on our map here.
It would see the route starting at the roundabout south of Tesco, then running alongside the superstore before travelling past the allotments and crossing the A4 under the bridge at the end of Kensington Park Road.
It would then run parallel to Repton Road, across Sandy Park Road and past the bus depot before heading over Bloomfield Road and joining up with St Philip's Causeway at the roundabout next to the Sainsbury's car park.
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by John, Brislington
Sunday, December 07 2008, 8:32PM
“I must strongly object to the proposal for a greenway cycle path on the old railway line at Brislington.
It seems to me that this is a back door way of at a later date changing its use to a road of which I see plans are still in place to apply for this in 2010 and to be operational by 2013.
A road would be devastating on the environment in which we live as our house backs on to the railway line.I read that Juia Dean from the Wet of England Partnership states we need this link to improve air quality. What kind of air quality will Repton Rd get. At the moment the railway line is used as a car park a couple of times a week and from the small amount of traffic using it we can smell the fumes.
Until we get the honest proposals for this land I will not agree to any change of use.”
by Charlotte, Brislington
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 8:31AM
“As a tax payer who's house backs onto MFI already, the addtion of a road is not great news AT ALL. Agree with Steve from Southville - council should look at this properly. We have boy racers going up and down the road of the front of the house as it is. we do NOT need another sodding road out the back as well. In the summer it would be a nightmare with fumes, noise plus we'll probably get a chunk of anti social behaviour as currently the area at the back of the houses is inaccessible ot the public. My message to the council is BACK OFF and think about a sensible solution.”
by PJ, Brislington
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 7:23AM
“This is great, I live in Brislington and anything that reduces congestion on the Bath road is welcome, The South Bristol ring road will also help, so this should be used as a cycle route or public transport or free up space to enable a tram to be run down Bath Road. For those who are saying this route is too short, you misunderstand the proposal! This is a link, not a route in itself!”
by Steve, Southville
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 5:28PM
“Trams or cycle routes not overpriced, unreliable First buses!!
The West of England Partnership should clear off and come back with decent transport solutions that people will use, and without input from the reviled First Bus.”
by Walker, Bristol
Tuesday, October 14 2008, 3:32PM
“This is such a short distance that you could walk it in the time it would take to wait for the bus, buy your ticket and listen to the driver moan that he hasn't got enough change.”