Bristol transport supremo says 'let's get moving' on rapid transit
Bristol's first high-speed bus route could be up and running within five years.
The councillor in charge of transport in the city says it is "time to get cracking" with the plans for a Bus Rapid Transport network, which would see cutting-edge vehicles travelling both on roads and on off-road guided tracks.
Firm plans for a network of routes were revealed to a meeting of transport experts yesterday and will go to public consultation in November.
The first route to be built in Bristol would be a link between Ashton Vale, through the city's Harbourside and on to Temple Meads, which could be up and running by 2013, with work starting by 2011.
It will feature cutting-edge vehicles similar to the one pictured here, which will soon be used for the first time in Las Vegas.
The route from Ashton Vale is one of a network of rapid-transit lines the West of England Partnership (WEP), a group made up of all four councils in the former Avon area, hopes to set up around greater Bristol.
The system will start with one across Bath – due for completion by 2012 – and will be swiftly followed by the Ashton Vale line, another from Hengrove to the northern edge of the city and a third running from Emerson's Green to the middle of Bristol.
This is the same route which was planned to run alongside the Bristol-to-Bath cycle path, but the WEP is now looking at other options through east Bristol to serve the new science park at Emerson's Green.
Of the seven kilometres (about 4.5 miles) on the Ashton Vale route, three kilometres (two miles) will run off-street and four will travel on roads through the city. From the park-and-ride site in Long Ashton, it will go through a proposed development at Ashton Park – possibly via Bristol City's new football stadium – before running alongside the Portishead railway line until it crosses the existing Ashton Avenue Bridge.
Alongside the track there will be a four metre-wide (13ft) cycle and pedestrian path and although it is unlikely to need the compulsory purchase of any land, there is a chance other rapid-transit routes around the city may do.
The total cost of the first route is estimated to be about £35million, when land and environmental works are taken into account.
Of this figure, 10 per cent, or £3.5m, would come from the WEP itself.
The rest of the money will come from a £71m Government fund, but the WEP must submit a bid for the first part of the network by the end of this year or risk losing the money altogether.
Councillor Mark Bradshaw, cabinet member for transport at Bristol City Council, said: "We are at a point in time where the decisions that we make are going to be critical to the city over the next five or 10 years.
"Do we go for funding that's available to start to deliver a real transport alternative, or do we wait and see what comes along?
"There will be people objecting against the proposals and others will be in favour, but what we really need is a way of getting into the city other than the car which is reliable, affordable and which gets from A to B. We have got to get cracking on it because delivering transport improvements is really important for the future of this city."
The plans were revealed yesterday at the @Bristol centre where the Joint Transport Forum – including councillors from the four authorities, transport officers and members of lobby groups – met.
They plans were presented by Sharon Daly of London-based transport consultant Steer Davies Gleave, which has been hired to explore the options for rapid-transit routes in the Bristol area.
She said that rubber-wheeled buses proved to be the cheapest and most appropriate option for the first Bristol route, but did not rule out trams or light rail for the other routes around the city.
She said: "This will be a real alternative to the car – fast, direct and with environmental benefits.
"In our opinion, Bus Rapid Transit should be pursued for the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid-transit route as it best meets the rapid-transit scheme objectives; is the most cost-effective and flexible; and can be delivered within the current programme and available funding."
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by T Signals, Bristol
Monday, September 29 2008, 9:38PM
“I've scanned through many of the comment son this website so excuse some errors. Utilising old railway lines will still not pick up everyone on the street as it's impractical to build new stations every five minutes. Traffic signals are being upgraded as some of the works on the A420 out to Kingswood hopefully proves. The hardshoulder running will be introduced on the regions motorways but that is at the will of the Highways Agency not BCC. Improvements in this city are for all but it seems that due to the greed of First this is forgotten.”
by Chris, Bristol
Monday, September 29 2008, 1:49PM
“BRT is a waste of time. It has flopped in Cambridge as it is too inflexible. The cheapest option for BCC to improve transport is to use the existing RAIL infrastructure, eg: from Temple Meads to Avonmouth, Henbury, Portishead.”
by Dan, Thornbury
Monday, September 29 2008, 4:44AM
“Nothing will ever come close to the car unfortunately. It is just to convenient. Time is precious and I haven't got time to hang around on bus stops for buses late at night wondering if they will turn up or not. Many times I have had to walk home as the last bus didn't turn up. I drive around 9000 miles a year, Considering the price to travel on public transport it is probably cheaper and convenient to drive my car, Plus I know I wont have to worry about the bus not turning up and me and my children getting wet on the bus stop.
Until someone can come up with a affordable, Safer and as convenient as the car then il continue to drive my car.
Maybe the council should invest there money on improving traffic signals around the City. It took me over 2 and a half hours to get from Thornbury to Ashton Gate the other week, With the main reason being traffic lights that go green and let two cars go through and then go red and the other lights remained green even though there was no cars going through.
Improve traffic signals, Where possible create extra lanes, Higher the speed limits(The Portways IMHO should be 60mph when it is 2 lanes) Improve road layouts and provide real time information with alternative routes etc, Open up the hard shoulders on the motorways during rush hours and we will see Bristol moving a lot faster. I really don't understand it, Everyone can see what needs to be done apart from BCC who like to chuck money after bad.
Give me all the money they have wasted on the numerous Tram projects etc and I can guarantee Bristol will move like a well oiled machine.
I'm all for things being improved, In fact I think we are being to slow and just need to get on with things instead of just talking about them. If we want to live in a better City then we have to change our attitude instead of worrying about things like a rare species of ants my hard a development.
Bristol really is on the crest of a wave and there is no other place in this country that I would like to live, We just need to go that extra bit further to make it perfect.
The only good thing about the BRT is the fact it will link the new Bristol City Stadium (and a possible concert arena) to Temple Meads.
If only Brunel was around today and we wouldn't be discussing any of this.”
by Steve, Southville
Sunday, September 28 2008, 9:49PM
“Complete rubbish - Bradshaw doesn't know what he's talking about.
These Bus "Rapid" Transit things are just diesel busses with fancy names - they'll be run by First, so we all know what that means - sky high fares and rubbish service.
I completely agree with Mark, Stoke Bishop - let's start using our ridiculously under-utilised and under-funded local rail network.
It's simple, people like trains and trams and don't like buses - especially ones run by First.
When Bradshaw tells you that if we don't act now we'll lose funding and all that tripe, well, he's simply lying.
Edinburgh held a referendum and rejected a Congestion Charge and were told that they couldn't have their tram system.
Guess what's happening now? Yep, they're building Edinburgh a tram system, without having a Congestion Charge.
And Liverpool were told that their bid for a tram was rejected too, about 5 years ago, the same time as Bristol's.
Guess what? Liverpool has just been invited to resubmit their bid for a tram by the Department for Transport.
Bus "Rapid" Transport the only show in town? Total drivel!
Bradshaw should clear off and come back with a plan for a DECENT public transport system for our city.”
by Alan, Bristol
Sunday, September 28 2008, 9:43PM
“The only people who will ever witness a transport system in Bristol other than buses, will be our grandchildren, on the other hand it could be their grandchildren, because this is Bristol, the city where nothing ever happens with transport progress.”