From the West of England Partnership
The four West of England Councils have joined forces to submit five bids to Government for funding for major transport improvements in the area.
The Cabinet and Executives of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have agreed that the bids should be submitted by the deadline of 9 September this year.
If all five schemes are successful £250 million will be invested in transport improvements locally linking the places people live with where they work, study or shop, and providing new public transport links where they are most needed.
Chair of the Joint Transport Executive Committee, Councillor Brian Allinson commented, “This shows how well the four councils are working together and our commitment to improving transport locally. Officers will now be finalising the bid documents for submission in September, and we expect to hear about the result in December. Let’s hope for a good early Christmas present.”
The five schemes are;
The Bath Transportation Package
A scheme designed to tackle congestion in Bath and the surrounding area by expanding three existing Park & Rides, access changes in the City Centre, nine showcase bus routes and active traffic management with real time information directing drivers to available parking spaces.
Funded by Bath & North East Somerset
Ashton Vale to Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit A public transport link approximately 8km long that provides a set of core services running frequent services from Long Ashton Park and Ride to Bristol Temple Meads and on to Cabot Circus, Broadmead and The Centre. The route would include new and existing busway and provide an adjacent segregated cycle and pedestrian corridor.
Funded in partnership by Bristol City Council and North Somerset
Weston Package
A series of critical transport infrastructure improvements to support the employment-led regeneration of Weston-super-Mare. The proposals include capacity improvements on the main route into the town from Junction 21 of the M5, together with a new interchange and car park at Worle Railway station to provide capacity to address increased demand for rail commuting, along with a number of bus and active mode improvements.
Funded by North Somerset Council
South Bristol Link
A transport link approximately 5km long between the Long Ashton Park and Ride site and A370 to the west of Bristol, and Hengrove Park in south Bristol. The new link will include rapid transit, highway and segregated cycle and pedestrian facilities. The rapid transit element extends the Ashton Vale to Bristol City Centre scheme to south Bristol, and also serves the express bus services between Bristol Airport and the city centre.
Funded in partnership by Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council.
North Fringe to Hengrove Package
A series of complementary projects that facilitate the development of three new rapid transit routes, linking the North Fringe, East Fringe and South Bristol areas via Bristol City Centre. It includes the Stoke Gifford Transport Link to relieve congestion in the North Fringe, as well as major public transport improvements to the M32 and Bristol City Centre to integrate with the rest of the rapid transit network.
Funded in partnership by Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council
As this is a competitive process all details will be published on the www.travelplus.org.uk website after the bids have been submitted.
