Significant improvements to the local transport network proposed by Bath & North East Somerset Council have received financial backing from the Coalition Government.
The Bath Transportation Package will result in £34.3 million invested in transport infrastructure that will tackle the city’s current and future traffic problems and support the economic growth of the city, including the Bath Riverside ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area.
Welcoming the Coalition Government announcement, Councillor Roger Symonds (Lib-Dem, Combe Down), Cabinet Member for Transport, said, “The city needs measures to improve the ease by which people can get to their homes, jobs, and shops through tackling congestion so that people are not stuck in jams.
“The Bath Transportation Package will result in improved access to the city centre and its car parking spaces for those who need them because our Park and Ride capacity will increase by almost half. Instead of out-of-town commuters and shoppers facing full Park and Ride sites and heading into an already congested city centre, they are more likely to be able to find a space at the Council’s Lansdown, Newbridge, and Odd Down sites, thus relieving pressure on the transport system. Improvements to key bus routes, including real time information, will provide better information to passengers making using the bus a more attractive option.
“The plan will back the development of the infrastructure needed to encourage private sector business investment in the city, particularly supporting the emerging Bath Riverside ‘City of Ideas’ Enterprise Area. We also welcome funding for the other West of England Partnership transport proposals that will benefit many of our residents.“
There will be:
- Upgrades to bus stop infrastructure on 9 service routes, including real time passenger information;
- Expansion of existing Park & Ride sites. Odd Down by 250 spaces, Lansdown by 390 spaces, and Newbridge by 250 spaces – a total increase of 890 spaces, equivalent to around a 50% increase in capacity;
- Variable Message signs on the main approaches to Bath, and within the city centre, to provide information to motorists like numbers of parking spaces available;
- City centre works: High Street improvements and timed access restrictions;
- Works to support the new homes, businesses, and community facilities at Bath Riverside.
Councillor Symonds added, “The Package is one part of our overall transport policy. Bath & North East Somerset Council is also tackling day-to-day traffic problems that residents tell us are a problem, such as HGV’s travelling through Bath. We are working closely with the West of England Partnership to consider how the rail network can be better used to encourage more people to use trains than the private car as well as developing measures to make the whole area much more cycle friendly.“
Next Steps:
- Public consultation on the design of bus shelters for the nine improved routes will take place in January 2012;
- Construction of the various Package elements will commence in the second half of 2012 and will last for around two years.
