Ambitious plans to improve transport across the region will be discussed at the next meeting of the West of England Combined Authority, being held on Friday 1st February.
Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor, and Cllr Tim Warren, Leader of B&NES Council
A report to the meeting will set out the next steps towards a mass transit network, which could potentially include buses, and overground/underground rail.
Four key routes are being looked at, including:
- Mass transit Bristol to Bath – with an initial priority for a metrobus corridor to Bath, with longer-term ambitions for a high-frequency mass transit solution between Bristol and Bath.
- Bristol to Airport – connecting the city centre, South Bristol, and the Airport.
- Bristol to North Fringe – connecting the city centre, North Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Cribbs Causeway.
- Bristol to East Fringe – connecting the city centre, East Fringe and East Bristol.
The committee will be asked to agree to an initial £200,000 to further develop a strategic outline business case, within guidance from the Department for Transport.
This will look in more detail at demand, scope of project, and its potential outputs and benefits.
A more detailed study of transport requirements for Bath and the wider North East Somerset area is also included in the plans.
West of England Mayor, Tim Bowles, said: “This is an ambitious plan that could dramatically improve transport for residents across our region.
“It’s not something that we can deliver overnight, so it’s essential that we do the groundwork to understand what this might look like and how much it would cost.
“Better transport will support the delivery of new homes as well as improving access to jobs, linking new homes and communities with employment areas.”
The transport plans will be considered by the WECA Committee at 10.30am and the West of England Joint Committee at 1pm on Friday 1st February, at Bristol City Hall.
