PR 3082
The Government announced today that Bath & North East
Somerset Council has achieved ‘programme entry’ for its Bath
Transportation Package Bid.
This means an important step towards implementing a £54m
programme of much needed transport improvements in the city.
These include a super efficient “Bus Rapid Transit” from an
expanded Newbridge Park & Ride using a disused railway line via
Bath Western Riverside to the City Centre. The Council
estimates that one and a quarter million people per year will use
this service. Also included are new and expanded park and rides
aimed at improving parking in a sustainable way.
The Council will also upgrade ten Bath city bus routes to
‘Showcase’ standard. Passengers will benefit from more frequent
services, better bus stops, some with computer updates on arrival
times and improved access for people with mobility difficulties or
using prams and pushchairs.
Further improvements will make life safer and easier for
pedestrians to get around the city centre and to give priority for
buses.
The Bath Transport Package Bid was put together following
consultation with residents and key stakeholders and assessments by
Council officers of transport and traffic issues. The schemes are
designed to reflect the needs of the community and make a positive
impact on day-to-day life in Bath and North East Somerset.
Councillor Francine Haeberling, Leader of Bath & North East
Somerset Council, said
“The achievement of programme entry is fantastic news for our
district. Traffic levels are predicted to increase between now and
2010. By working towards introducing these improvements Bath &
North East Somerset Council is taking a positive step to limiting
this increase.”
Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer
Services, Planning, Transport and Highways, said:
“Residents of Bath and North East Somerset have helped the
Council to identify the improvements that they would like to see in
public transport and traffic management and we have used these
views to plan the schemes included in the bid. We are now at the
stage where we can do more work to take these plans further. We
will continue to involve local people in this process and look
forward to presenting a finalised bid to the Government next
year.”
The Council expect to prepare the final bid for Government in
late 2008. Should the bid be successful, work would start in
2009.
ENDS
Notes for editors:
For further comment, please contact: Councillor
Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Planning,
Transport and Highways, on 07980 998806.
Bath & North East Somerset Council carried out a public
consultation in November 2005 to gain a better understanding of
what people want from their public transport and their priorities
for travelling. These views formed part of the Bath Transportation
Package Major Scheme Bid. Further consultation on the scheme took
place last year with the production of the local transport
plan.
The Bus Rapid Transit system is proposed to run from the
Newbridge Park & Ride, via Bath Western Riverside to the City
Centre and then to a new Park and Ride site. It will link to the
new bus station and Bath Railway Station interchange which forms
part of the SouthGate development, set to be completed in 2009.
The BRT route will use new style ‘streetcar’ concept vehicles,
which will have a modern image, high levels of accessibility and
comfort and produce low emissions.
