Agenda Item 9 Metropolitan Borough Council

Report to Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods on 15th July 2005

Bus Showcase - Route 311/313 ( to Stourbridge) Route 313 Detail Proposals

1. Summary Statement

1.1 The objective of Bus Showcase projects is to provide a high quality, frequent, reliable and attractive bus service developed in accordance with Bus Showcase standards and practice.

1.2 Route 311/313 runs between Walsall and Stourbridge as separate routes but travel mutually along various sections of highway within Sandwell. The scheme has been under development since 2002.

1.3 The project consists of four distinct Phases. Phase 1 introduced traffic signal and associated pedestrian crossing facilities at the A4037 Road/B4517 High Street, . Phase 2 has introduced new bus stops, pedestrian crossing facilities and minor junction improvements specifically to parts of route 311. Phases 3 and 4 progress the design and implementation of the remainder of the route 311 together with the whole of the length of route 313.

1.4 This report relates solely to route 313. The remainder of the route 311 will form the basis of a future report.

1.5 Route 313, Walsall to Stourbridge within Sandwell, travels between Tipton and Walsall, via A4037 Dudley Road, Hurst Lane, Bloomfield Road, Princes End, Oak Road, Gospel Oak Road, Ocker Hill, Leabrook Road, Wednesbury Bus Station, Trouse Lane, Whitley Street, Manor House Road, Myvod Road and A461 Wood Green Road to M6 junction 9, as shown on Drawing No. 33471 S/3. 1.6 The purpose of this report is to seek approval to undertake local consultation on preliminary proposals for Route 313 and subject to the resolution of any objections implement the: -

(i) bus stop improvements as detailed in Appendix A and shown on the drawings; and

(ii) highway improvements, to improve access and traffic safety near bus stops, as detailed in Appendix B and as shown on the drawings.

1.7 The total estimated cost of these works is £1.3 million and will be subject to the agreement of the Co- ordination Group (Chief Officers administering District funds held centrally by Centro).

Further details are attached for your information

2. Recommendations

2.1 That approval be given to consult on preliminary proposals for the Bus Showcase Route 313 (Walsall to Stourbridge) Scheme, as shown on Drawing No. 33471 S/3, and Appendices A and B, as now submitted.

2.2 That subject to the resolution of any objections, approval be given to implement the proposals shown on Drawing No. 33471 S/3 relating to the Bus Showcase Route 313 (Walsall to Stourbridge) Scheme.

2.3 That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to complete the necessary legal procedures to bring the proposals referred to in 2.2 above into effect.

In accordance with the authority delegated to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, the following course of action has been agreed, which will be set out in the formal record of the decisions taken by the Member: -

(1) the recommendation(s) above is/are approved.

(2) the recommendation(s) above is/are approved as now amended.

(3) the recommendations above are not approved.

Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods

15th July 2005

Peter Whitehouse John Barton Head of Highways Head of Strategic Finance

Contact Officer

Dave Crisp Major Works Manager 0121 569 4162

Keith Sansom Traffic and Road Safety Manager 0121 569 4149

Bus Showcase - Route 313 (Walsall to Stourbridge) Proposals

3. Strategic Resource Implications

3.1 Funding has been made available from the Local Transport Plan for 2001/2005 to develop the highway proposals for the Route 313 Bus Showcase within Sandwell and to date £520k has been allocated to the design and implementation of Route 311/313 Bus Showcase.

3.2 The estimated cost of implementing the works detailed in Appendix A and B is £1.3 million and this will be released from the District funds held centrally by Centro, subject to the agreement of the Network Co-ordination Group (Chief Officers administering the funds).

4. Legal and Statutory Implications

4.1 Implementation of this scheme requires Traffic Regulation Orders to support bus lanes, waiting and loading restrictions, together with notifications in accordance with Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 for signal controlled pedestrian crossings.

4.2 A future report will be presented to the Cabinet Member seeking authority for approval to instruct the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to undertake any necessary legal procedures.

5. Implications for the Council’s Corporate Priorities

Transforming the physical environment

5.1 Route 313, Walsall to Stourbridge within Sandwell, travels between Tipton and Walsall, via A4037 Dudley Road, Hurst Lane, Bloomfield Road, Princes End, Wednesbury Oak Road, Gospel Oak Road, Ocker Hill, Leabrook Road, Wednesbury Bus Station, Trouse Lane, Whitley Street, Manor House Road, Myvod Road and A461 Wood Green Road to M6 junction 9, as shown on Drawing No. 33471 S/3.

5.2 This project is being developed to provide effective traffic management control to reduce congestion and provide bus priority measures. The needs of pedestrians are considered throughout the design with improved crossing and boarding facilities.

5.3 As part of the Bus Showcase philosophy, all bus shelters and stops will be upgraded to the latest specifications improving the facility and making it easier to get on and off buses.

5.4 The policy of improving public transport travel benefits all sectors of the community. Parents with pushchairs, the elderly and people with mobility problems will all find public transport interchange easier. Improvements to street lighting in the vicinity of stops will be implemented where appropriate. Increased use of public transport will reinforce community confidence and reduce fear.

Implications for Young People

5.5 The ‘Bus Showcase’ standard bus stops allow passengers to enter the bus at level. This is particularly beneficial for carers with pushchairs and will hopefully encourage greater use of public transport. Use of public transport from an early age makes this method of travel more acceptable in later life.

5.6 Young people should be given every encouragement to live a more healthy life. Walking in conjunction with reliable and efficient public transport supports the sustainability of a healthy environment.

6. Background Details

6.1 On 25th January 2002, the Cabinet Member endorsed plans for public consultation showing the proposals for the 311/313 Bus Showcase route. The consultation took place during February 2002.

6.2 The views of the Wednesbury and Tipton Town Committees were sought at their meetings during February 2002.

6.3 On 22nd March 2002, the Cabinet Member for Sandwell Direct gave approval to the development of the 311 Showcase scheme, based on preliminary proposals.

6.4 The current report introduces the development of detailed proposals for route 313 and seeks approval to undertake local consultation.

6.5 The objective of the Bus Showcase projects is to provide a high quality, frequent, reliable and attractive bus service developed in accordance with Bus Showcase standards and practice.

6.6 Bus Showcase involves a quality partnership between the bus operator, who provides low floor buses and customer care trained drivers, Centro, who provide high quality shelters and the local authority, who provide bus priority measures and bus stops with raised kerbs to allow near-level boarding.

6.7 In order to ensure that bus stops are unobstructed, it is proposed to introduce road markings supported by Bus Stop Clearways for the whole of the route.

6.8 New raised kerbs with tactile surfacing will be provided at all stops.

6.9 It is proposed that bus lay-bys will be infilled, where appropriate, as they inhibit satisfactory ‘docking’ and also result in delays to buses rejoining the flow of traffic.

6.10 Where parked cars may be a problem and carriageway widths permit, ‘bus boarders’ may be provided. This involves building out the footway at the stop so that the bus can ‘dock’ with the raised kerb, enabling level boarding which particularly benefits those with pushchairs and people with mobility problems.

6.11 Emphasis is also given to the pedestrian routes for passengers by the introduction of ‘push button’ pedestrian facilities at traffic signals along the route, pedestrian refuges, zebra and puffin crossing where appropriate.

6.12 Route 311/313 runs between Walsall and Stourbridge as separate routes but travel mutually along various sections of highway within Sandwell.

6.13 The project consists of four distinct Phases. Phase 1 introduced traffic signal and associated pedestrian crossing facilities at the A4037 Dudley Road/B4517 High Street, Tipton. Phase 2 has introduced improvements specifically to parts of route 311. Phases 3 and 4 progress the design and implementation of the remainder of route 311 together with the whole length of route 313.

6.14 The current proposals are summarised in Appendix A and B and are estimated at £1.3 million and are subject to the agreement of Network Co-ordination Group.

6.15 Any unresolved matters will be the subject of a future report to the Cabinet Member.

Source Documents

1999 Provisional West Midlands Local Transport Plan. 2000 West Midlands Local Transport Plan. Report to Cabinet Member for Sandwell Direct 25th January 2002. Report to Cabinet Member for Urban Form 29th January 2002. Report to Wednesbury Town Committee 7th February 2002. Report to Tipton Town Committee, 12th February 2002. Report to Cabinet Member for Sandwell Direct 22nd March 2002. Report to Cabinet Member for Urban Form 26th March 2002. Bus Showcase Routes 311/313 (Walsall to Stourbridge) Proposed Route 311 Preliminary Design Report, April 2002.