Stages in the bidding process 2008/2009 We consulted you on the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and South Link schemes Mar 2009 We submitted the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads bid to the Next steps DfT The three schemes are at slightly different Dec 2009/ We consulted you on the North Fringe to Hengrove Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils stages of development and preparation, but Jan 2010 Package working together to improve your local public transport all three schemes have to provide a ‘best and Mar 2010 ❙ We submitted the North Fringe to Hengrove Package and final’ bid to the Department for Transport the South Bristol Link to the DfT. (DfT) by 9th September this year. We expect Transport News from the West of England June 2011 a decision on the results to be announced by ❙ The DfT awarded the go-ahead for further design of the the end of the year. Ashton Vale to Temple Meads. Jun 2010 We submitted a Transport and Works Act Order for the Three rapid transit routes proposed for the West of England Ashton Vale to Temple Meads scheme Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils are working ❙ Summer Central Government asked us to reduce the scope of all together to improve transport in the area. We are in the process of bidding for some funding from the 2010 schemes. Department for Transport which is available for major transport schemes across the country. ❙ We consulted you about the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads ’Transport and Works Act Order’ We are submitting five separate bids – three Oct 2010 We were invited by the DfT to make an ‘expression of interest’ What is rapid transit? of our intention to submit the revised bids of which seek funding for a new network of Rapid transit is a fast, frequent and reliable three rapid transit routes for the area: public transport service using modern, “We believe the Dec 2010 Expressions of interest’ submitted including draft revised accessible, comfortable and low-emission North Fringe Find out more proposals, trying to keep as many of the benefits as possible ❙ North Fringe to Hengrove – linking vehicles. to Hengrove To find out more about any of the bids we whilst reducing the costs areas like , Aztec West Package would are making to the Department for Transport Feb 2011 The DfT invited us to submit ‘best and final bids’ by 9th and Emersons Green with Bristol city Benefits for passengers provide significant including information on the Weston September 2011 centre and with Hengrove in the south of benefits to UWE Package and Bath Package, please visit Bristol ❙ Reduced journey times Jun/Jul 2011 Information about our revised proposals is being published and employers in www.travelplus.org.uk, or contact us on the before councils submit their final bids the wider area, in telephone number below. ❙ Ashton Vale to Temple Meads – ❙ Improved ticketing and payment facilities Sep 2011 We will submit all 3 best and final bids by 9th September providing frequent services from Long terms of improved accessibility which Dec 2011 The DfT is expected to announce their decision about which Ashton Park & Ride to Bristol Temple ❙ Turn up and go service frequencies and council’s’ schemes have been successful Meads and on to the city centre reliable journey times would, in turn, Contact us enhance the local If we are successful in our bid: ❙ South Bristol Link – extending the ❙ High quality stops with facilities like economy” West of England Office, Wilder House, Mar 2012 Anticipated date of the public inquiry for the Ashton Vale to Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit CCTV at stops and real time electronic University of the West of Wilder Street, Bristol BS2 8PH Temple Meads scheme service from Long Ashton Park & Ride to information England 0117 903 6868 the new community hospital campus and 2012 & 2013 ❙ Detailed scheme design and consultation with you on the [email protected] leisure centre at Hengrove ❙ Modern, environmentally friendly vehicles designs 

Bath & North East Somerset ❙ Application for the relevant planning permissions If successful, these rapid transit routes would ❙ High quality walking and cycle links Council ❙ Anticipated dates of the public inquiries for North Fringe to play an important role in tackling traffic www.bathnes.gov.uk Hengrove package and South Bristol Link congestion and would provide services that ❙ High quality, comfortable, and accessible link residential areas, shopping, work, leisure vehicles ❙ Purchase land needed for the proposals Bristol City Council and district centres. www.bristol.gov.uk ❙ Tender for contractors to carry out the work 2013 & 2014 If the DfT gives the necessary approval, construction could The councils are bidding for funding for North Somerset Council start as early as 2013 (Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and North each rapid transit route separately, but if they www.n-somerset.gov.uk Fringe to Hengrove) and 2014 (and South Bristol Link) are all successful, they would link together to provide a direct and efficient transport South Gloucestershire Council 2015 Parts of the new rapid transit system could be in operation network for the area. www.southglos.gov.uk during 2015 If you would like this information in a different format, for example Braille, audio tape, large print or computer disc, or community languages please Designed by SGCCREATIVEDESIGN Printed on recycled paper S 7118 | 06 | 11 contact the West of England Partnership Office on 0117 903 6868 Consultation has been a very important part ❙ The Park & Rides at Emersons Green and signal working for rapid transit vehicles. of the development of all these schemes, Parkway Station have been retained but ❙ The railway terminus spur and your input at key stages of each scheme with reduced on-site facilities at Emersons has been shortened. helped form the basis of what we submitted Green and fewer spaces near Parkway ❙ While Prince Street Bridge is closed to to the Department for Transport in 2010. Station.  West of England Allotments traffic, a temporary structure would have Since then, Central Government has Rapid Transit Network ❙ The M32 Park & Ride site is no longer part

Allotments

Cricket Pitch to be provided. The specification of this announced a reduction in the amount of of the scheme. A bus-only junction onto structure has been reduced. funding available for transport projects. In the M32 has been kept in the scheme so order to increase our chances of receiving that priority can be given to rapid transit South Bristol Link Parkway North The South Bristol Link has been designed to funding for each scheme, we’ve had to make Park & Ride services from the North and East Fringe some changes to reduce costs. getting onto and off the motorway. link key employment, housing and leisure Bristol Parkway Stoke Gifford areas in the south of Bristol together. It Some of the changes apply across all the Transport Link ❙ The proposed bus, cycle and pedestrian would also improve accessibility from South schemes. For example, while we have kept bridge over the New Cut has been revised Bristol to the city centre and to the strategic the high quality shelters, train station style to deliver a more affordable structure UWE transport network, including Bristol airport. platforms, real time information and CCTV at whilst still meeting appropriate design Emersons Green all stops, we have decided to only provide M32 Bus only junction Park & Ride criteria. This rapid transit route would extend the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit extended platforms and shelters for the ❙ Further enhancements to public spaces in service from the Long Ashton Park & Ride site key stops on the network. Other changes the East Street area of Bedminster district Allotments to the new community hospital campus and are particular to each scheme and are centre have been deferred to be funded leisure centre at Hengrove, improving public highlighted below. from separate sources. transport to these key community facilities. We believe that we have managed to keep Ashton Vale to Temple Meads The Bristol Airport Flyer service would also the most effective elements of the scheme join the South Bristol Link, reducing journey in place and are confident that we will still be The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit route would provide a separate times and improving the reliability between able to deliver an efficient, rapid and reliable Bristol City KEY running lane for rapid transit vehicles the airport and the city centre. public transport service. Centre North Fringe Hengrove Package adjacent to the public highway from the The South Bristol Link would provide a new North Fringe to Hengrove Temple Meads route option to be determined Long Ashton Park & Ride to Bristol Temple highway between the A370, the A38 and the The North Fringe to Hengrove bid is a South Bristol Link Meads, and on to , Hartcliffe Roundabout. Rapid transit vehicles package of measures designed to improve Long Ashton and the city centre. This would also provide Park & Ride Ashton Vale to Temple Meads would run predominately on nearside

Allotments the links between residential areas and park & ride site huge benefits for passengers using bus bus lanes except near the A370 where a employment, leisure and retail centres. railway station services from North Somerset (Weston- Weston-super-Mare dedicated busway will link to the Long It links key employment hubs like Cribbs provisional stop location super-Mare, Clevedon and Nailsea), which Ashton Park & Ride Site. A segregated cycle Causeway, Aztec West, the Science Park at Hengrove would be able to join the network from the and pedestrian path will be provided along Park N Emersons Green and Bristol city centre with South Bristol Link Long Ashton Park & Ride. the length of the scheme to facilitate access residential areas to the north and south of As part of our proposals, we had to submit by bicycle and on foot. the city centre – including Bradley Stoke, an application to the Government in 2010 Key changes since we last consulted you: Stoke Gifford, Patchway, Emersons Green in for a Transport and Works Act Order to carry ❙ Between the A370 and A38 the proposed the North Fringe, and Hengrove to the south out the work. In order to avoid having to  ❙ central segregated busway has been of Bristol. New bridge over the Avon New Cut for re-submit this application – which is a long replaced with traditional nearside bus Key elements of the project include: rapid transit, cyclists and pedestrians. parliamentary procedure, we have had to lanes. This offers the same journey time ❙ Rapid transit routes – including a new Key changes made since we last limit the changes we make to our scheme. consulted you: reliability to rapid transit vehicles and direct link by road from the ring road (near Key changes since we last consulted you: to the Airport Flyer but with a slightly ❙ UWE) to Bradley Stoke (the ‘Stoke Gifford The length of separate running lanes for ❙ The width of the maintenance track reduced footprint. Transport Link’). rapid transit services has been reduced alongside the rapid transit route has been ❙ Between the A38 and Hengrove Park the ❙ Park & Rides at Emersons Green (nr and targeted at areas most affected by reduced. congestion. This includes a more direct proposed central segregated busway has Sainsburys) and near Parkway Station ❙ route between Aztec West and Cribbs The Silbury Road stop platform has been been replaced with traditional nearside ❙ New junction onto the M32 for rapid Causeway (via the A38). moved away from the bridge crossing at buslanes on the approaches to significant transit vehicles only (between junction 1 Colliter’s Brook. junctions. This still offers journey time ❙ The ‘Stoke Gifford Transport Link’ has been and junction 2). ❙ reliability to rapid transit vehicles whilst kept in the scheme, but the rapid transit The cantilevered pedestrian/cycle facility ❙ Public transport and urban realm on Ashton Avenue swing bridge has been significantly reducing the projects lanes have been reduced to key sections footprint in areas where the buslanes improvements to the Centre in the city on approaches to junctions. removed. Pedestrians and cyclists will be centre. kept safe through the use of ‘shuttle’ traffic need not be provided.

Transport News from the West of England June 2011 Transport News from the West of England June 2011