A40 Bus Lane Scheme Gloucestershire County Council is developing a new design for the A40 Gloucester Road Westbound Bus Lane Scheme following engagement with local residents A40 Bus Lanes LOCATION PLAN The scheme, promoted jointly by Gloucestershire County Council and Stagecoach, proposes a new bus lane on the A40 westbound (outbound from Cheltenham) from the Tennyson Road junction to the traffic signals at GCHQ (Telstar Rd junction). The re-designed scheme would improve the travel experience for public transport users with minimal impact on the local environment. Over 2.1 million people use these bus routes. This exhibition is designed to provide details of the scheme as well as give you the opportunity to ask questions of our team and tell us what you think of the proposals. Leave your comments by filling in the questionnaires available at the exhibition or online at www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/majorschemes Scheme background In April 2014 two Bus Priority schemes were approved for the A40 – one promoted by Gloucestershire County Council and one by Stagecoach West Stagecoach’s proposal for a new bus lane on the A40 raised concerns from local residents over the impact on trees and hedges along the path of the proposed route. In response to these comments, the council has developed an alternative design which merges Stagecoach’s scheme with that proposed by the council. The merging of the schemes was approved in July 2015. The new scheme The merged scheme proposed by the council looks to extend the bus lane in order to reduce journey times and encourage commuters to make use of both scheduled bus services and the Arle Court Park & Ride service. It will encompass a with-flow Westbound Bus Lane over a length of nearly 900 meters, beginning at the existing bus stop on Gloucester Road (opposite Tennyson Road) and continuing through the Benhall Roundabout (at the junction with Princess Elizabeth Way) to end just before the junction Interesting facts and figures with Whittington Road. • At least 95% of existing hedgerows and trees At the same time it will protect the green space between expected to remain the A40 and the local residents by reducing the width of • There are over 2,000,000 bus passenger trips on the central reservation in order to provide space for the the A40 Cheltenham to Gloucester bus corridor new bus lane. every year – at least 1,000,000 more than any other road in the county • Currently the road is extremely busy – there are Key aims of the new scheme: approx 50,000 vehicles using the A40 between • To provide a high quality, attractive public transport Benhall Roundabout and Arle Court Roundabout system connecting Cheltenham and Gloucester every weekday • To reduce bus journey times on the Cheltenham A40 • In the busiest section of the road a third of bus western corridor, making public transport more attractive journeys vary from their timetable by more than 5 minutes • To encourage mode of travel shift from car to bus, and car to Park & Ride on the Cheltenham A40 western • There are 17 bus journeys an hour along the road corridor • Benefits of the scheme will affect over 2,600 passengers each weekday on services between Gloucester and Cheltenham and 1,300 on the Park & Ride services • The additional bus lane will increase road space and decrease traffic conflict Summary of the A40 Bus Lane Scheme Potential locations for a signal controlled pedestrians The proposed bus lane crossing. will be in operation from 7am to 7pm and may be used by taxis and cyclists Benefits of the original scheme Additional benefits of the redesigned scheme • Improved and consistent journey times for bus services • All trees and vegetation on Miserden or Campden road during congested periods retained, significantly reducing impact on local residents • Benefits important bus services, e.g. the route 94 and • Potential to enhance existing street scene with the Arle Court Park & Ride planting of specimen trees between existing trees • No loss of capacity to the main road, no disadvantage • Existing embankments supporting the A40 to remain in to other road users place • No safety concerns regarding the layout • Enforcement cameras now being considered for both the proposed and existing A40 bus lanes • Proposal will combine well with the Arle Court Bus Lane Details - A40 Gloucester Road East of Benhall Roundabout Width of central reserve and island to be reduced Bus priority at signals Outbound carriageway to be widened to accommodate the bus lane by narrowing the existing verge. All trees and vegetation will be retained although some cutting back of overhanging tree branches will be required to site road signs 3m wide bus lane to start at existing bus stops Existing layout: A40 Gloucester Road, Tennyson Road to Benhall roundabout, with inbound with flow bus lane. Bus stop and bus shelter on south side of carriageway opposite Tennyson Road. Dual carriageway on westbound approach to Benhall roundabout. Proposed Measure: Potential benefits: • Construct a 3m wide ‘with flow’ bus lane from Tennyson • No significant removal of trees or vegetation required in Road to Benhall roundabout, approx 400m long order to construct the bus lane • Space required for proposed bus lane to be taken from • Buses given priority over main road traffic nearside (southern) verge between Tennyson Road and • Option supported by bus operator giving reduced journey Benhall Avenue times and improved reliability • Advanced bus detection on approach to roundabout to • No negative effect on main road traffic trigger green traffic light signal as bus arrives at junction • Enforcement cameras now being considered to ensure compliance Details - Benhall Roundabout Exit from roundabout to be widened by reducing the width of the central reserve Carriageway widening by reducing the central roundabout Subway Outside lane to be a dedicated bus lane. Proposed layout to Vegetation to remain untouched have 3 lanes on roundabout Existing layout: 3 arm roundabout at the junction of the A40 Gloucester Road east, A40 Gloucester Road west and Princess Elizabeth Way. All arms controlled by traffic signals. Pedestrian subway on the A40 east arm, signalled controlled pedestrian crossing facilities on Princess Elizabeth Way. Proposed Measure: Potential benefits: • Widening of the approach to the roundabout from the • Offers a continuous bus lane from Tennyson Road A40 east to allow for the installation of a bus lane on the through to Arle Court roundabout nearside • Buses can safely negotiate the roundabout without • Size of roundabout central island to be reduced to having to merge with other traffic accommodate the bus lane on roundabout • Supported by bus operator giving reduced journey times • Widening of roundabout exit from A40 east to allow for and improved reliability installation of bus lane on the nearside • No negative effect on main road traffic or other road • Space to be taken from the nearside verge and the users central reservation • Buses will be able to leave the Benhall roundabout bus • Advanced bus detection on approach to roundabout to stop safely entering the bus lane without having to merge trigger green traffic light signal as bus arrives at junction with main road traffic Details - A40 Gloucester Road West of Benhall Roundabout Eastbound carriageway to be re-aligned, kerb line moved to the north and verge space taken Width of central reserve reduced to 1.6m and safety barrier removed Existing vegetation Existing kerb to remain untouched line to remain A small area of verge to be taken to re-align the carriageway. No trees will be removed Buses exiting the proposed bus lane will join the Arle Court Bus lane Existing layout: A40 Gloucester Road dual carriageway between Benhall Roundabout and (GCHQ) Telstar Way traffic signals. Proposed Measure: Potential benefits: • Both sides of the dual carriageway to be realigned • Buses will have unrestricted access on the approach to the bus bypass facility at Whittington Road (included in • Westbound carriageway to be widened from two to three Arle Court Bus Lane) lanes and include 3m bus lane • No need to remove any embankment on south side of • Eastbound carriageway to remain as two lanes road next to Miserden Road • The additional space required to widen westbound • Buses given priority over main traffic carriageway to be taken from existing central reservation and from verge on north side of road, next to the GCHQ • Supported by bus operator giving reduced journey times site and improved reliability • Advanced bus detection on approach to roundabout to • No negative effect on main road traffic or other road trigger green traffic light signal as bus arrives at junction users • Exploits the lightly used left turn lane into the Benhall housing estate • Allows left turning traffic into Whittington Road to use bus lane A40 BUS LANES - Scheme Location Plan 101 25 55.2m 22 TENNYSON ROAD 100 Overall map 13 113 12 7 1 31 12 125 46 25 42 1 40 19 N SPENSER AVENUE 17 SPENSER ROAD BENHALL 26 11 ROUNDABOUT 3a 14 1 12 21 Benhall Gardens 2 7 6 16 4 2 5 3 1 16 139 14 141 12a 12 KINGSLEYGARDENS 11 49.1m 10 9 50.9m MS A40 GLOUCESTER ROAD 14 (Defaced) (GLTB) STAGECOACH / GCC BUS LANE 49.7m A40 Westbound Bus Lane, Tennyson Road to ED & Ward Bdy CR Benhall Roundabout to Whittington Road GLOUCESTER ROAD CAMPDEN ROAD Shelter 21 27 B4063 OLD GLOUCESTER ROAD 28 38 Potential scheme to be confirmed: TURKDEAN ROAD B4063 eastbound bus lane, Arle Court roundabout 50 15 24 31 4 3 62 A40 GLOUCESTER ROAD 26 TCB FARMINGTON ROAD STANTON WAY 14 40 2 ROAD 1