Transport News 

Where are we? Where are we going?


A map of all the major transport projects for 2006-2026

New transport plans and funding awards are often in the news, but it is difficult to keep track of what is what, so here is a quick overview of the major plans.

Background

The area covered by the four councils Bristol City Council, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and BANES (Bath and North East Somerset) are collectively known as the West of England, and this area has not received its share of national transport infrastructure funding over the years.

By 2026 forecasts suggest the population will grow by a fifth, adding an extra 190,000 people and there will be 122,000 more jobs, an increase of over a quarter. This will put ever greater strains on the transport infrastructure.

In 2005 central government changed the way it provides funding for major transport projects introducing a bidding system intended to ensure money goes to the best and highest priority projects and not simply to the first in the queue as had been the case in the past.

In order to enter bids, the four councils just mentioned formed the West of England Partnership (WEP). A report was done called the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study (GBSTS) which looked at the current and future transport needs of the region up until 2026.

The GBSTS is uses as the basis for most of the transport projects and plans that the WEP produces.

You can download a bigger PDF version of the map above from this page of the WEP website .

The Joint Local Transport Plan

The Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP) was created in 2005 and finalised in 2006 by the WEP. The aims and objectives of the plan are to tackle congestion, improve accessibility, improve air quality, improve road safety and improve quality of life. The plan also includes 21 targets by which the plans success can be measured.

Central government has a pot of money called Regional Funding Allocation (RFA) which councils have to compete for by submitting bids for "major projects" (those over £5 million). The projects that are most likely to make the most difference get the money.

The JLTP final document has eight major projects to be submitted before the end of 2011 with actual construction beginning about eighteen months after each application date:

It lists another twelve projects which require further development and and would mainly be submitted after 2011:

  • 2010 Callington Road Link
  • 2011 Weston-super-Mare Package Phase 2 (including Banwell Bypass)
  • 2011 A38-A370 (Barrow Gurney bypass)
  • 2011-16 WSM - BIA - South Bristol
  • 2011-16 Relocation of Junc 21 (M5)
  • 2011-16 South Bristol Ring Road Phase 3 (Hengrove to A4174 Avon Ring Road)
  • 2011-16 A36 - A46 Link
  • 2011-16 Second Avonmouth crossing
  • 2011-16 Heavy Rail
  • 2011-16 Stoke Gifford Bypass

When new funding or details of projects are outlined in the news it is about one or more of the projects in these lists. This is the framework for transport improvements and details are added as time progresses.

The first of these projects, the GBBN received funding in May 2008 giving £42million from central government, £20 million from First Bus and £6 million from developers (S106 contributions). This money will be used to raise the standard of ten bus corridors to "showcase bus route" status. These routes go from central Bristol to Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Portishead, Yate, Cribbs Causeway, Bradley Stoke, Emersons Green, Radstock and between Bath and Radstock. The bus lane on the M32 is part of this project.

The second major project is the Bath Public Transport Package which is soon to recieve £52 million to upgrade the major bus routes in Bath to showcase route standards, to add a park and ride on the east side of the city and to create a rapid transit route between the new park and ride and the existing Newbridge park and ride on the west side of the city.

As of January 2009, consultations are still under way for the South Bristol Ring Road Phase 1 (A38 - A370) and residents in the area are being asked what combination of road and bus rapid transit they want to go along with the cycling and walking facilities which are included in all the options.

The proposals for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system between Ashton Vale and Temple Meads station (and city centre) have been in the news recently. Over time the original list of major projects has had to adapt to circumstances and since the controversial plan to use part of the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path for the Bus Rapid Transit phase 2 (BIA/Ashton Vale/Emersons Green) have been shelved, only the section of this route from Ashton Vale to the city centre is being progressed at this point. When implemented the project will replace the 903 bus service that currently serves the Ashton Vale Park and Ride. The extensions to the Bristol International Airport (BIA) and Emersons Green will be worked on in due course

In October 2008 the Heavy Rail project was advanced up the list when the WEP submitted its "Greater Bristol Metro" plans. These include potential reopening of the link to Postishead and services between St Andrews Rd in Avonmouth to Parkway via Henbury. There would also be increased services and infrastructure improvements to existing stations and lines. This funding would be drawn from the RFA and these proposals will be considered by the South West Regional Assembly in February 2009.

Progress Report 2008

Each year the WEP provide a progress report on the JLTP and the 2008 report had this to say about the major projects:

Excitingly there is £400m of Regional Funding Allocation (RFA) set aside for our major schemes. We have some way to go with consultation, getting programme entry and final approval for most of the schemes but we are forging ahead.

Our schemes take in the £70m Greater Bristol Bus Network, funding already approved and work starting, and the £54m Bath Package, full approval soon. Both are packed with public transport improvements plus new and expanded park and ride in Bath. Hot on the heels of this success comes our rapid transit network kicking off with the first route from Ashton Vale to Bristol Temple Meads. Extensions to Emerson’s Green and a Hengrove to the North Fringe route will follow. Consultation on the Ashton Vale route started in November 2008 with a bid to the Department for Transport for funding in early 2009.

Meanwhile Weston-super-Mare looks set to benefit from the Weston Package delivering new bus links, bridge over the railway and improvements at Worle Station and Junction 21 on the M5 motorway. Consultation started in autumn 2008 with a bid in early 2009. Keep an eye out also for the South Bristol Link connecting regeneration with improved access. Looking still further ahead we have a possible Transport Innovation Fund bid aimed at realising our 20 year “Our Future Transport” vision, tackling congestion and providing those all important alternatives to get you out of your car.

Our Future Transport

The West of England Partnership document Our Future Transport forecasts the total investment needed over the twenty years between 2006-2026 will be £2.5 billion (equivalent to five times the £500 million cost of the new Cabot Circus shopping centre). Assuming the rate of funding for the JLTP from the Regional Funding Allocation continues at the same level over the twenty years, that would only provide £750 million (one and a half Cabot Circuses) leaving a shortfall of £1.75 billion (three and a half Cabot Circuses).

Fortunately there is another pot of money called Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) which would be able to provide another £850 million leaving a shortfall of only £900 million (just under two Cabot Circuses worth).

Central government is only making this TIF money available if local plans include congestion charging. This effectively means that the local councils have no option and must implement congestion charging if they want to receive significant transport funding.

The recent referendum "no" vote on congestion charging in Manchester (21% in favour, 79% against) was significant because they needed a yes vote to secure money under this scheme. In time we will see if central government is willing to allow this funding to be paid even when the key criteria is not met by local authorities.