Steer Davies Gleave supports another successful Rapid Transit Scheme

Minister Paul Clark, visiting Bristol yesterday, announced programme entry approval for the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Scheme.

The £48 million scheme was identified in the West of England's Joint Local Transport Plan in 2005. Steer Davies Gleave (SDG) was engaged in early 2006 to undertake a feasibility study of the case for rapid transit in the West of England. They identified a priority order for delivery of the corridors within the proposed rapid transit network, the first of these being the route to Ashton Vale. Since then SDG has project managed this scheme and the future routes of the proposed rapid transit network.

The new scheme proposes to use modern, high-quality vehicles that will run on a specially designed busway. The busway will operate alongside a continuous cycling and walking path between the Long Ashton Park & Ride and Bristol City Centre. It will flow on an anti-clockwise loop around Bristol stopping at Temple Meads Railway Station, Cabot Circus retail centre, Broadmead and The Centre before returning to the Park & Ride site.

The next stage of the project will be the submission, in Spring 2010, of a Transport & Works Act Order which SDG has also led.

Notes to Editors:

• The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Scheme is one part of a wider rapid transit network identified in the first West of England Joint Local Transport Plan. The scheme is a 7km bus-based system linking the existing Long Ashton Park and Ride site with Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station and Bristol City Centre.
• The scheme aims to provide a new public transport option through fast, frequent and reliable services running on a largely segregated route, separate from car traffic, with priority over other road users at traffic signals. Full details and a map of the route are available at http://travelplus.org.uk/rapid-transit---ashton-vale-to-temple-meads
• A Major Scheme Business Case to apply for funding was submitted to the Department for Transport in March 2009. 
• A draft Transport and Works Act Order application will be submitted this Spring with a view to rapid transit services being operational by 2014.