£48 million Bristol transport improvements gets initial approval

Plans include new express bus service.

Plans for £48 million of improvements to Bristol’s public transport system has received initial Government approval.

Bristol City Council can now move forward with detailed planning for the scheme, which involve creating a new express bus service called a Rapid Transit Route, from Long Ashton Park and Ride to Bristol Temple Meads and on to Cabot Circus, Broadmead and the Centre.

A significant part of the route would be on dedicated roads and bus lanes and there are also plans to increase bus services on the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads route.

Also included in proposals are parallel cycling lanes and routes for pedestrians between the Museum of Bristol and Long Ashton Park and Ride, additional bus services to provide faster journey times and improved reliability for services to Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Nailsea and ticket machines at bus stops and user-friendly electronic information displays.

The aim of the scheme is to ease congestion and reduce journey times for commuters and it is part of a series of bus improvements planned in the West Country.

Transport Minister Paul Clark said: "An efficient and reliable transport system is the lifeblood of every local community."

Further information:
Bristol City Council