UPDATE UPDATE - DECEMBER 2011 FUNDING SECURED - information on what next will follow shortly

The new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Network will be a higher quality experience; reliable, easy to use and understand, with modern vehicles and its own right of way.

The BRT will have clear information, fast boarding and `smartcard’ ticketing linking with wider bus and rail services, creating a new way of travelling and be a catalyst for transforming public transport travel across the West of England area. 

 

 The 'Best and Final Bid' for the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit  was submitted to the Department for Transport on September 9 2011 as one of the five West of England Major Transport Schemes.  Read the Strategic Business Case and see all the accompanying documents.

 

In October 2010 the new Government held a Comprehensive Spending Review.  As part of this review, the Department for Transport (DfT) are reviewing all the transport schemes from across the country that are asking for funding.  All local authority schemes have been placed in one of four categories, a supported, development, pre-qualification and longer term pool . Three of our schemes, the Bath Package, Weston Package and Ashton Vale to Temple Meads Rapid Transit are in the development pool, while the North Fringe to Hengrove Package and the South Bristol Link are in the pre-qualification pool.  

The DfT is asking for ’expressions of interest’ for all schemes in order that they can reassess the viability and deliverability of the proposals.  In the guidance they have advised of the need to look carefully at opportunities to reduce scheme costs and have reminded us that this is a ’competitive process’ so work is in hand to present a strong strategic and technical case for the West of England schemes.

We do not expect to hear back from the DfT on the position of the schemes and their spending programme until the end of January 2011. 

 

A Transport and Works Act Order Application for the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit was submitted on 10 June 2010, but the period for making comments closed on 22 July 2010. However you can find information about the Transport and Works Act process here.

 

Listed Building and Conservation Area consents have been applied for - see all the application forms and proposals.

 

The scheme summary gives an overview of the Ashton Vale - Temple Meads rapid transit scheme, including background to the proposals, a description of the proposals and programme milestones.

 

 

	See the map of the rapid transit network the West of England ccouncils are bidding for and of the route of the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads section Read about the South Bristol Link and the North Finge to Hengrove sections of the network

Much of the information on the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads rapid transit scheme is published on our sister website westofengland.org

 

Use these links to go direct to the Ashton Vale Temple Mead rapid transit page or

• read a scheme summary
• see the Ashton Vale- Temple Meads technology review conducted in 2008
• see the updated technology review conducted in May 2011 focusing on Ultra Light Rail
• see the full bid submisison to the Department for Transport
• read about the local community involvement,
• view the plans at Design Freeze 1
• view the plans at Design Freeze 3 
• see information on the Transport and Works Act
• read the Transport and Works Act documents as submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport on June 10th 2010

 

Read about the other major schemes that are part of Travel+ programme and the West of England partnership plans for the future and find out about the Department for Transport major schemes process

 

We  are working on combining the two websites, but this is taking a little longer than expected so links may take you back and forth between the two.

 

From January 2010 all new information will be published here, on travelplus.org.uk

 

See the information on the North Fringe to Hengrove transport package that includes rapid transit routes. 

   

Designed for long and short distance passengers, rapid transit will be easy access for all, with ‘off-vehicle’ ticketing that integrates with other forms of public transport in the area. Vehicles will be modern, low emission, and sustainable that can be used on segregated routes for reliability and on road for longer distances.

The first planned route is part of the Bath Package and will link Newbridge in the west of Bath to the new park and ride in the east – providing a regular seamless service crossing the city centre and linking the new development at Western Riverside with city centre and outlying areas.

In the Bristol area the first route is planned between Ashton Vale and Temple Meads, via Bristol city centre and linking in with the wider bus and road network from Nailsea, Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon and aimed at encouraging commuters and shoppers out of their cars.

See a full page map

Read a summary of the scheme at Spring 2010