New centre layout by 2015

 Bristol's Rapid Transit schemes can bring significant traffic and environmental to Bristol City Centre, including a new, enhanced setting for the Cenotaph.

 A proposal is currently available to view at

http://www.travelwest.info/node/347/

 The main elements are:

 - The Quay Street corner by the White Hart Public House, currently a busy traffic and bus route, will be pedestrianised, linking the shopping and leisure quarters more effectively.

 - The traffic will be re-routed into a two-way system on the St Mary on the Quay side.

 - Less complexity of traffic movement means that the figure of eight system can be replaced with a simple signalised movement in and out of Baldwin Street, which will remain open to traffic. This will significantly reduce congestion.

 - The setting for The Cenotaph will be significantly enhanced.

 The remodelling of the centre is estimated to involve around £8 million of the £200 million budget for the three rapid transit schemes.

 Councillor Tim Kent, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: "BRT has provided us with a significant opportunity to revisit the centre - to expand on the successful elements with more high-quality space, and to revisit the elements that could work better - in particular the traffic movements in and out of Baldwin Street. I think there's good news for everybody in this model. Motorists have better traffic movements, pedestrians have a more pleasant environment, and veterans have a much more beautiful setting in which to honour their memories."

 Editors notes:

 Investing in Bristol’s Future - the rapid transit network

 Bristol is the most competitive city in the UK with one of the fastest rates of economic growth in Europe. Studies predict an increase of 74,000 jobs, 72,000 houses and over 200,000 people in the West of England region over the next 15 years. Significant improvements to the quality and availability of public transport will bring Bristol into the same league as the best cities in Europe and minimize the damaging effects of congestion.

 Business has been right behind us in our efforts to improve the public transport offer in the city. In Greater Bristol, congestion has recently been estimated to cost business in the region of £350 million a year*, and the figure continues to grow. Late deliveries, the inability to recruit and retain high-calibre staff, the loss of valuable custom to competitors - the cost of doing nothing is high. By 2016, without significant regional measures to cut congestion, Greater Bristol business could stand to lose as much as £600 million a year*. That is only four years away.

 Bristol City Council is working with partners in the West of England to develop a £197 million rapid transit network. It is part of a wider strategy, including Greater Bristol Metro Rail and the £70+ million Greater Bristol Bus Network, to create a comprehensive public transport system - forging effective links between business and residential areas, dramatically improving the offer and radically reducing congestion.

 All the projects interlink to create a transport system for Greater Bristol staff, visitors and customers that is reliable, affordable, safe, secure, simple to use and available to all. It will open up key areas of the region for recruitment and will support the predicted addition of 23,000 jobs in the north/east fringe and south Bristol.

 There are three schemes making up the rapid transit network. Each of the three schemes will serve important residential and business districts, helping staff and visitors to access workplaces across the city region. Particular attention will be paid to improving small business and retail districts along the three routes, promoting each as a destination, in line with existing transport strategy.

North Fringe to Hengrove is predicted to have 5.4 million passengers per year and support new residential and business districts at Hengrove Park, Cribbs Causeway and Emersons Green East, amongst others. 18,400 households - many currently poorly served by public transport will be within a 400 metre walk of a BRT stop. The current bus journey time from Hengrove to the city centre is 55 minutes. This would be reduced by as much as 40 per cent by dedicated route, through ticketing and fast boarding times.

 The South Bristol Link from Hengrove Park to Long Ashton Park and Ride will provide a new road which will particularly benefit existing south Bristol business and alleviate congestion - both in residential areas and at general traffic hot spots such as Winterstoke Road. Alongside the road, a bus rapid transit route will provide an attractive public transport option, and ensure quicker journey times for all. Both new measures will radically improve connections to Bristol Airport.

 The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads route, via the centre, will lead to a 24% reduction in journey times for users of the service as well as a general reduction in journey times for all road users. This should encourage many people to leave their cars at home, or at the park and ride, freeing up the roads for business-associated traffic. The route links the city centre to Temple Meads, where the council has ambitions to deliver a significantly improved transport interchange.

 Rapid Transit, Greater Bristol Metro Rail and the Greater Bristol Bus Network will combine to form a comprehensive public transport offer for the city region. The West of England aims to work with the government and Network Rail to secure key infrastructure improvements on the local rail network, leading to half-hourly trains, a re-opened Portishead Line and re-opened stations on the existing network.

 *Source: West of England 'Our Future Transport' study.