Rapid bus link could boost travel between Cheltenham and Gloucester
How people travel between Cheltenham and Gloucester could change radically in the future under plans which could see a rapid bus link with services every ten minutes.
Gloucestershire County Council leaders are expected to earmark £1.25m next week on developing a business case and early scheme development programme for mass rapid transit between the city and spa town.
Mass rapid transit refers to a high-capacity, high-frequency public transportation system for urban areas.
Council chiefs say it would provide high-quality, zero-emission, high frequency public transport across central Gloucestershire.
A map included in the report suggests it could ultimately link Bishop’s Cleeve with Quedgeley via Cheltenham and Gloucester.
Mass rapid transit sits at the heart of the county’s planned express bus network and would improve access to public transport to Cheltenham and Gloucester as well as the surrounding rural areas.
And Shire Hall chiefs say such infrastructure would support economic and housing growth in the county.
The project is a central component of their public transport network vision and a strong plank of their transport decarbonisation plan.
Officers have recommended developing a long-term vision for a step change improvement in public transport provision in Gloucestershire through a form of bus rapid transit.
This would be done while developing short-term but significant improvements across the strategic bus network.
This would be achieved through high-frequency limited stop services, by prioritising the development of quick win interventions that can support emerging growth ambitions.
“Mass rapid transit can provide a step change in the quality of local public transport, catering predominantly for higher volume, short to medium length journeys (three to 12 miles) and filling a gap in public transport provision between current traditional bus services and heavy rail within Central Gloucestershire,” the council report reads.
What mass rapid transit in Gloucestershire could offer:
High frequency services – offering direct routing, high frequency such as six per hour and more limited stopping pattern compared to existing bus services.
High quality zero emission vehicles with distinct branding, offering a high-quality experience accessible to all.
Bus Priority – measures to support priority movement to reduce delay (priority lanes, signal priority, modal filters) – separated from general traffic where space allows.
High quality stops and interchanges – high specification, attractive, safe, and convenient waiting environments, and facilities for interchange (between services and with other modes), as well as enhanced access to/from stops.
Cabinet is scheduled to debate plans to draw down the funding and allocate it to begin early development of the new transport scheme at their meeting on November 3.
The report recommends ringfencing £1.25m for the project.
Of this total, £1m will be from developer contributions and £250k is currently allocated in the council’s evenue budget for this financial year.