Views being sought in £2m scheme to reduce bus delays in York
York Council is hoping to free up space for green spaces in the city
Views are being sought to help tackle York's various bus delays as part of a £2 million scheme to improve sustainable travel.
York Council have earmarked £2.2 million for a Sustainable Transport Corridor which would run from the train station to Tower Street.
In order to reduce delays, some proposals have already been made, including bus stops being improved and the city's pavements being widened.
Kate Ravilious, spokesperson for the Labour-run council, said detailed proposals for the scheme, which mainly aims to improve bus reliability, would now be consulted on.
The plans have already been welcomed by sustainable travel groups, but faced opposition from Liberal Democrat councillors, fearing traffic delays could be worsened elsewhere.
Efforts to tackle delays facing buses in York could also free up space for new green spaces and seating, depending on the results an upcoming consultation.
A York Council meeting heard £2.2m plans for a Sustainable Transport Corridor running from the city’s rail station to Tower Street could also see bus stops improved and pavements widened.
Ruling Labour’s transport spokesperson Coun Kate Ravilious said detailed proposals for the scheme, which mainly aims to improve bus reliability, would now be consulted on.
Organisations including York Bus Forum and York Cycle Campaign welcomed the plans but opposition Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Coun Stephen Fenton said the council should avoid making traffic worse elsewhere.
The scheme, which went before a council Transport Decision Session on Tuesday, April 22, aims to tackle slow bus journeys, delays and unreliability on one of York’s most congested routes.
The project covers the route which runs from York Station via Rougier Street, George Hudson Street, Micklegate, over the Ouse Bridge to Clifford Street and Tower Street.
A council report stated the George Hudson Street, Micklegate and Ouse Bridge part of the route was among the top 20 per cent most congested in the local bus network.
Issues along the route include buses being delayed at traffic lights, negotiating tight turns and traffic at the High Ousegate-Low Ousegate junction and the exit from Coppergate to Clifford Street.
Buses also face further delays when exiting Skeldergate onto Skeldergate Bridge and the width of pavements elsewhere means there is limited space or no waiting areas at some stops.
People walking, cycling or travelling by wheelchair along the route also face issues including narrow pavements, a lack of crossings and limited road space for bikes.
The report stated several options were being considered for the route to overcome the challenge of not having enough space to implement dedicated bus lanes.
Coun Ravilious told Tuesday’s meeting no final proposals had been agreed to and the scheme aimed to reduce unnecessary through traffic but it would not completely stop private vehicle access.
The Sustainable Transport Corridor aims to reduce bus journey times by an average of three minutes along the route by July 2026.
Objectives include improving bus punctuality to 97 per cent between Rougier Street and Stonebow by July 2027.
Aims also include increasing the number of pedestrians and wheelchair users by 10 per cent and cyclists by 20 per cent on the Ouse Bridge from this year to 2027.
A consultation on outline proposals is proposed for May to July, followed by the drawing up of detailed designs in the autumn and works starting at the beginning of 2026.
Doreen Magill, of the York Bus Forum, told the meeting the current emphasis of services running to time was also causing delays, with some facing lengthy layovers.
She added the council needed to reach out to as many people as possible to ensure the consultation is as effective as possible.
Tony May, York Civic Trust’s transport lead, said the scheme had the potential to benefit major developments like Castle Gateway and York Central.
York Cycle Campaign’s Andy Shrimpton said they welcomed action after years pro-cycling rhetoric, adding the city could not continue to keep accommodating for increasing private car use.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson Coun Fenton said the project should be delivered alongside other improvements including those to the Outer Ring Road to draw cars out of the city centre.
Transport Executive Member Coun Ravilious said it would bring improvements that would benefit bus users in York and beyond.
She added the upcoming consultation would seek to get people’s views on other potential uses of the highway where changes allow.
The executive member said: “We as a council are paying subsidies to the tune of more than £3.5m to keep buses running and one of the reasons they’re not running reliably is because of delays along this corridor.
“This will make transport better for everyone and it could bring additional benefits like improved bus stops along with allowing alternative uses for the highway such as pavement cafés.”