Major Schemes

The vision includes a number of measures that have already been agreed and are funded through the Joint Local Transport Plan, such as cycle lanes, bus priority measures and road safety schemes. However, to carry out the all the plans that make up the 20 year vision relying only on these funds would take over 200 years.

Our sister site Travelplus.org.uk has more detailed information on all the schemes

View a presentation on major scheme progress in October 2009

In December 2010, as a result of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review, the Department for Transport asked for futher details on all schemes in development.  The four West of England Councils therefore submitted a joint Strategic Business Case and five expressions of interest. 

In February 2011 we were delighted to hear that Department of Transport (DfT) have recognised the importance of investing in the West of England area and have moved both the South Bristol Link and the North Fringe to Hengrove Package up to the level of the other three schemes. 

This will mean the four councils will submit ‘Best and Final Funding Bids’ for five schemes with a total value of £271 million in the autumn with a final decision expected from the DfT by the end of the year.

These transport improvements are a key part of the business and economic strength of the area - they will introduce a new, rapid, reliable and frequent public transport network, helping to reduce reliance on the private car as well as providing new links to tackle congestion and carbon usage.   This will help people travel to schools and colleges, to jobs and to shop; they will encourage business to the area and help our existing businesses maintain their strong performance; all keeping the West of England at the forefront of the economic recovery.

The DfT have made it very clear that they will not consider any schemes other than those they already have business cases for, and that they will not accept any new bids at this stage.  The West of England authorities remain committed to a number of other transport schemes in their Joint Local Transport Plan programme that are not included in this process (including Portishead Rail Corridor, Greater Bristol Metro, M5 Junction 21 bypass, Callington Road/Bath Road improvements and Rapid Transit Emersons Green to Bristol City Centre). Further guidance is expected towards the end of 2011, when the current review is concluded, to advise how these schemes could be progressed. This is not a reflection of the ‘worth’ of these other schemes, simply a reflection of their ‘state of readiness’.

The Greater Bristol Bus Network is already being deliverd thanks to a Government grant of £42million which local councils and partners have increased to £70 million. Work on improving the bus network started in 2008.

Expressions of Interest were submitted in December 2010 for the following five schemes

The Bath Package -a range of measures aimed at improving alternatives to the car by providing a modern, integrated and easy-to-use public transport system
The Weston Package – a range of measures aimed at supporting sustainable development in the town and immediate area.
The Ashton Vale- Temple Meads rapid transit route  - featuring segregated bus lanes on parts of the route to provide rapid, reliable and frequent journey times

North Fringe to Hengrove package  a rapid transit route linking Hengrove in south Bristol and the north and east fringes of Bristol, new Park & Ride sites and the Stoke Gifford Link
South Bristol Link  a combined road and rapid transit scheme linking the A370 with Hartcliffe roundabout

The DfT have made it very clear that they will not consider any schemes other than those they already have business cases for, and that they will not accept any new bids at this stage.  The West of England authorities remain committed to a number of other transport schemes in their programme that are not included in this process.

Further guidance is expected towards the end of 2011, when the current review is concluded, to advise how these schemes could be progressed. This is not a reflection of the ‘worth’ of these other schemes, simply a reflection of their ‘state of readiness’. 

Portishead Rail corridor

Greater Bristol Metro Rail project

M5 Junction 21 bypass

Callington Road link/Bath Road improvements

Rapid transit - Temple Meads to Emersons Green 

These schemes are all part of the Travel+ package of work that aims to tackle congestion, ensure that alternatives to the car are a realistic first choice for the majority of trips, offer real travel choices - affordable, safe, secure, reliable simple to use and available to all  - and meet both rural and urban needs.