Bristol connections: Metro, Bus Rapid Transit, PTE, ITA and local councils - discussion

[whole diary]

[bemmy]

And the route will benefit such a tiny percentage of residents, why should we all have to pay for it?

Erm ... because it will eventually link up with the airport, presumably?

New transport links to the airport will take place alongside the development, including improvements to the A38, a new fleet of buses on the Flyer service from Temple Meads, an extension to the Rapid Transit route from Ashton Vale, new bus services to Weston-super-Mare and Bath and a link route around south Bristol.

See http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Bristol-Airport-reveals-expansion-plans/article-632215-detail/article.html

Well it remains to be seen if these extensions will really happen, by the time they've gone way over budget and behind schedule on the first phase. If they do happen I suspect it will largely be using existing roads.

talking of rapid bus schemes the one that runs in Swansea charges ^2.50 per single journey....so how much is the Bristol one going to cost,seeing as build costs are so high its only reasonable that the fares will be to

Well bus fares here are already higher than comparable fares anywhere else I've been, the minimum single is already ^1.30 for one or two stops. The viability of the Bus Ragged Transport scheme will depend on passengers being willing to pay a hefty premium.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Evening Post:

Plans for a new body with the power to sort out the Bristol area's transport problems have hit the buffers, thanks to the city's three neighbouring councils.

Bristol City Council wants an Integrated Transport Authority to take charge of road, rail and bus networks in the city and in North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.

Supporters say an ITA^▸ (Integrated Transport Authority) would give the Greater Bristol area much more muscle when it comes to lobbying the Government for cash.

It would allow councils to take greater control of bus and rail services, provide an all-in-one ticket system like the Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) card in London and take over responsibility for motorways and A roads.

Bristol's executive member for transport, Jon Rogers, wanted the West of England Partnership, the group that represents all four local authorities, to agree to a two-year study to give the idea proper consideration.

But after pushing the three other authorities for a conclusive answer at a heated meeting yesterday, their councillors all said "no".

Dr Rogers accused the group of complacency and transport campaigners described the decision as a lost opportunity.

The spat recalled tensions that existed when politicians from the areas now represented by the four councils had to work together under the former Avon County Council from 1974 to 1996.

A Government think tank recommended four years ago that an ITA in Bristol could avoid a repeat of the 2004 supertram fiasco, when bickering between councillors in Bristol and South Gloucestershire was blamed for the collapse of a ^200 million light rail scheme.

Not having an ITA puts Bristol behind almost every other major urban area in England, including London, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, South and West Yorkshire and the West Midlands.

The decision by councillors Elfan Ap Rees of North Somerset, Brian Allinson of South Gloucestershire and Charles Gerrish of B&NES means an ITA for the region is off the agenda for the foreseeable future.

Dr Rogers said: "If there is a reason why the three other authorities have decided between them, as Councillor Ap Rees has previously said, to kill it stone dead, you should say so. I would say we should be exploring the options. We do not punch our weight; there is a lot of complacency at this table. We have cross-party support (in Bristol) for this; these concerns were raised seven months ago but we seem to be kicking it into touch every time it comes up."

Mr Ap Rees was the most vocal opponent of an ITA. He said: "We need to be shedding responsibilities, not taking more on. We are in the worst recession since the Sixties and it will take 10 years to get back to the stage we were at in 2005. All an ITA will do is increase costs for local tax payers. It gives us no benefits we can't get by working with the bus and rail companies."

At the same meeting, councillors complained that the region is to receive 20-year-old rolling stock from London next year.

David Redgwell, South West Transport Network spokesman, said: "An ITA would have given us a better deal, powers to operate the bus services in Bristol and a light transit system in Greater Bristol."

Ian Crawford, of the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance, told councillors: "The city and region is nationally renowned for failing to do what is needed to reduce reliance on cars and reduce emissions. The complacency displayed by the partnership on a range of transport issues, and a transport system widely described as rubbish, is an insult to passengers. We have the slowest moving urban traffic, the highest rail fares, the highest age of rail fleet and the worst access to buses. We expect better of you."

[TheLastMinute]

The Bristol Evening Post has launched a campaign to get an Integrated Transport Authority set up for Greater Bristol area.

It's time Greater Bristol had a transport system fit for the 21st century.

Most experts believe the key to this is railways, and our map shows a bold vision for the future.


How Bristol^s suburban rail network could look

It illustrates how more than a dozen disused stations could be brought back into use, creating a suburban rail network that fully connects Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath.

The success of the Severn Beach line shows what can be done when investment is made in local rail ^ 20 per cent increases in passengers and more carriages.

And if the local rail network was developed in the same way, there would be more stations with more frequent services, more passengers and potentially cheaper fares.

But the only way this could come about is through an Integrated Transport Authority and today the Evening Post is calling for one to be set up.

<snip - click link above for full story>

The BEP are right, the only way the Greater Bristol area will get a decent transport infrastructure will be via a IGT. However, I fear the 3 smaller authorities will never agree to giving away their transport powers to such a power for fear that it will be dominated by Bristol. Frankly, that is a stupid reason - oh course an IGT would be dominated by Bristol for the simple reason that's were most people want to go and were most the problem are!

TLM

TLM

[anthony215]

Sounds interesting. I think it would be great for bristol to have something like this.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.

On that map, I'd class Henbury, Pill and Long Ashton, for example, as 'Reopened stations', rather than 'Proposed stations' ...

[TheLastMinute]

From BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) News online...

Meeting backs ^43.3m Portishead to Bristol rail link

Transport leaders from councils around Bristol have met despite plans for a partnership board to be closed down.

The West of England Partnership is to be shut with some roles taken over by a Local Enterprise Partnership.

At a meeting in Weston-super-Mare the group decided to put forward a bid for ^43.3m of government cash to reopen the Portishead to Bristol railway line.

Plans were also announced for a rail summit in the autumn as part of a drive to tackle rail issues across the West.

An Integrated Transport Authority (ITA^▸ (Integrated Transport Authority)) could give councils greater power over buses and railways and the power to set fares was also discussed.

Network Rail said it would also be looking at doubling the number of tracks between Parson Street, in Bedminster, Bristol, and Temple Meads railway station.
'Key priority'

Commenting on the proposed Portishead to Bristol railway line, a North Somerset Council spokesman said morning rush hour journey times were typically 45 minutes but claim it would take just 17 minutes by rail.

If funding and planning issues are solved the council believes a realistic opening date for the line would be by 2017.

Councillor John Calway, who chairs the partnership, said the councils would continue to meet and bid for projects such as new bus routes.

"Transport remains a key priority for both residents and businesses in the West of England," said Mr Calway, the leader of South Gloucestershire Council.

"In recognition of this, the hugely successful West of England Joint Transport Executive Committee will continue in its current form."

The partnership was formed by Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils in 2003 and could be closed by the autumn.

Is it me, or is there a sense of momentum starting up with this thing? (Also see BEP support ITA post)

Cheers,
TLM

[RichardB]

From afar, it is great to see the Bristol Evening Post fight for rail improvements like this.

Where Nottingham has been, surely Bristol should follow (and, yes, I know it isn't as straightforward as that, but you have to start somewhere as the BEP have done)

[Lee]

From Bristol Speakers' Corner:

We meet at 1:00 pm at College Green.
 
This time we will be talking about Bristol's transport difficulties in all its facets.
 
Various transport lobby groups for rail, buses, cars, cyclists and other will be invited.
 
What do people think about the plans to spend ^50 million on a rapid bus system?  Will we ever have a Portishead railway line for passengers?  Has the money on Cycling City been well spent?  Is the Council dragging its feet on the introduction of Residents Parking Schemes?  Should employers in the city centre be charged for Work Place parking? Are car owners being unfairly treated?
 
The transport lobby groups, Transport Alliance and South West Transport Network, will be there.

[standclearplease]

We need a guided bus way.. run by First Bus with unregulated fares.

[ellendune]

Why on earth would you wan a guided busway. The St Ives Cambridge busway was supposed to be so cheap.  However, the cost overuns mean the original comparison with reopening the railway was a nonsense.  The costs of guided busways are fantasy.

[standclearplease]

Definitely agree.. no guided bus ways. Original post was sarcastic! 

[JaminBob]

Hung around at the back for a lot of it.

Quite enjoyable.

[mfpa]

Being dominated by Bristol is not a bad thing so long as the links to and through other centres such as Bath are guaranteed not to be sacrificed in order to improve services to/in Bristol.

I fear the 3 smaller authorities will never agree to giving away their transport powers to such a power for fear that it will be dominated by Bristol

According to my local BANES councillor last year, BANES are in favour and Bristol council is against.

[grahame]

There is a lot to be said for an integrated Transport Authority ... and indeed for one that reaches out right through the natural commuter area of Bristol and the associated satellite towns.   For example, from Bath Bus station, strong commuter services run to Westbury, Melksham and Devizes, and Chippenham and an integrated transport authority should be that - integrated and not stopping at a political boundary but rather at the edge of the natural commuter / business / leisure flows.  Ask people in Box or Bradford-on-Avon where their major local shopping town is, and they'll tell you "Bath" ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Increasing rail services for Bristol and the reopening of the Portishead-to-Bristol Temple Meads line to passengers have been discussed.

Rail industry bosses have met to debate plans for revitalisation of suburban train travel.

Delegates were also asked to consider whether electrifying the Severn Beach line was more important than reopening the Thornbury branch line.

They then took a tour to explore the local railway network.

Local councillors and campaigners had invited members of Network Rail and the Department for Transport to board the one-off passenger train to see the potential of improvements for what could be achieved in and and around the city.

The meeting was also told Network Rail is considering putting in new tracks between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood, which would allow more trains to use the line, which goes to Bristol Parkway.

Earlier this week, a bid for ^43m to reopen a railway link between Bristol and Portishead was rejected by the government.

North Somerset Council applied for the money from the Regional Growth Fund to begin passenger services on the line, which was closed in 1964.

The authority said it was "disappointed" but added reopening the route was still a "high priority".

"Work will continue on pursuing all options for funding this important transport scheme," a statement said.

Part of the railway line into Bristol - from Portbury - was reopened to freight in 2002 but the rest of the route is still disused.

A study in 2010 showed travel time from Portishead would be 17 minutes, compared to an hour by road during rush hour.