People have the opportunity to help shape and influence the future of sustainable travel in South Gloucestershire.
A consultation has been launched asking for views on proposals to improve walking, cycling, wheeling, and bus travel from Thornbury to Bradley Stoke.
Detailed proposals include the creation of new bus lanes, shared use paths and segregated cycling, walking and wheeling facilities, as well as improvements to bus stops, along the A38 and Bradley Stoke Way.
The Thornbury to Bradley Stoke Sustainable Travel Improvements project will continue South Gloucestershire Council’s ambitious programme of transport improvement schemes to get the road network ready for major new housing and business developments, as well as making sustainable travel options a more attractive choice.
The project aims to:
- Make travelling by bike and walking/wheeling safer
- Make traveling by public transport more attractive to users
- Encourage more people to switch to sustainable travel options
- Take vehicles off the roads and reduce congestion.
Proposals have been developed following the positive feedback received during an initial engagement in early 2022. They are part of a wider programme to improve public transport and active travel across the region.
The proposals include:
For the A38 (between Thornbury and Almondsbury):
- A two-way cycle track between Almondsbury and Alveston
- A new bus lane southbound approaching Hortham Lane
- Improvements to bus stops
- Improved walking, wheeling and cycling facilities
- Speed limit reductions at Almondsbury and Rudgeway.
For Bradley Stoke Way (between Aztec West and Great Stoke Roundabout):
- A two-way cycle track with separate footway
- A new southbound bus lane approaching Savages Wood Roundabout
- Improved crossings to/from the cycle track.
During the consultation, South Gloucestershire Council will be hosting two drop-in sessions for people to learn more about the proposals, meet the project team and ask questions. The sessions are as follows:
- Monday 27 February – 3pm to 7pm – Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre, Fiddlers Wood Lane, Bradley Stoke, BS32 9BS
- Wednesday 8 March – 4pm to 6pm – Jubilee Hall, Greenhill Rd, Alveston, BS35 3QY.
There will also be a further online session on Thursday 9 March from 12pm to 1pm.
This consultation is for phase one of the improvement project. There will be a further consultation in summer 2023 for sections of the scheme which require further design work (phase two).
All feedback will help us to finalise these designs to ensure that they meet the needs of users and the local community.
A full business case will then be submitted to the West of England Combined Authority to secure funding to begin to deliver the scheme. Construction is expected to start in 2024 and take around two years to complete.
Councillor Steve Reade, cabinet member responsible for transport at South Gloucestershire Council, said:
It’s really important that we get the views of people who live, work or travel through the area as they will influence the steps we take to encourage sustainable travel.
We are preparing for the local impact of climate change and an important part of our response is to provide improvements for walking, cycling, wheeling and public transport. We are working hard to help set-up sustainable alternatives to encourage more people to get out of their motorised vehicles more often.
We are committed to tackling these issues and have already invested a total of £174 million in highway improvements over the last four years to reduce congestion and emissions, improve cycling and pedestrian routes, facilitate faster bus journeys and future proof our road network.
The project is funded by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) through its £540 million City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Fund.
Dan Norris, Metro Mayor for the West of England, said:
Please do come forward with your views on these early-stage ideas for bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, cycling facilities, and more so they can be developed, changed and improved.
It needs to be as easy as possible for residents to be able to hop on a bus or walk and cycle their way around Thornbury, Bradley Stoke, and across our brilliant West of England region. I hope measures like these will help cut traffic jams and enable us to make progress towards our really ambitious net-zero targets locally.
For further information or to participate in the feedback survey visit http://www.southglos.gov.uk/a38-phase
The consultation is open until midnight on Sunday 19 March, 2023.
You can also get in touch with us if you have any questions or would like to request a paper copy of the materials by emailing transportservices@southglos.gov.uk