The Bradley Stoke Examiner

Bus Rapid Transit: How it could benefit Bradley Stoke

February 16th, 2008 · No Comments

Between all the controversy surrounding the Bus Rapid Transit scheme in Bristol it has almost gone unnoticed that Bradley Stoke could benefit from part of the proposal.

The West of England Partnership has proposed four routes which would use guided buses on separate, dedicated lanes.
BRT map

The route causing the highest level of concern would see the Bristol and Bath Railway Path used for a line to Emerson’s Green - something keen cyclists and walkers are not happy about.

But another of the routes could see a regular service running from the city centre, along the M32 to a proposed park and ride at the junction with Stoke Lane.

This route, says the partnership, would then terminate at Bristol Parkway Railway Station and then could link up with two spurs going to Filton and Cribbs Causeway and the other through Bradley Stoke.

The plan shows the line coming out of Parkway, going through the edge of Stoke Gifford and running up Bradley Stoke Way to the new town centre.

Although recent plans for a Park and Ride at Bristol Parkway seem foolish due to the lack of space, the rapid transport proposal seems like an idea that would benefit Bradley Stoke massively.

Public transport out of the town to the city centre is somewhat laughable - and where the planners have turned public opinion against them with the railway path route, this could be an idea which may gain considerable support.

One word of warning, though. The plan claims the ‘north fringe’ route “exhibits radical infrastructure requirements in order to provide segregation from general traffic” and is “the most expensive of the short-listed options”. But the planners admit it would “carry large passenger numbers”.

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Have your say: Park & Ride for Bristol Parkway?

February 7th, 2008 · 1 Comment

The Evening Post on Thursday has details of plans for new park and ride schemes for South Gloucestershire - including one at Bristol Parkway railway station.

Parkway station

The plan is, according to the publication, “high priority” and could be in place within five years.

The plans have been put forward by the West of England Partnership which is made up of the four council’s in the ex-Avon area.

Councillor Brian Allinson, South Gloucestershire Council’s transport boss, said the plans had “already approved” and “we are now progressing on delivering this important facility”.

The Examiner wonders where South Gloucestershire Council are going to put this facility considering parking is already stretched for commuters using the station.

And would this cause yet more traffic problems for residents along Great Stoke Way and Hunts Ground Road who already have to suffer commuters taking up on-street parking in a bid to avoid car park charges?

Hit the comments and let us know what you think.

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