THE changes that have been unveiled for the Number 2 bus route are an updated version of a scheme from four years ago.
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the public transport and connectivity committee, says they have been made in response to a public consultation held in November 2021.
A bus gate is now suggested at the top of Park Street and a bus-only lane at the bottom to improve journey times on the route along Queens Road, the Triangle, Park Street and College Green.
George Burton, from bus company First, said: “We fully support the council’s plans through one of the most congested parts of the city.
“The scheme to improve the road layout and prioritise buses through this busy part of the city is essential for us to run punctual timetables. We need to make bus journey times competitive against other modes if we are to promote sustainable travel in the city. These plans, along with other investment into bus infrastructure on key bus routes across the city, will help us to achieve these aims.”
The plans include
• Reducing Queens Road to one lane in both directions from Whiteladies Road to the Triangle.
• Introducing more areas of public space, including a large area in front of the Victoria Rooms on Queens Road.
• Closing Park Street to through traffic using a bus gate at the top of Park Street and a bus lane
at the College Green and Canons Road junction.
• Adding a continuous segregated cycleway from the bottom of Whiteladies Road to link to
the cycleway on Park Row.
• Upgrading bus stops and adding new ones.
• Widening pavements and improving crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Removing some pay and display parking and adding more disabled parking.
The main changes following public consultation include:
• Creating an inbound bus lane from Whiteladies Road that continues to the Queens Road/Triangle bus stops.
• Adding more detail to the public spaces on Queens Road, University Road and Park Street.
• Installing a segregated cycleway going in the direction of traffic on the north side of Queens
Road.
• More cycle and e-scooter parking and laybys.
• Making Great George Street one-way in to Hill Street and making Charlotte Street one-way out from Hill Street.
• New pedestrian access to College Green.
Consultation on the traffic orders required for the changes will take place in the spring or summer and construction work could begin at the end of the year. In the meantime, the council will speak to local businesses to seek their input on what else they would like to see in the area.