Post by Sherford on Apr 24, 2006 13:22:57 GMT
www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=133188&command=displayContent&sourceNode=133171&contentPK=14331988&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch
EURO SUPERBUS TO BEAT TRAFFIC
Be the first reader to comment on this story
12:00 - 13 April 2006
Plymouth City Council wants to install a £60 million European-style 'superbus' system from the A38's Deep Lane Junction to the city centre under radical plans to cut congestion. Transport and planning bosses also want to put an extra lane on to Laira Bridge to ease congestion in the east of the city.
And officials want to redirect traffic around Prince Rock to cut down on pollution in Cattedown.
The radical new plans are the result of 18 months of work on the Eastern Corridor study which is being made available to the public today.
City residents are being asked to respond to the ideas over the next six weeks so the council can go to the Government and apply for funding.
For months residents of Plymstock, Plympton and Cattedown have been calling for the plans to be put into the public domain.
Many people have complained about congestion on Laira Bridge, a lack of quality public transport in the east of the city and 'sooty' air in Cattedown.
The 'superbus' system, which features extra-long 'flexible' buses as used in European cities - will run from a park-and- ride site at Deep Lane.
The buses will go through a new 1,500-home town at Sherford before continuing through Plymstock and into the city centre - using old railway line routes next to Billacombe Road. They will have designated stops along the way.
A third westbound lane on Laira Bridge is intended to ease congestion, and diverting vehicles from the A379 around a circular route in Prince Rock would, says the council, cut down on emissions in Cattedown.
The plans will cost millions of pounds to implement but there is Government funding which could be made available - particularly as the council would be in partnership with Devon and South Hams councils.
Jonathan Bell, the council's head of strategy for planning and regeneration, said these were only ideas at the moment - but they were the council's 'preferred options'.
He said: "These projects enable us to plan the growth of Plymouth in a way that's going to deliver a high- quality transport system in the city."
The plans were unveiled to councillors yesterday. Cllr Sue Dann, cabinet member for transport, said: "These plans are the first stage in starting discussions with residents and road users to look at how we can provide a road network from the east fit for everyone's needs."
But Cllr Kevin Wigens, shadow transport spokesman, said the plans were 'too little, too late'.
He said placing the 'superbus' system on former railway lines was 'wasting an opportunity' where a monorail-style system could have been built instead.
EURO SUPERBUS TO BEAT TRAFFIC
Be the first reader to comment on this story
12:00 - 13 April 2006
Plymouth City Council wants to install a £60 million European-style 'superbus' system from the A38's Deep Lane Junction to the city centre under radical plans to cut congestion. Transport and planning bosses also want to put an extra lane on to Laira Bridge to ease congestion in the east of the city.
And officials want to redirect traffic around Prince Rock to cut down on pollution in Cattedown.
The radical new plans are the result of 18 months of work on the Eastern Corridor study which is being made available to the public today.
City residents are being asked to respond to the ideas over the next six weeks so the council can go to the Government and apply for funding.
For months residents of Plymstock, Plympton and Cattedown have been calling for the plans to be put into the public domain.
Many people have complained about congestion on Laira Bridge, a lack of quality public transport in the east of the city and 'sooty' air in Cattedown.
The 'superbus' system, which features extra-long 'flexible' buses as used in European cities - will run from a park-and- ride site at Deep Lane.
The buses will go through a new 1,500-home town at Sherford before continuing through Plymstock and into the city centre - using old railway line routes next to Billacombe Road. They will have designated stops along the way.
A third westbound lane on Laira Bridge is intended to ease congestion, and diverting vehicles from the A379 around a circular route in Prince Rock would, says the council, cut down on emissions in Cattedown.
The plans will cost millions of pounds to implement but there is Government funding which could be made available - particularly as the council would be in partnership with Devon and South Hams councils.
Jonathan Bell, the council's head of strategy for planning and regeneration, said these were only ideas at the moment - but they were the council's 'preferred options'.
He said: "These projects enable us to plan the growth of Plymouth in a way that's going to deliver a high- quality transport system in the city."
The plans were unveiled to councillors yesterday. Cllr Sue Dann, cabinet member for transport, said: "These plans are the first stage in starting discussions with residents and road users to look at how we can provide a road network from the east fit for everyone's needs."
But Cllr Kevin Wigens, shadow transport spokesman, said the plans were 'too little, too late'.
He said placing the 'superbus' system on former railway lines was 'wasting an opportunity' where a monorail-style system could have been built instead.