Agenda item

8.1

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director-City Futures advising the Committee of the approach officers are taking to forward the

Connecting Sheffield South West Bus Corridors Project. The report sets out the

background to the scheme, the results of the initial consultation, the analysis of the

issues affecting bus movements on these corridors, the options considered and

actions at this stage.

8.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:

• Endorse the implementation of a series of bus priority works at or near

specific junctions along London Road, Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road,

including amendments to sections of bus lanes and a system of traffic signal

upgrades with buses given priority at junctions.

• Note that the Head of Strategic Transport, Sustainability and Infrastructure

will promote a Traffic Regulation Order for these measures and statutory

consultation will be undertaken with any objections reported to a future TRC

Policy Committee for a final decision.

• Endorse that the existing bus lane hours of operation on London Road,

Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road corridors will be enforced using

camera technology.

• Endorse that a further review of the public transport conditions on these

corridors including an assessment following the implementation of these

works to determine if further bus priority measures are required.

8.3

Reasons for Decision

8.3.1

Officers have investigated alternative options and on balance consider the initial implementation of the bus priority works at or near junctions along with the camera enforcement of existing bus lane hours of operation to be the best solution. Following the implementation of these works a review will be undertaken to

determine if further bus priority measures are required.

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.4.1

Option A – Do Minimum

This option assumes no investment from the Transforming Cities

Fund and therefore no additional infrastructure. Doing nothing is not

considered an appropriate option and would not address the delays

to buses.

8.4.2

Option B – (Preferred option)

Bus priority works and traffic management amendments at or near junctions along London Road, Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road. Existing bus lane hours of operation would also be camera enforced.

There were few concerns with the proposed bus priority works and traffic management amendments at or near junctions along the corridors. The main concerns were regarding any potential amendments to parking restrictions and bus lane operating hours.

8.1

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director-City Futures advising the Committee of the approach officers were taking to forward the

Connecting Sheffield South West Bus Corridors Project. The report set out the

background to the scheme, the results of the initial consultation, the analysis of the

issues affecting bus movements on these corridors, the options considered and

actions at this stage.

8.2

Members were advised that the consultation on the TRO (Traffic Regulation Order) was due to start in August 2023 and any objections would be reported to a subsequent meeting of the committee. The red routes and 12 hour bus lanes included in the original proposal were not included in the recommendations at this stage. Camera enforcement on bus lanes would be introduced to tackle illegal parking and the scheme would be monitored to evaluate its impacts and benefits. Any resulting measures would be brought back to committee prior to implementation.

8.3

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:

• Endorse the implementation of a series of bus priority works at or near

specific junctions along London Road, Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road,

including amendments to sections of bus lanes and a system of traffic signal

upgrades with buses given priority at junctions.

• Note that the Head of Strategic Transport, Sustainability and Infrastructure

will promote a Traffic Regulation Order for these measures and statutory

consultation will be undertaken with any objections reported to a future TRC

Policy Committee for a final decision.

• Endorse that the existing bus lane hours of operation on London Road,

Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road corridors will be enforced using

camera technology.

• Endorse that a further review of the public transport conditions on these

corridors including an assessment following the implementation of these

works to determine if further bus priority measures are required.

8.4

Reasons for Decision

8.4.1

Officers have investigated alternative options and on balance consider the initial implementation of the bus priority works at or near junctions along with the camera enforcement of existing bus lane hours of operation to be the best solution. Following the implementation of these works a review will be undertaken to

determine if further bus priority measures are required.

8.5

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

8.5.1

Option A – Do Minimum

This option assumes no investment from the Transforming Cities

Fund and therefore no additional infrastructure. Doing nothing is not

considered an appropriate option and would not address the delays

to buses.

8.5.2

Option B – (Preferred option)

Bus priority works and traffic management amendments at or near junctions along London Road, Abbeydale Road and Ecclesall Road. Existing bus lane hours of operation would also be camera enforced.

There were few concerns with the proposed bus priority works and traffic management amendments at or near junctions along the corridors. The main concerns were regarding any potential amendments to parking restrictions and bus lane operating hours.