Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study: Atkins’ recommendations published
The final recommendations to emerge from consultants carrying out the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study have been passed to officials in the Government Office for the South West, Department for Transport, the Highways Agency, the South West Regional Development Agency and the four local authorities of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Councils.
Details of the study and the final report documents can be found online. The recommendations are the results of a two-year study carried out by transport consultants Atkins on behalf of the Government Office for the South West, the Local Authorities mentioned above along with national and regional partners. The study looked at strategic transport improvement needs in the Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and Weston-super-Mare areas up until 2031.
The consultant's recommendations will provide important advice and guidance for the local authorities and other transport delivery organisations such as the Highways Agency and Network Rail to consider when preparing their future plans.
This includes the Greater Bristol Local Transport Plan which covers the 5 years from 2006 to 2011, and aims to deliver significant transport improvements in the short to medium term. They will also help the work being undertaken by the West of England Partnership to produce a new development strategy for the area. The Partnership is working on its vision for 2026, as well as different ways of catering for future population and economic growth, through a consultation document called ‘Directions for Change’.
Cliff Baston from the Government Office for the South West said: ’The study identified a series of measures designed to cater for the expected growth in people and jobs across the area in the future. In developing the recommendations a wide range of alternative proposals were examined to produce what we believe is a cost-effective package of measures. The recommendations will now be considered by the four local authorities, the Highways Agency and Network Rail, before they decide on a possible implementation programme.’
Details of the study and the final report documents can be found online. The recommendations are the results of a two-year study carried out by transport consultants Atkins on behalf of the Government Office for the South West, the Local Authorities mentioned above along with national and regional partners. The study looked at strategic transport improvement needs in the Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and Weston-super-Mare areas up until 2031.
The consultant's recommendations will provide important advice and guidance for the local authorities and other transport delivery organisations such as the Highways Agency and Network Rail to consider when preparing their future plans.
This includes the Greater Bristol Local Transport Plan which covers the 5 years from 2006 to 2011, and aims to deliver significant transport improvements in the short to medium term. They will also help the work being undertaken by the West of England Partnership to produce a new development strategy for the area. The Partnership is working on its vision for 2026, as well as different ways of catering for future population and economic growth, through a consultation document called ‘Directions for Change’.
Cliff Baston from the Government Office for the South West said: ’The study identified a series of measures designed to cater for the expected growth in people and jobs across the area in the future. In developing the recommendations a wide range of alternative proposals were examined to produce what we believe is a cost-effective package of measures. The recommendations will now be considered by the four local authorities, the Highways Agency and Network Rail, before they decide on a possible implementation programme.’
