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The projects aim to reduce bus delays and increase reliability of services along the A38, A370, A369 and through Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon towns.
The areas are:
A38
Churchill Junction
Lime Kiln Roundabout
A370 and Weston-super-Mare
Backwell
A370/B3440 slip road
Bristol Road / Walford Avenue / Queensway Worle
Worle High Street
A369
Rownham Hill
Clevedon
B3133 Southern Way/Central Way roundabout
Ettlingen Way roundabout
Tickenham Road/Northern Way roundabout
Early engagement will now start to take place to create plans for the ten areas. Plans will focus on creating sustainable bus priority infrastructure schemes that make small time savings in each location that together add up to significant impacts resulting in creating self-sustaining bus services.
Cllr Hannah Young, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council said: “Through the Bus Service Improvement Plan schemes we want to make buses quicker, more reliable, and more frequent, which is what people tell us they need to make buses an attractive option. In turn, that means that in two years’ time, when the BSIP money for subsidising bus services temporarily has been spent, we don’t see bus operators cancel vital services that the community rely on.
“Minutes saves buses. If we’re able to save journey minutes from each individual scheme, the knock-on effect will be efficiencies that significantly reduce the long-term bus service operating costs along whole corridors. This means, more buses and fewer cancellations of routes or service frequencies in two years’ time.
“We will now start engaging with local councillors, residents and businesses to work together to create plans for the schemes that result in looking to create improved and sustainable services across North Somerset.”
Roads Minister Richard Holden said: “People up and down the country deserve a modern, reliable, and affordable public transport system. That is why we have provided North Somerset Council and West of England Combined Authority with over £105 million to boost their bus services.”
“Supporting the Council with introducing ten improvements to boost local bus services is fantastic for local residents, who will now be able to get to work, attend medical appointments and visit loved ones more easily.”
The Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) is the Council’s major investment programme in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority. The aim is to improve the quality and provision of bus services to encourage less use of private cars. This will result in North Somerset becoming a greener place to live, contributing to our focus on addressing the climate emergency.
More information on the Bus Improvement Service Plan and its schemes can be found on the council website: Bus service improvement plan | North Somerset Council (n-somerset.gov.uk)
ENDS