Progress has been made on a plan for a new bus lane on a busy Bristol road with the city’s “worst performing bus routes”. Construction is expected to start next year on two sections of new bus lanes along Muller Road, which runs from the Eastgate retail park to Horfield.
Two sections of bus lanes will be built running eastbound between Heath Road and Tackley Road, and between the railway bridge and Elmcroft Crescent. The new bus lanes would only be in operation during peak times, with general traffic allowed during off–peak times.
An extra £388,000 has been pledged to write up a full business case for the project, during a West of England Combined Authority committee meeting on Friday, June 16. Buses driving along Muller Road are some of Bristol’s least punctual, according to City Hall bosses.
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Labour Councillor Kye Dudd, cabinet member for climate, said: “Something definitely needs to be done there so it’s welcome to see the funding for the bus lane. The 24 route is, I believe, still the worst performing bus route in the city in terms of punctuality, and goes along Muller Road.
“So it’s really welcome to improve the public transport option but also to alleviate congestion. It’s a priority area with new housing in Lockleaze.”
New bus lanes were built further up the road earlier this year, as part of wider plans to upgrade the road network in the area. One thousand new homes are planned for Lockleaze, adding extra demand to public transport.
A new train station is also under construction just off Muller Road. Ashley Down station is expected to open in summer next year, but campaigners are now calling for the bus stops on Muller Road to be relocated closer to the new train station.
Christina Biggs, from Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways, said: “Let’s make every single suburban railway station interchanged with buses at the railway station. It doesn’t quite happen at the moment, notably at Filton Abbey Wood there’s a bit of a walk to get to the bus service.
“There are two bus stops near Ashley Down station on Muller Road. You can come in on one and the bus stop is near the station, but going the other way it’s quite a long walk. You’ve got an extensive walk up a long hill. Both routes should have stops in both directions near the station. It’s something you can get going with right now.”
Bristol City Council is responsible for where bus stops are located at the moment, although this power will soon transfer over to the West of England Combined Authority. Dan Norris, West of England metro mayor, said the location of bus stops was “complicated”.
He said: “I was at Ashley Down this week and it’s coming on at pace. The platforms are now in and it’s ahead of schedule, which is fantastic. It’s due to be completed in February or March next year, and then hopefully within three or four months in next May or next summer it will actually open.
“But we do have to have it joined up. It’s not done by accident, it has to be designed and made to happen. I know Kye is a good guy and he’s been listening carefully to that and he’ll be feeding that back in. I’m sure it’s more complicated than I’m aware of.”
