Bristol’s mayor presses ministers for changes to ‘intrusive’ BRT plan

BUS RAPID TRANSIT

Bristol’s new directly elected mayor is to hold discussions with transport ministers about the future of the conurbation’s bus rapid transit (BRT) plan, towards which the DfT has pledged £113m.

Independent mayor George Ferguson, who was elected last month, told LTT this week: “I’ve asked officers to stop assuming that we’re proceeding with BRT as it exists.”

The DfT gave programme entry status and a funding contribution last December to three BRT schemes in the conurbation: Ashton Vale to Bristol city centre (DfT funding £34.5m); South Bristol Link (£27.6m); and North Fringe to Hengrove (£51m).

During the election campaign, Ferguson, a former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, described the BRT plans as a “a system devised to chase the funding, not to provide the best solution”. “As mayor I will request a quick and open review and use my electoral mandate to renegotiate use of the funding,” he said.

Ferguson said this week that he wanted a review of the BRT routes and the technology “to make sure we get the best system”.

He wanted to look at all the studies that have been done on the BRT plans and was bringing in “outside experts” to make sure the right questions were asked.

Ferguson said parts of the BRT routes were “extremely intrusive”. He wanted a public transport system that was efficient, un-intrusive and environmentally friendly.

Asked if light rail may be back on the agenda, he said: “I don’t think we will be looking at a full-blown tram system.” He said he thought the discussions were likely to result in a bus-based solution, but suggested ultra-light rail could have a part to play. 

“I want to make sure we’re not wasting money,” said Ferguson. But he said he was determined that the money pledged by the DfT for the three BRT schemes should stay in Bristol.

“I’m pretty sure I will get co-operation in getting variation at the very least to the proposals,” he said. Ferguson said general discussions with non-transport ministers had shown they wanted to co-operate with him and be flexible.

Ferguson acknowledged that he also had to be sensitive to the aspirations of neighbouring authorities. The Ashton Vale BRT scheme is being promoted jointly by Bristol and North Somerset councils and the North Fringe to Hengrove scheme is a joint project between Bristol and South Gloucestershire Council.

“There is a certain amount of treading on eggshells, making sure the surrounding authorities are in tune with what I’m trying to achieve. I need to take them with me.”

Ferguson has pledged to create an Integrated Transport Authority for the conurbation, covering the four unitaries in the former Avon area: Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath and North East Somerset. But North Somerset is openly hostile to the plan.

Ferguson said he hadn’t yet had the opportunity to discuss the ITA model with neighbouring local authorities yet.

“It’s a no brainer that we should move towards an Integrated Transport Authority,” he said. “I need to understand what the reticence is in the surrounding authorities. The potential benefits of an ITA are enormous.” 

The mayor is a keen supporter of better rail services and said he would take forward the Greater Bristol Metro rail plans.

Speaking at this week’s LTT -sponsored Rebooting ‘Smarter Travel’ conference in Bristol, Ferguson said he wanted the city to be a “testbed of change” in transport policy. “We have very high car ownership,” he said. “Copenhagen opened my eyes to the possibilities of change... very few people use their cars to commute.” He promised “to liberate our streets” from cars “so they become places to meet, they become social places”. He  would close some streets to traffic on some Sundays “to make them special days”.

Ferguson will handle the transport portfolio himself. LTT understands that he had earmarked the role for a Labour councillor, Mark Bradshaw. But Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee has forbidden any Labour councillor taking up a post in the mayor’s cabinet.

Ferguson received transport advice from environmental and public transport pressure group Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance during his election campaign. The group wants the BRT plans scrapped.