Transport Improvements to the A4 Portway Route Consultation

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This consultation has now concluded.


We are seeking feedback on proposed improvements to the A4 Portway route. The aim of the project is to develop and improve the bus services running along the north western section of the A4 and to improve the walking and cycling environment.

Background

Over the past decade changes have been made to the road network in Bristol to improve bus journey times and encourage walking and cycling. However, the transport network in Bristol still faces challenges, including growth in housing and employment areas, unreliable journey times, and high levels of congestion and air pollution.

To address these challenges, and help Bristol reach its 2030 carbon neutral target, radical changes to Bristol’s road network are required. These changes will need to transform bus travel and better enable cycling and walking.

Over the next 10 to 15 years Bristol and the West of England Combined Authority have committed to developing and improving bus services as a priority for the region, in collaboration with bus operators.

Early engagement – August 2022

We carried out an early engagement exercise in August 2022, which asked people about the issues they face when travelling along the route. People who live or travel along the A4 Portway were encouraged to take part in the early engagement exercise. This was to find out how this main route into the city can be improved to help buses move quickly through traffic and make cycling and walking safer and more enjoyable

On the topic of buses, people generally commented that they want to feel more connected to the north of the city and they want buses to be more frequent. People liked the Portway Park & Ride but did not always use it as it was not open on a Sunday or later in the evening. People thought the bus lanes would be a good addition and helped make the buses more reliable but would still like more buses available to connect to wider areas.

In response to questions on walking, people said the vegetation in places could be cut back as the pavements are too narrow in places, crossing points could be more frequent on the route particularly by bus stops, and the speed of traffic is too high and can make it unpleasant to walk along the route.

Many people who commented on cycling said they wanted a segregated cycle lane in both directions along the A4 Portway. Cyclists and pedestrians often collide as there is no separated cycle lane. People felt the existing shared path and the cycle route are very poorly surfaced with frequent potholes left by the remains of trees. People also said the shared use path is too bumpy and has a poor quality surface for cycling on.

For more information about this early engagement, read the full report.

Portway Park & Ride Bus junction improvements – February 2023

One theme that has come out of the early engagement was the desire to see more connecting bus routes to the Portway Park & Ride site. To allow this to happen the bus entrance and exit to the site would need to be expanded. As part of that work, the team carried out a light touch engagement exercise in February 2023 to look at the possible improvements to the bus junction of the Park & Ride site.

The project proposed to widen the bus entrance and exit junction so buses can turn left travelling northbound towards Avonmouth employment area, Filton, Cribbs Causeway, and help to mitigate the impact of the new arena. The ability to turn left would help to transform the Portway Park & Ride into a community transport hub, serve the railway replacement bus services and the YTL Arena shuttle bus. This project is now progressing the Traffic Regulation Orders and finalising the detailed design and construction is set to get underway in summer 2024.

Other projects in the area:

Other projects that are happening in the area include:

  • Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
  • Portway Park and Ride train station
  • Western Harbour Regeneration Project

You can find out more about these projects in the “Further Information” section.

We are seeking feedback on proposed improvements to the A4 Portway route. The aim of the project is to develop and improve the bus services running along the north western section of the A4 and to improve the walking and cycling environment.

Background

Over the past decade changes have been made to the road network in Bristol to improve bus journey times and encourage walking and cycling. However, the transport network in Bristol still faces challenges, including growth in housing and employment areas, unreliable journey times, and high levels of congestion and air pollution.

To address these challenges, and help Bristol reach its 2030 carbon neutral target, radical changes to Bristol’s road network are required. These changes will need to transform bus travel and better enable cycling and walking.

Over the next 10 to 15 years Bristol and the West of England Combined Authority have committed to developing and improving bus services as a priority for the region, in collaboration with bus operators.

Early engagement – August 2022

We carried out an early engagement exercise in August 2022, which asked people about the issues they face when travelling along the route. People who live or travel along the A4 Portway were encouraged to take part in the early engagement exercise. This was to find out how this main route into the city can be improved to help buses move quickly through traffic and make cycling and walking safer and more enjoyable

On the topic of buses, people generally commented that they want to feel more connected to the north of the city and they want buses to be more frequent. People liked the Portway Park & Ride but did not always use it as it was not open on a Sunday or later in the evening. People thought the bus lanes would be a good addition and helped make the buses more reliable but would still like more buses available to connect to wider areas.

In response to questions on walking, people said the vegetation in places could be cut back as the pavements are too narrow in places, crossing points could be more frequent on the route particularly by bus stops, and the speed of traffic is too high and can make it unpleasant to walk along the route.

Many people who commented on cycling said they wanted a segregated cycle lane in both directions along the A4 Portway. Cyclists and pedestrians often collide as there is no separated cycle lane. People felt the existing shared path and the cycle route are very poorly surfaced with frequent potholes left by the remains of trees. People also said the shared use path is too bumpy and has a poor quality surface for cycling on.

For more information about this early engagement, read the full report.

Portway Park & Ride Bus junction improvements – February 2023

One theme that has come out of the early engagement was the desire to see more connecting bus routes to the Portway Park & Ride site. To allow this to happen the bus entrance and exit to the site would need to be expanded. As part of that work, the team carried out a light touch engagement exercise in February 2023 to look at the possible improvements to the bus junction of the Park & Ride site.

The project proposed to widen the bus entrance and exit junction so buses can turn left travelling northbound towards Avonmouth employment area, Filton, Cribbs Causeway, and help to mitigate the impact of the new arena. The ability to turn left would help to transform the Portway Park & Ride into a community transport hub, serve the railway replacement bus services and the YTL Arena shuttle bus. This project is now progressing the Traffic Regulation Orders and finalising the detailed design and construction is set to get underway in summer 2024.

Other projects in the area:

Other projects that are happening in the area include:

  • Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
  • Portway Park and Ride train station
  • Western Harbour Regeneration Project

You can find out more about these projects in the “Further Information” section.