Following consultation with residents and businesses a new scheme to improve one of York’s key city centre bus routes is set to go to a Cabinet Member meeting for final approval.

The proposals include introducing a longer lane for vehicles turning left into Lord Mayor’s Walk from Clarence Street, so that straight-through/ right-turning traffic is not held up by queuing vehicles.

Traffic signals will be changed so that the left turn from Clarence Street into Lord Mayor’s Walk gets additional ‘green time’.

The scheme is supported through part of the £3.5 million Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF) awarded to the council from the Government’s Department for Transport in 2012.

The five-week consultation took place in September and October and asked for views on the proposed measures on Clarence Street to help improve the reliability of bus services on the approach to York city centre.

The findings of the consultation will now go before the Cabinet Member for Transport’s public Decision Session on Friday 21 November for final approval.

The improvements will help three of York’s five most frequent bus services, specifically routes 1, 5 and 6 which can experience some delays on Clarence Street, Gillygate and St Leonards Place.

Cyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from the changes with a new section of cycle lane introduced on the approach to the traffic lights at the Clarence Street/ Lord Mayor’s Walk junction and improved pedestrian crossing access introduced adjacent to the Clarence Street bus stops.

 

If the scheme is approved, work is expected to start in January 2015 and finish at the beginning of April. Local businesses and residents in the immediate area of the proposed works were consultated and responses received were generally supportive of the scheme.

The scheme will cost around £300,000, a substantial proportion of which is being paid to move various utilities pipes and cables currently buried under Clarence Street.

Initial analysis undertaken to support the council’s BBAF bid supported a scheme on Clarence Street, which is part of a programme of schemes across York. The scheme has also upgraded bus stops and shelters throughout the city and real time information screens at bus stops in the city centre.

To find out more about the scheme visit: http://www.itravelyork.info/

To attend the decision session or to view the report visit: http://democracy.york.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=738&MId=8522