Plans for a major upgrade to public transport in parts of Coventry and Warwickshire are being put to local people from today (Tuesday 13 June).
A ‘bus rapid transit’ proposal is being unveiled at meetings in Coventry and Nuneaton today. These will kick off the consultation process with local residents, businesses and other key stakeholders to look at some detailed route options and gather support for the proposal, which is needed to secure around £70m of Government funding.
The new plans show a route to link Nuneaton and Bedworth with Warwick University and Kenilworth, via Coventry city centre. It would feature high quality, almost tram-like vehicles that would run both on the road and on newly-built track and would be given a high level of priority over private cars at junctions and other potential bottlenecks. Similar innovative projects have proved successful elsewhere in Europe and in the USA.
Passenger journey times on the new service, which has been given the working title of Sprint, would be significantly better than the existing alternatives. It would provide fast and reliable links between key residential, business, retail and leisure areas, planners say.
“Improving public transport between Nuneaton, Coventry city centre and Kenilworth is an essential step to support regeneration in the area. We are now ready to move forward on a range of options and we need people’s views to make sure that any chosen scheme will be well-supported,” comments Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of the West Midlands transport body Centro-PTA.
“The idea of bus rapid transit is an exciting prospect and one that we think is capable of winning Government support and funding,” he says.
Councillors on Warwickshire County Council, Coventry City Council and Centro-PTA say they will continue to lobby the Government for rail improvements along what is called the ‘north-south corridor’ when opportunities arise. However earlier plans to introduce tram-style vehicles on the existing railway track have been put on hold in favour of a bus rapid transit option.
"The North South Corridor is essential for Coventry, not only for the growth of the city but for ease of travel between Nuneaton, Bedworth, Coventry and Kenilworth in order to access new facilities throughout all areas,” says Coventry cabinet member Cllr David Arrowsmith. “Transport proposals will enable ease of access to jobs, shops, leisure and entertainment facilities as well as links for business and retail outlets."
"We should continue to lobby central government for backing towards providing rail-based options, but in the meantime we press ahead with public consultations on Bus Rapid Transit proposals."
Link: More details of the proposals on the consultation website
