Agenda item

This report has been requested in response to concerns raised over queuing traffic entering the city centre in am peak periods following the installation of bus priority measures. The report considers the issues and evaluates a proposal to enable all traffic to use the left hand lane of Mile End Road Approach between Havisham Road and Church Street. 

RECOMMENDATION

To retain all current bus lanes into the city centre for buses, taxis (hackney licensed) and pedal cycles only to support the delivery of the Portsmouth Plan and Local Transport Plan 3 outcomes.

To shorten the southern end of the bus lane in Mile End Road approach between Havisham Road and Church Road by approximately 20 metres and the associated Traffic Regulation Order will be amended to reflect the change.

A report by the Head of Transport & Environment was introduced by the Assistant Head, Mark Griffin who set out the request by the administration to look at ways to try and alleviate congestion in peak hours as well as analysing the increase in times to car journeys set against the service given to 19 bus services in the morning peak hour and the comments made by the City Development Manager regarding the regeneration importance of the park and ride scheme.  The officer's recommendation was for the bus route to remain for the current users only.

Deputations were then made firstly by Dervla McKay from First Bus whose points included:

·         There had already been agreement to extend the park and ride to Southsea for a trial which would be impacted if part of the bus lane was removed.

·         Encouraging the public transport by the council was appreciated and altering the bus lane would affect commercial services with a cost to them and a reduced frequency to the services and therefore she encouraged the officer's recommendation to be supported.

A deputation was made by Robin Kay, a Portsmouth resident whose points included:

·         Alteration to the bus lane would weaken the park and ride which had been a big investment for the council.

·         Motorists should not be put before all other forms of transport and this would be detrimental to residents at the expense of them rather than visitors to the city.

A third deputation was made by Jon Spencer of the Cycle Forum who had also submitted a written deputation to the Cabinet Member, whose points included:

·         The current congestion was being caused by the number of vehicles with single occupants and most of this traffic came from outside of the city.

·         Most journey times had not been made worse since the road layout had changed as there was less queuing time elsewhere in the city and there was a need to consider the Southsea part of the park and ride scheme.

·         There was a need to encourage more cycling in the city especially women.

·         In Liverpool the Council had removed their bus lanes only to see the need to replace them.

·         Alternative and sustainable methods of transport should be encouraged.

Councillor Ellcome then spoke regarding his support for the cycling initiatives in the city.  He was also aware that motorists' journey times had increased in the city.  Councillor Ken Ferrett spoke as group spokesperson feeling that an alteration to the bus lane would only give a short term relief and the need for a modal shift to increase use of public transport and urged the Cabinet Member to give his support to the prioritisation of the park and ride scheme which his residents had been inconvenienced during its construction.

Councillor Lynne Stagg then spoke as opposition spokesperson and having been instrumental in bringing in the park and ride scheme she did not want the bus lane to be trimmed as this would affect the link to Gunwharf and put people off using the service.  There may be a need to look at more radical solutions in future but the park and ride service should be supported.

Councillor Ellcome would work with officers to look at improvements to the traffic flow including alterations to the pedestrian crossing times linking with the Mile End roundabout to make them more efficient, and asking for more signage for the use of both lanes after Trafalgar Gate.  There was a problem with traffic waiting to turn left into Church Street so he would like to see the last stretch of the road being made more available to cars with the removal of the bus lane by approximate 20m to give more room for them to turn left.  He asked that the officers look at the technicalities of doing this in consultation with himself as Cabinet Member.

DECISION:

To shorten the southern end of the bus lane in Mile End Road approach between Havisham Road and Church Road by approximately 20 metres and the associated Traffic Regulation Order will be amended to reflect the change.