The Department for Transport has approved funding for Bristol’s proposed rapid bus network.
The announcement sees the DfT providing £34.5 million of funding towards the £45 million project, which will see the development of a faster bus network across the West of England.
The scheme is set to be completed in April 2016, with the Bristol Metrobus looking to provide better links between key locations in the city through a quicker service and segregated busways to lower congestion on Bristol’s roads.
Minister of State for Transport, Baroness Kramer, said, “The Bristol Metrobus will provide a stepchange improvement for public transport serving not just the city itself but also surrounding communities. Buses will be able to get around quickly, travelling along dedicated busways and priority lanes around Bristol and into the city centre. The new link will stimulate economic development and link communities with jobs.
“Our £34 million investment towards the network shows we are serious about funding the infrastructure needed in this country to drive economic growth.”
The scheme will see the new Metrobus rapid transit service operate three services, running from North Fringe to Hengrove, Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and the South Bristol Link.
The announcement from DfT is the final piece in the jigsaw, as the Metrobus project had received planning approval from all of the local authorities involved at the end of August.
Councillor Brian Allinson, Chair of the West of England Joint Transport Board, said, “With the entire Metrobus network now approved, we can rapidly move forward in delivering these vital public transport improvements.
“The Metrobus network will link key areas through a modern public transport network that is faster more reliable, and more comfortable than existing bus services.
“The success of Greater Bristol Bus Network shows how improvements to public transport can increase passenger numbers and customer satisfaction, and Metrobus will build on this to create a step-change in public transport provision in the West of England.”
