Here is another news peice from the Bristol Evening Post web news pages on This Is Bristol Shouldn't Bus, Train, Park and Ride and other organisations involved including local Councils work together as a team and include each other rather than work on their own agendas and pull each other apart? Until they get their act together on this and real communication happens between all of them then Public Transport isn't the real alternative to encourage people out of their cars. Check out the various links on the main page to find out more about transport plans and so on.
By all means discuss this on the Portway Park and Ride discussion group if you wish and start a topic. It is relevant: http://groups.myspace.com/portwayparkandride
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SNARL-UPS COSTING US £350M A YEAR
09:36 - 13 October 2007
Traffic congestion is costing the greater Bristol area at least £350 million a year, according to a new transport blueprint.
The figure is set to soar to almost £600 million by 2016, says Bristol City Council and other councils in the former Avon area.
Average car speeds during the Bristol rush hour are around 15 miles an hour - the slowest in Britain outside London.Now the four West of England Partnership authorities - Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire - are submitting plans for tackling the crisis to the Department of Transport.
In a document called "Our Transport Future" they pledge to work together for a slice of £1.4 billion of government cash next spring.
The councils expect their "vision" to cost them £2.5 billion by 2026. They want to see major improvements in public transport and the road network.
Measures include new Bus Rapid Transit routes, featuring segregated bus lanes to provide fast and reliable journey times.
The councils also want improvements to rail services, including extra carriages, the reopening of rail lines and stations and improved facilities at stations.
Mark Bradshaw, Bristol City Council's executive member for transport, said: "We have been talking with our colleagues in the four councils and I think it is clear that we are making progress.
"But there's more work to do and we need to work together to tackle congestion and to continue to look at better alternatives to the motor car."
Elfan ap Rees, North Somerset's executive member for highways and strategic planning, said: "If we don't get satisfactory rail links and public transport generally into Bristol and its northern fringe, we will not support any form of congestion charging or charging for workplace parking.
"Our priorities in North Somerset include a Portishead rail link and a new road link between the A370 and A38 for better access to Bristol International Airport."
Brian Allinson, executive member for planning and transport in South Gloucestershire, said: "What we are trying to do is develop a regional approach. We have real congestion problems, particularly on the ring road and along the northern fringe of Bristol, at rush hour.
"But there is no point in dealing with a pressure point here and another there. We have to work together. This document is an expression of interest in talking further with the Department of Transport.
"The document makes initial proposals for an application to the Government's Transport Innovation Fund.
After consultation and with the approval of all the councils involved, the West of England is aiming to submit its full application in early 2008. They expect to hear whether they will get funding some time next summer.
Before any final decisions are made there will be an extensive consultation programme where the public's ideas and views will be taken into consideration.
Web Link: http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231512&home=yes&c..18664740
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