A report providing the Sub-Committee with an update on the progress made on the delivery of a number Bus Service Improvement Plan schemes and seeking approval to consult on those items identified within the report.

Further to Minute 39 of the meeting held on 11 January 2024, the Sub-Committee received a report that informed them of the progress that had been made on the delivery of a number of BSIP schemes and sought approval to consult on a number of items set out in the report.  The following appendices were attached to the report:

The report set out the progress that had been made to date on each of the schemes, alongside any outstanding actions that were required to close out each project.

Oxford Road Bus Lane (westbound) between Zinzan Street and George Street – This scheme had reached practical completion on 9 October 2024, from which point the new lane had become operational.  The report sought approval to carry out a statutory consultation to capture Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) changes in this location which included the following:

(a)     The relocation of the pay and display parking bays (approximately 86 metres east of their previous location);

(b)     The relocation of the loading bay (approximately five metres east of its previous location);

(c)     Updating the red route restriction to reflect the changes in (a) and (b) above;

(d)     Any other updates (restricted to this location) that were identified in consultation with Legal Services and subject to resolution (3) below.

Oxford Road Bus Lane (westbound) between Pangbourne Street and Norcot Road – This scheme had reached practical completion on 2 November 2024, from which point the new lane had become operational.  The report sought approval for the amendments that had been made to the advisory cycling road markings, which were necessary to safely implement the Oxford Road Bus Lane (Norcot Road).

Bath Road Bus Lane (westbound) between Circuit Lane and Granville Road – The delivery of this scheme had been delayed and it was not currently expected to be delivered as part of the current programme of BSIP works.  Therefore, the report sought approval for the scheme to be removed from the current BSIP Programme of works and for the funding to be reallocated to support the delivery of the remaining programme and the revocation of the Bath Road (A4) bus lane and the making of the TRO associated with the revocation.

Southampton Street (Oracle Roundabout) – This new bus lane had been put on hold pending the conclusion of the remainder of the BSIP programme in order to establish the budget available for this scheme.  Following the initial design of the scheme, officers learnt that due to the age and condition of the traffic signals at the roundabout, it was not possible to reposition them as planned without upgrading the entire signal system.  As this had not originally been budgeted for, officers were not able to currently commit to the delivery of this scheme as had initially been set out in the statutory consultation.  In response to this officers had carried out a design review of the roundabout to identify other suitable solutions to improve bus priority and following this a further proposal had been included.  This additional proposal would see the reallocation of an existing general traffic lane to be converted to a bus lane.  As part of the design review, officers had commissioned additional traffic modelling to understand how the junction would perform and any impacts that would be experienced at each arm of the junction.  The report therefore sought approval to carry out a statutory consultation for the alternative design proposals for the Oracle Roundabout and for the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services to be granted authority to proceed with either the original or new designs proposed, subject to the budget available.

London Road Bus Lane (westbound) between Sidmouth Street and London Street – This scheme was pending the conclusion of a formal procurement exercise, which was due to commence in 2025, subject to legal resources, with delivery of the scheme due to commence in Spring 2025.  The DfT had been informed of the delays and a formal extension had been agreed with them.

London Road Bus Lane (westbound) between Liverpool Road and Cemetery Junction - The westbound bus lane had been completed on 14 August 2024, from which point the new land had become operational.

A33 BRT (southbound) – Delivery of the scheme had commenced on site in March 2024.  Construction works for this phase of the scheme were anticipated to be completed in Spring 2025.  The report sought approval to carry out a statutory consultation for new/amended TRO for the extension to the existing bus lane facilities on the A33.

Resolved –

(1)          That the report be noted;

(2)     That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be granted authority to undertake statutory consultation/notification processes for items 3.6, 3.20, 3.25 and 3.35 proposed in the report, in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996;

(3)     That the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services, the Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport and the Chair of the Sub Committee be granted authority to make minor amendments to any of the proposals if required prior to the implementation of any of the traffic regulation orders;

(4)     That that subject to no objections being received the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make the Traffic Regulation Orders in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders Procedure (England and Wales) Regulations 1996, and no public inquiry be held into the proposal;

(5)     That that should any of the proposals receive objections during the statutory consultation period, they be reported to a future meeting for consideration and decision;

(6)     That that subject to the outcome of the Southampton Street (Oracle roundabout) statutory consultation, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be granted authority to proceed with either of the designs proposed, subject to the budget available;

(7)     That the minor amendments made to the advisory cycling road markings, which were necessary to safely implement the Oxford Road Bus Lane (Norcot Road) as explained in sections 3.7 to 3.14 of the report be approved;

(8)     That the Bath Road bus lane be removed from the current BSIP Programme of works, and this funding reallocated to support the delivery of the remaining programme;

(9)     That the revocation of the Bath Road (A4) bus lane and the making of the Traffic Regulation Order associated with the revocation be approved.