Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

(Note: The objectors have been invited to attend the meeting for consideration of this item)

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning three objections that had been received to the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) advertised on 5^th January, 2017 to suspend the Phase 1 bus lanes, which were suspended from 13^th January, 2017. A further ETRO for additional short length of bus lane on Foleshill Road (inbound between its junction with King Georges Avenue and Old Church Road) came into effect on 20^th January 2017. A summary of the objections along with comments on the issues raised were set out in an appendix to the report. The objectors had been invited to the meeting but were unable to attend.

The report indicated that in Coventry over the past 15 years there had been a 20% increase in traffic on the City’s road network. Locally Coventry was one of the fastest growing cities with an expanding economy which was also putting pressure on the road network. Traffic Information company INRIX analysed congestion over a four year period and Coventry was reported as having one of the fastest raising levels of congestion due to population and economic growth. The Traffic Management Act 2004 placed a statutory undertaking on the Council to secure the expeditious movement of traffic on the authority’s road network.

As a consequence the Council embarked on a review of all its bus lanes. Data from other local authorities who had suspended bus lanes suggested that there were potential benefits to traffic flow with minimal impact on buses. Following consultation with the bus operators and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), the first phase of suspension took place in January 2017 and involved about 2.6km of bus lanes in the city. Data collection commenced from March 2017. The review looked at the journey time data for buses and all other vehicles between March 2017 and March 2018, evaluating against pre-trial suspension journey time data. Data was also provided from National Express. Data was reviewed on a monthly basis. During the trial period Bus Selected Vehicle Detection priorities and improvements were provided at 10 traffic signal junctions located in the sections of suspended bus lanes. This technology was designed to deliver the efficient progression for buses through the junctions.

The summary review of the bus lane suspension trial was set out in a further appendix attached to the report. In conclusion, based on the journey time monitoring there was sufficient evidence to conclude that the suspension had not had a detrimental effect on bus journey times when compared on a like for like basis with bus journey times for the same period in 2016. The introduction of Bus Selected Vehicle Detection (SVD) priorities and efficiency improvements at 10 traffic signal junctions located in the sections of suspended bus lanes had also contributed to this outcome. In conclusion the efficiency gain had offset the effect of traffic growth.

Further consultation was then undertaken with TfWM and the bus operators and it was agreed that the recommended option was for the Phase I ETRO to be made permanent. It was also agreed that the Council and TfWM would work together to help promote and improve public transport in the city.          

RESOLVED that, having considered the objections received to the making permanent of the Phase 1 of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, approval be given to making the Order permanent thereby permanently removing the bus lanes in phase 1.