Major changes to bus routes are planned if current plans for the pedestrianisation of Broadmead and transport changes in the city centre go ahead as it stands. The proposed changes would transform Broadmead as it prepares for 5,000 more people to be living in the city centre area.
The project, which will see the city centredramatically change, will see bus stops replaced and moved, Union Street becoming a two-way bus gate that only permits buses and cyclists, and a new junction linking the Haymarket to Union Street once again. Further segregated cycle lanes would be installed along the Haymarket, and a bus gate would be created at Redcliffe Way.
The plans are aimed at removing traffic from the city centre and making it easier for those dependent on using cars, including disabled people, to travel around Bristol. There are a planned three and a half kilometres of segregated cycle paths that will be installed – which Bristol City Council hope to begin by March 2027.
As The Horsefair and Penn Street become pedestrianised, many bus routes would be diverted. Fairfax Street would be used to re-route several buses as the street will become redeveloped as part of the Galleries redevelopment.
Fairfax Street will be made wider, brighter, lighter and will also have shop fronts. A mobility hub and public access lifts to Broadmead will be available. Other buses will take advantage of new road layouts in and around Broadmead.
Re-routes from The Horsefair and Penn Street
A total of ten services would be re-routed from The Horsefair and Penn Street onto Fairfax Street and Broad Weir.
1 and 2 (southbound) – Cribbs Causeway to Broomhill/Stockwood
The current route follows Nelson Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street, Broad Weir, Deansgate, Wine Street and Victoria Street, serving The Centre (C8), The Horsefair (B11), Broad Weir (S10), Wine Street (B18), Bristol Bridge (R9), Victoria Street (R7), and Temple Meads Station (T1).
The new route would be Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broad Weir, Lower Castle Street and Temple Way, serving bus stops The Centre (C8), Fairfax Street (new stop), Lower Castle Street (new stop), Temple Way (M1), Temple Way (T9) and Temple Meads Station (T1).
The northbound services would be unchanged.
8 (eastbound) – Clifton to Temple Meads Station
The current route follows Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Union Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street and Lower Castle Street, serving bus stops College Green (P2), Baldwin Street (C13), Wine Street (B17), The Horsefair (B15), Penn Street (S7) and Temple Way (M1).
The new route would be Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broadweir and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops College Green (P2), Nelson Street (B5), Fairfax (new stop), Broad Weir (S12), and Temple Way (M1).
The 8 westbound would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre.
9 (eastbound) – Portway Park & Ride to Brislington Park & Ride
The current route follows Nelson Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops Anchor Road (A2), The Centre (C8), Broadmead, The Horsefair (B13), Penn Street (S7), and Temple Way (M1).
The proposed route would follow Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broad Weir and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops Anchor Road (A2), The Centre (C8), Fairfax Street (new stop) and Temple Way (M1). The 9 westbound would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre
6, 7, 42, 43, 44 and 45 services (eastbound) – City centre to east Bristol
Current routes follow Nelson Street, The Horsefair, Penn Street and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops Nelson Street (B5), The Horsefair (B13), Penn Street (S11), Old Market Street (M3) and Lamb Street (NE-bound).
The proposed routes would instead follow Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broad Weir and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops Nelson Street (B5), Broad Weir (S12), Old Market Street (M3) and Lamb Street (NE-bound). The westbound services would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre.
Re-routes from Baldwin Street
Six routes would be re-routed from Baldwin Street to use Nelson Street, Fairfax Street and Broad Weir.
3 and 4 (both directions) – Cribbs Causeway to city centre
The southbound route follows Baldwin Street, Wine Street and Union Street serving bus stops College Green (P2), Baldwin Street (C13), and Union Street (B14). The proposed route would be Nelson Street, Fairfax Street and Broad Weir serving bus stops College Green (P2), St Augustines Parade (C8), Fairfax (new stop) and Cabot Circus South (S14).
The northbound route follows Union Street, Rupert Street and the Centre serving bus stops Union Street (B12), The Centre (C7), and College Green (P1). The proposed route would follow Lower Castle Street, Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and the Centre serving bus stops Fairfax (new stop), Cabot Circus South (S14), Bond Street (S6/8) OR Haymarket (B8/B10), St Augustines Parade (C7) and College Green (P1).
24 (northbound) – Ashton Vale to Southmead
The current route is Marsh Street, Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Newgate, Broad Weir and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops Redcliff Hill (R2), Baldwin Street (C13), Baldwin Street (R11), Wine Street (B17), Broad Weir (S12), and Old Market Street (M3).
The proposed route would use The Centre, Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broad Weir and Lower Castle Street serving bus stops Redcliff Hill (R2), The Centre (C4), Nelson Street (C5), Fairfax Street (new stop), Broad Weir (S12) and Old Market Street (M3). The 24 southbound would be unchanged via Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre
48 and 49 (eastbound) – City centre to east Bristol
The current route starts at The Centre, and goes via Baldwin Street, Wine Street, Newgate, Broad Weir, Lower Castle Street and Old Market serving bus stops The Centre (C9), Baldwin Street (R11), Wine Street (B17), Broad Weir (S12) and Old Market Street (M3).
The proposed route would start on Rupert Street and go via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broad Weir, Lower Castle Street onto Old Market serving bus stops Rupert Street (B4 or B6), Nelson Street, (B5), Broad Weir (S12) and Old Market Street (M3))
48 and 49 westbound follow the existing route via Bond Street South, Bond Street, and Rupert Street but will then terminate on Rupert Street instead of continuing to The Centre.
72 (both directions) – University of the West of England to Temple Meads Station
The southbound route follows Baldwin Street and Victoria Street serving bus stops College Green (P2), Baldwin Street (C13), Baldwin Street (R11), Bristol Bridge (R9), Victoria Street (R7) and Temple Meads station forecourt (T6).
The new route would be via Nelson Street, Fairfax Street, Broad Weir, and Temple Way serving bus stops College Green (P2), Nelson Street (B5), Fairfax (new stop), Broad Weir (S12), Temple Way (M1), Temple Way (T9) and Temple Meads station forecourt (T6).
The northbound route follows Victoria Street, Bristol Bridge, Union Street, Rupert Street and the Centre serving bus stops Temple Meads Station forecourt (T6), Victoria Street (T7), Victoria Street (R6), Bristol Bridge (R8), Union Street (B12), and The Centre (C7).
The proposed route follows Temple Way, Bond Street South, Bond Street, Rupert Street and The Centre serving bus stops Temple Meads Station forecourt (T6), Temple Way (M2), Cabot Circus South (S14), Bond Street (S8) and The Centre (C7).
39, x39, 172, 349, 376 and 522 (both directions) – Bristol to Bath/Keynsham
These services would also be affected by the re-routing. Currently the southbound route follows Lower Maudlin Street, Bridewell Street, Fairfax Street, Newgate, Wine Street, Bristol Bridge, Victoria Street and Temple Meads Station serving bus stops Bus Station, Wine Street (B18), Bristol Bridge (R9), Victoria Street (R7) and Temple Meads station (T1).
The proposed route would follow Lower Maudlin Street, Rupert Street, The Centre, Broad Quay, Prince Street, The Grove, Redcliffe Way and Temple Meads Station serving bus stops Bus Station, The Centre (C3 or C5) and Temple Meads station (T1).
The northbound route currently is via Temple Meads station, Victoria Street, Bristol Bridge, Wine Street, Union Street, Bridewell Street, Lewins Mead, The Haymarket, Marlborough Street and bus station serving bus stops Totterdown Bridge (W-bound), Temple Meads station (T2), Victoria Street (R6), Bristol Bridge (R8), Wine Street (B17), and the Bus Station).
The proposed route would be via Temple Meads station (bus stop on Redcliffe Way), Redcliffe Way, The Grove, Prince Street, Broad Key, The Centre, Lewins Mead, The Haymarket, Marlborough Street and Bus Station serving bus stops Totterdown Bridge (W-bound), Temple Meads station (T4), The Centre (C4 or C6) and the Bus Station).
What has been said about the proposals?
Councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee, told Bristol Live earlier this week: “Getting buses to go through Fairfax Street will make it a much more pleasant environment underneath the Galleries to get on and off the bus. At the moment it is not the best but we are very mindful of the fact that we make all the buses and connections close. We are looking at the disabled parking spaces and the taxi ranks – there will be no loss in numbers.”
“We’re putting together a whole package of measures to make sustainable transport, whether that is buses, cycling or walking, the natural option. It will be a lot easier to cycle and walk.
“It may not work for everyone but we are thinking, in particular, about the needs of disabled people and people who really are dependent on their cars. From my point of view I hope that by freeing up the road space and getting as many people as we can to use other methods of transport that are more efficient for the city, that will free up space for those that are car dependent.”
However, Councillor Kelvin Blake criticised the proposals as it would “create a no-go zone for disabled people”. He added: “It’s genuinely shocking to read Ed Plowden, the Green Party Chair of the Transport Committee say ‘If you’re thinking of driving into Bristol by car, don’t bother,’ once the pedestrianisation plans are in place.”
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