First Bus has hailed the success of a new bus lane near Bristol after a report from North Somerset Council found its installation coincided with a 4.7% decrease in bus journey times along the route.
The Long Ashton Bypass priority scheme near Bristol, which was completed in May 2023, was also accompanied by a 75% hike in patronage for bus services using it.
General traffic speeds on the section in question on the A370 northbound carriageway towards Bristol from Weston-super-Mare also saw a slight improvement (1.3%).
That was according to the council’s report comparing conditions before the conversion of a high-occupancy vehicle lane to a bus-only lane to those after two years.
The bus journey time for the section of just over two miles, including boarding at stops, was seven minutes 50 seconds before the conversion, but just 7:28 two years on. On-time bus performance was boosted from 69% to 79%, while public satisfaction also improved.
George Burton, Head of Network for First Bus in the West of England, which operates the X1 along the route three times per hour, says: “These results provide more valuable evidence of how important faster, more reliable journeys are to growing bus use, particularly when Bristol and other areas in the region come up as amongst the most congested parts of the UK.
“The Long Ashton bus lane also keeps the North Somerset bus network moving when the M5 closes and traffic is pushed along the A38. The introduction of this stretch of bus lane, supported by the further bus priority north of it on the A38, keeps people in North Somerset moving for work, education and leisure at times when the surrounding road network is under real pressure from congestion.
“We welcome the focus on bus priority and other measures to improve journey speeds, and will continue to work in partnership with North Somerset Council and the combined authority to identify opportunities, whether that is road space, signalling or traffic management.”
Cllr Hugh Malyan, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, adds: “This scheme shows exactly what good bus priority can achieve.
“By giving buses a reliable route into Bristol, we’ve made journeys quicker, more punctual and more attractive for thousands of people who rely on them every day.
“The sustained increase in passenger numbers is clear evidence that, when we invest in better infrastructure for services, people choose to use them. This is an important step in creating a stronger, more sustainable transport network for North Somerset.”
