Bristol Streets - A37/A4018 Transport Corridor Improvements

Early engagement with local people and those who travel along the route began on 24 July 2020 and finished on 21 September 2020. We were:

• seeking views from key and critical stakeholders at an early stage, on priorities, what they think should change and issues and concerns to inform preliminary design of the transport corridor
• seeking views from local people living and working along the corridor, those travelling along the corridor, and businesses, at an early stage to inform preliminary design of the route
• beginning a constructive dialogue and create the environment where people can be involved throughout the process of design and implementation
• creating a good understanding of the scheme and its benefits amongst stakeholders, local businesses, local people, and commuters

The engagement tools used included:

• Virtual Exhibition on Travelwest pages
• Survey on the Consultation hub
• Interactive Mapping tool
• Supporting communications including social media, press release and new articles

How we engaged:

• Emails to 245 stakeholders
• Press release and social media toolkit to stakeholders
• Social media posts
• Emails and newsletters to business database of over 450 businesses
• 4000 postcards to all properties along the route

Targeted the ‘seldom heard’ communities

• 1700 survey drops and postcards
• Posters in local libraries and community centres
• Schools were contacted along the route

We had responses from stakeholder, local businesses and the public and the main themes were:

• Wider pavements and more crossing points on main roads
• Segregated cycle lanes on all main roads particularly travelling uphill
• Priorities at all main junctions for pedestrians and cyclists and allow single crossing stages eg Airport Road / A37, West Town Lane and A37
• Where there are multi traffic lanes reallocate road space to walking, cycling and buses eg Triangle gyratory, Bath Bridges and Whiteladies / Westbury Road junction

Stakeholders

107 emails sent to critical stakeholders and 138 emails sent to key stakeholders. 20 emails were received, and 5 meetings held to discuss the project.

Many agreed with the reallocation of road space towards pedestrians, cyclists, and buses. Pedestrians need wide pavements and single crossing points; cyclists need segregated infrastructure and buses need bus lanes and priority at junctions where they get caught in congestion. Others asked about how this will join up with Temple Meads, Clifton Down station and wanted better interchange facilities and comments were made about parallel rat running with the A37 and A4018.

In terms of specifics improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and buses are needed at the:

• A37 junction with Airport Road / Wootton Park,
• hill section of A37,
• Broadwalk and A37 junction, 
• Bath bridges area,
• Park Street cycle lane,
• Triangle gyratory
• Top of Whiteladies Road junction with Westbury Road and Stoke Road.

Local Businesses

Engaged with 1200 businesses and 270 received information on the engagement.

Public feedback

1261 comments received:

• 562 survey responses
• 648 interactive mapping points (includes active travel map responses)
• 51 emails and phone calls

Virtual exhibition 

• 1822 views of the page
• 398 live chats

Survey results

• Of those who responded nearly two thirds were residents and just over half walk and drive along the route and just over 40% cycle and use the bus.
• Nearly 80% agree and strongly agree with taking road space away from the car and providing more walking, cycling and bus infrastructure.
• Over 70% strongly agreed that safe crossing points and feeling safe were key for transport corridors closely followed by clean air and a place to walk and cycle.
• Over half of the respondents think the road is unsafe to cycle on and unpleasant to walk along as the streets are congested with too much traffic.
• 64% want safer cycle corridors and 52% want more cycle priority
• Over 40% of the people who answered the survey will walk and cycle more after lockdown and nearly 40% will drive less by car.

Emails / phone calls

36 emails and 15 phone calls were received.

The feedback from this survey and interactive map along with comments from local businesses, stakeholders, community groups will be used to help develop more detailed designs for the transport corridor. More information about what we engaged on and the results are available in full report.