Greater Manchester bus priority package putting you in the picture A snapshot of the proposals to improve bus links between Manchester city centre and Atherton, Middleton and Parrs Wood. July 2012 www.tfgm.com
What is the bus priority package? Working in partnership with local councils, Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has developed a series of plans that will enable more people to enjoy faster, more punctual and more reliable bus services from a wider area across Greater Manchester, to and from Manchester and through the heart of the city centre. The proposals will: Improve the bus routes between Atherton, Middleton and Parrs Wood and Manchester city centre; Enable buses to travel more freely through Manchester city centre; Reduce the need for passengers to change buses and walk between city centre stops when travelling from one location to another; and Improve links to other locations by making the public transport network more accessible through better access to other bus services, and the rail and Metrolink networks. The proposals will involve a significant investment in the improvement and creation of bus routes across Greater Manchester - one of the largest investments in our regional bus network in decades. This will build upon the previous investment that has been made by TfGM through the Quality Bus Corridor scheme, which has improved a number of key bus routes across Greater Manchester. What are the benefits of the scheme? The scheme will: Enable more punctual, reliable, frequent and faster bus services and therefore improve the travel experience for passengers; Improve routes to key locations and enable thousands more people to access key employment, education, health, leisure and retail destinations; Remove the inconvenience of having to change buses in Manchester city centre for many passengers; and Stimulate increased investment along the route and support current and emerging business and commercial centres. What changes will be seen along the routes? To make bus travel faster, more reliable and more efficient therefore encouraging more people to use it more than eight miles of new bus lanes will be introduced on or alongside existing roads. There will be some sections of road such as Oxford Road near the universities and the Central Manchester Hospitals site and certain stretches within
Manchester city centre that will be closed to general traffic with access allowed only to buses, hackney carriages, emergency vehicles and cycles. Greater Manchester s first guided busway will be built on a 4.5 mile route between Leigh and Ellenbrook, on which only specifically-adapted buses will be able to travel. As well as developing and improving bus routes that will create faster, more direct journeys for more people, many other improvements will be introduced, including enhancements on each of the routes for cyclists and pedestrians. Road layouts and traffic signals will be improved to minimise traffic congestion and delays, and some localised parking and loading restrictions will be introduced. Parking bays for residents and shoppers will also be introduced along certain sections of Rochdale Road, and there will be traffic-calming measures introduced in specific residential areas of Moss Side along Lloyd Street and Cambridge Street to discourage additional through traffic from using this route. How will this improve bus services? The routes covered by these proposals are amongst the busiest bus routes in Greater Manchester. TfGM is working with bus operators to ensure that the future services which run along them meet the needs of passengers and allow more people to get to their destination in a single bus journey. TfGM will continue to work with bus operators to agree the services that will use these routes, and timetables, routes and ticketing will be finalised in due course. TfGM will have control over the services that run along the guided busway between Leigh and Ellenbrook. During the day there will be at least four buses an hour between Leigh and Manchester, and four buses an hour between Atherton and Manchester, meaning there will be a minimum of eight buses an hour between Tyldesley and Manchester along this route. The buses will run through Manchester city centre to the Central Manchester Hospitals site on Oxford Road. The services will be less frequent in the evenings and on Sundays. Exact fares and timetables will be finalised shortly before the services begin. How will these proposals affect car drivers? The overall aim of this scheme is to improve Greater Manchester s bus network as part of our work to improve travel options for local residents and communities. But steps have been taken to ensure that, despite changes to road layouts and traffic signalling, the impact on car drivers will be minimised. Improvements planned for drivers include enhanced coordination of traffic signals to reflect traffic demands, and ending bus lanes before junctions. This will help motorists pass through junctions and traffic lights quickly and minimise congestion. There will also be new road signs installed to help motorists find the best way to their destination. More detailed plans, schedules and updates are available at www.tfgm.com/buspriority
What s happening and when Wigan to Tyldesley Working with Wigan Council to improve routes to Atherton, Tyldesley and Wigan town centres including traffic management and bus priority measures ATHERTON Local consultation on stop location to take place in autumn 2012 LEIGH TWI LA LEIGH HOLDEN Leigh Bus WIGAN Holden Rd CHAPEL SPINNING JENNY WAY Mealhouse Lane (buses to Manchester) East Bond Street (buses from Manchester) Higher Folds/ Tyldesley West Atherton BOLTON TYLDESLEY FOLDS MANCHEE R EA ALEY LANCASHIRE TYLDESLEY MANCHEER SALE LA Tyldesley Interchange Guided busway between Leigh and Ellenbrook Work scheduled to start on site in 2013 4.5 mile guided busway to be built, so that buses can avoid busy traffic Seven pairs of fully accessible bus stops along guided busway, with bus shelters and CCTV Path to run alongside busway that can be used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders Hough Lane MOSLEY COMM ON Sale Lane WALKDEN MANCHEER EA WALKDEN Walkden ELLENBROOK Ellenbrook, Newearth Rd MOSLEY COMMON LEIGH BOOTHOWN EA LANCS MANCHEER WORSLEY M61 WORSLEY Moorside CHORLEY SWINTON EA LANCASHIRE BOLTON PENDLEBURY Holden Rd Swinton Leigh Bus East Bond Street SWINTON PARK ELLESMERE PARK East Lancs Road (A580) Work scheduled to start on site in autumn/winter 2012 Building 2.5 miles of new bus lane alongside existing highway Converting 2.25 miles of existing highway to bus lane (there will be a minimum of two lanes available for general traffic) Improving junctions along A580 to improve bus reliability, crossing facilities for pedestrians, and minimise congestion MCR Mealhouse Lane (buses to Manchester) Buses to use existing bus lanes introduced as (buses from Manchester) part of recent Chapel Street / A6 improvements E CCLES CLAREMONT 2 Higher Folds/ Tyldesley West OLD Clifton AGECROFT B SEEDLEY PENDLETON Tyldesley Interchange R. Irwell CHARLEOWN CROMWELL FREDERICK Crescent University SALFO Hough Lane Cornbrook CRESCENT Sale Lane Cathedral OLDFIELD TRINITY CHAPEL WAY Abraham Moss Woodlands Road Manchester Victoria Shudehill Mosley Central St St Peter s Sq Deansgate-Castlefield Deansgate Ellenbrook, Newearth Rd GT DUCIE WATERLOO Oxford Road CRUMPSALL CRESCENT HILL CHEETHAM SWAN Piccadilly Gardens W WORTH GT ANCOATS GROSVENOR NEW R D QUEENS ROCHDALE R D WATERLOO New Islington FACTO RY LA OLDHAM POLLA VICTORIA Manchester Piccadilly MAN CHEER OLD HYDE ROCHDALE MANCHEER MIDDLETON MONSALL Monsall Ardwick BRADFO ASHTON OLD Middleton Bus MANCHEER NEW Holt Town HARPURHEY CH AR LEOWN MOON MAINWAY AVENUE CHURCH LA LONG KINGSWAY Central Park LIGHTBOWNE OLDHAM GRIMSHAW ALKRINGTON GAEN VILLAGE MOON Cathedral University Manchester New Road and Rochdale Road Middleton Bus through Middleton, Blackley, Harpurhey and Collyhurst to Manchester city centre Adding around 1.75 miles of new bus lanes between Shudehill and Middleton, largely from within existing carriageway Adding new cycle lanes in Harpurhey and Blackley, totalling around 600m Adding parking bays for residents and shoppers at key locations in Collyhurst, Harpurhey and Blackley Improving some pedestrian crossings Manchester city centre Local consultation on scheme detail to start in 2013, work scheduled to start on site in 2014 Changing traffic flows on sections of Aytoun Street, Portland Street, Sackville Street and Chorlton Street Adding a cycle lane at the northern end of Sackville Street Sections of Portland Street and Princess Street to be used only by buses, cycles, hackney carriages and emergency vehicles, and closed to general traffic Leigh Local consultation on scheme detail to start in autumn 2012, work scheduled to start on site in 2013 Bus lane along Spinning Jenny Way Park & Ride Work scheduled to start on site in 2014 Park & Ride sites at East Bond Street, Tyldesley Interchange and the /A580 junction Shaping the future of bus travel Additional scheme-wide benefits: Improved signing on roads so that car drivers can find the best route to their destination Complements previous investment in bus lanes along Wilmslow Road, Rochdale Road and East Lancs Road (A580) Older bus stops to be upgraded to improve accessibility You may have seen these proposals before such as in 2009 when we carried out a widespread consultation to find out your thoughts and ideas about the schemes. We were able to take some of the comments received and incorporate them into the proposals. Since then as well as working with local authorities and bus operators TfGM has carried out more work with the residents, businesses, universities and hospitals along the routes to further improve the plans. TfGM now has the funding to implement the scheme and bring these improvements to life. Although some work along these routes is already visible such as the guided busway junctions at Sale Lane (Tyldesley) and Newearth Road (Ellenbrook) there will be much more significant work taking place over the next three years. TfGM already has some of the necessary powers and permissions in place to start this work. There will be consultation with local residents, businesses and communities on the detailed proposals over the coming months to finalise the approvals. Subject to successful consultation TfGM, in partnership with local councils, will implement these proposals in phases to minimise disruption with overall completion scheduled for 2015. More detailed plans, schedules and updates are available at www.tfgm.com/buspriority Key to map Bus routes to be improved Guided busway and bus stop Bus route already completed Park and Ride Rail line Metrolink line Metrolink line under construction Contains Ordnance Survey data Crown copyright and database right 2010 Transport for Greater Manchester 2012 12-0904-121981 NORTHENDEN PARKWAY RETFO Withington MOSS MAULDETH CAVENDISH CAMBRIDGE West Didsbury OXFO EA CLAREMONT LLOYD H LLOYD WILBRAHAM BARLOW MOOR LONGLEY HULME M56 PALATINE MOSS SIDE BURTON NTH Burton Road UPPER BROOK PLATT WITHINGTON East Didsbury R. Merse y YEW TREE WE DIDSBURY WILMSLOW FOG Didsbury Village Burnage OCKPORT PLYMOUTH GROVE HATHERSAGE ROA D WIL MSLOW FALLOWFIELD Central Manchester Hospitals KINGSWAY ANSON RUSHOLME MAULDETH Christie Hospital MANCHEER DICKENSON MOSELEY Mauldeth Road BURNAGE BIRCHFIELDS Owens Park KINGSWAY KINGSWAY East Didsbury DIDSBURY BURNAGE BURNAGE PARRS WOOD MAU L DETH Levenshulme Oxford Street and Oxford Road from Manchester city centre to the Central Manchester Hospitals site Changing junctions, adding speed reduction measures and improving pedestrian and cycling facilities along Lloyd Street / Cambridge Street to discourage this residential area from being used by additional through traffic Improved pedestrian crossings along Upper Brook Street improving access between Ardwick and Manchester University / Oxford Road along with localised widening of the road to improve the flow of traffic Local consultation on scheme detail to start in 2013, work scheduled to start on site in 2014 Adding cycle lanes along Oxford Street, Oxford Road and Grosvenor Street 1 mile section of Oxford Road between Grosvenor Street and Hathersage Road to be used only by buses, hackney carriages, emergency vehicles and cycles and closed to general traffic
How can I find out more? Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is working with Manchester City Council, Rochdale Council, City Council and Wigan Council to ensure that all residents, businesses and stakeholders are kept up to date on the plans. Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), which represents each of the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester, and bus operators are also working in partnership with TfGM on the plans. TfGM will continue to speak with local residents, businesses and communities along the routes. There will be community consultations to get the views of residents and businesses on how the proposals will be implemented in their area if this has not already been decided all of whom will receive advanced notification if any work or consultation is to be undertaken nearby. If you want to know more about these proposals or how they will affect you or your local community, please get in touch: online by email by post www.tfgm.com/buspriority buspriority@tfgm.com Transport for Greater Manchester bus priority FREEPO RRHE-RKUU-KSJY Manchester M1 3BG by phone 0300 123 1177 Lines are open Monday to Friday during business hours. Calls are charged at a local rate and are included in any inclusive minutes from landlines and mobiles. To request this leaflet in an alternative format, please phone Traveline on 0871 200 2233. Lines are open from 7am until 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am until 8pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Calls cost 10p per minute and network extras. Designed and produced by Transport for Greater Manchester Marketing Communications TfGM 12-0836/3999 A5 120K 0712 www.tfgm.com