It’s been almost two years since talks about Bristol getting its own underground first began, and it looks like we could soon be getting a glimpse of what that system could look like.
During a cabinet meeting on October 1, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said work was continuing to develop a mass transit system for the city and region.
And he went on to say he would “be able to share the map soon”.
What soon means is, of course, anyone's guess.
But it seems likely behind the scenes work has been taking place to develop the multi-billion pound project and to decide where and how the routes would travel through the region.
Initially the mass transit network included just three lines which would connect Bristol Airport with the city centre and as well as lines through the north and east fringes of the city.
But a fourth line is now being considered which would connect Bristol and Bath.
The key routes that are being looked at:
- Bristol to Airport - connecting the city centre, South Bristol, and the Airport
- Bristol to North Fringe - connecting the city centre, North Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Cribbs Causeway
- Bristol to East Fringe - connecting the city centre, East Fringe and East Bristol
Bristol to Bath - Initial priority for metrobus corridor to Bath, with longer-term ambition for a high-frequency mass transit solution between Bristol and Bath
The organisation responsible for delivering the mass transit system is the West of England Combined Authority (WECA),
It is chaired by regional mayor Tim Bowles and is made up of three member councils – Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
North Somerset Council is not part of WECA but sits on the joint committee and gets to comment on issues which affect the North Somerset area such as the mass transit project.
In order for the mass transit project to go ahead WECA needs to meet the business case requirements set out by the Department of Transport.
The DfT has a three-phase process which requires authorities to submit a strategic outline, outline and full business case, and this is expected to cost around £100m and take at least six years to complete.
And this is before a single track or bus lane is even built.
Back in February Weca approved spending an initial £200,000 to further develop a strategic outline business case then in July it agreed to spend another £1.3m to further fund this stage of the project.
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