Cardiff City Council has successfully bid for funding from the Welsh Government’s Local Transport Fund, for two bus priority schemes (£840,000), a junction improvement scheme (£937,000) and the development of Enfys cycle Route 5 (£125,000).
The proposed schemes will reduce public transport journey times, provide facilities for pedestrians, promote active travel in the city and further develop the Cycle Network.
The A4119 bus scheme will enable buses to avoid traffic queues on the Llantrisant Road approach to Cardiff Road and Bridge Road while the Cowbridge Road West/Grand Avenue Bus Scheme will deliver a dedicated bus lane including measures to prioritise access for buses, at the Cowbridge Road West/Grand Avenue junction.
Junction Improvements at Newport Road, City Road and Glossop Road Junction, will provide road safety improvements for pedestrians and cyclists, significantly improved travel time savings for buses on City Road and westbound bus lane improvement on Newport Road.
Development of Enfys Route 5 will support sustainable and active travel by providing improved cycling links between Grangetown, City Centre, Cardiff Bay and Cardiff Enterprise Zone. In addition, provision will be made for a safe and convenient cycling connection between the Taff Trail in Grangetown and the Penarth Road, Sloper Road, Hadfield Road and Leckwith Road area, where a significant number of people are employed. Route 5 will also connect the Taff Trail (Enfys Route 8) with the Ely Trail (Enfys Route 42) and the wider Enfys network.
The Active Travel (Wales) Act, passed by the Welsh Assembly in 2013, places a legal requirement for local authorities in Wales to map and plan for suitable routes for active travel, and to build and improve their infrastructure for walking and cycling every year.
Currently around 74,000 people commute into Cardiff from outside of the city, whilst 124,000 Cardiff residents travel across the city to their place of work. The majority (81%) of these in-bound commuters travel into Cardiff by private car. The 57% of Cardiff residents travelling to work buy car, make a journey of less than 5km, which is regarded as an acceptable distance to travel on foot or by bicycle.
The Cardiff Local Development Plan (2006 – 2026) which will soon be submitted to the Welsh Government, sets a target of 50% of all journeys to be made by sustainable modes of transport by the end of the Plan period. Cardiff is looking to achieve this, at least in part, by fulfilling its obligation under the Welsh Assembly legislation to promote walking and cycling as a mode of transport.
Councillor Ramesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability welcomed the success of the funding bids.
“Cardiff City Council and the Welsh Government share the objectives of prioritising jobs and growth and improving access to jobs, training, key facilities and services for those living in disadvantaged areas. There is also a pressing need to encourage healthy and active lifestyles in order to combat rising rates of obesity. By connecting key sites such as hospitals, schools and shopping areas with active travel routes, there will be an encouragement to healthy and active lifestyles for Cardiff residents”.
Councillor Patel continued:
“The growth in Cardiff has to be in a planned way that creates sustainable homes and communities, with a supporting infrastructure that delivers for the residents of the city and visitors alike. Reducing the numbers of journeys taken by car, will lead to improved bus journey times on key routes and improved access to key employment and education establishments. This is significant for the nearly 30% of Cardiff households who do not have access to a car and the economically inactive or unemployed who might otherwise find difficulty accessing these opportunities.”
