A new transport scheme aims to transform travel across Somerset. It focuses on buses, walking, and cycling improvements.
The consultation is open now and ends on March 16th at midnight. SVL includes eight mobility hubs. They plan 22 bus stop upgrades and nearly one kilometer of bus lanes.
Walking, wheeling, and cycling should improve a lot, making sustainable travel more accessible. The area spans from Whitchurch to Bath, covering Pensford, Radstock, and more.
The Department for Transport is funding this project, which is part of a larger transport program. The goal is more travel choices for everyone, with less traffic jams and cleaner air. Rural areas can connect easily.
Mobility hubs help people switch between transport, offering bike hire and parking. The bus upgrades include seating and information. They plan over 5km of better footpaths and 3km of new footpaths. Cycleways will get over a kilometer of new routes and they are adding 25 new crossings for walkers, plus eight will get improvements to the pedestrian design.
Pensford will get better bus shelters, while Temple Cloud may have a new crossing. Farrington Gurney aims to improve footpaths, and Midsomer Norton will see cycle parking. Radstock’s junction will be slower.
Peasedown St John will gain better crossings, and Odd Down Park & Ride will see cycle parking. Bear Flat might lose parking spaces, but the crossings should be safer now.
SVL wants to upgrade buses and improve bus infrastructure, including new stops and bus lanes. The air can be cleaner with better buses, and traffic flow should improve too.
They are adding better seating to the stops, along with real-time information. The stops themselves are getting updates, and there will be safer crossings nearby. The footpaths will be much better quality.
Clutton gets wider footpaths and may have a new crossing. Clandown will get less speed and better footpaths. Peasedown St John plans a new zebra crossing. Hallatrow could see signalised pedestrian crossings points for safety.
Odd Down might get better crossing points. Bus lanes are proposed in some areas. Buses might save up to three minutes and traffic may also save two minutes, making travel a lot easier.
One new bus lane should be built. Another bus lane is proposed on the Wellsway. Running from Wayside to Hatfield Road, bus lanes will increase near the gyratory.
The Red Lion Roundabout to Bear Flat is important. Many changes have already been made, and they want to keep the bus lane. Parking gets retained where they can.
Parking loss is minimized now, but speed along the Wellsway can be high. Reduced speeds should be useful. Four new crossings make the area usable.
The Bear Flat crossing needs improving. Proposals widen the footway now and reduce the crossing distance. This change benefits drivers and walkers.
Active travel has many benefits, making people healthier around here. Walking and cycling can connect the district. Footway improvements stretch for 5+ km.
New footways add up to three kilometers, and new cycleways are proposed at 1+ km. Eight crossings will get some love now. Shared paths add up to roughly 2.5 km, and twenty-five new crossings will also be added.
Routes connect Odd Down to Whitchurch. They run from Farrington Gurney to Norton. Quiet routes link Paulton to the A362 path, and Braysdown Lane connects John to Route 24.
Crossing ease will greatly improve, too. Signalised crossings are planned. The A367 speed will go down and slower speeds should help buses exit. Two way cycle facility speed must be safe.
Upcoming consultation events include Temple Cloud, with Peasedown St John next on the list. Pensford will have another opportunity, and Bath and Radstock also plan to have events.