This month we update on two upcoming reports that have been shared with our stakeholders and Department for Transport sponsors. We have news on the launch of our monitoring reports which will track and share progress on our freight strategy, plus the latest Western Gateway STB job vacancies.
The first sub-national Rural Mobility Strategy in England has been launched by the Western Gateway and Peninsula Transport Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs). The joint strategy covers South West England and sets out how the two STBs will deliver an ambitious vision to improve rural mobility for the communities that need it most.
The Western Gateway and Peninsula Transport Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs) have launched the first joint freight strategy for the South West. The strategy addresses the challenges, opportunities and priorities for the South West over the next 30 years, to 2050, and reflects many of the priorities in the Government’s recently published Future of Freight Plan.
Rural communities are facing ongoing reduction in passenger transport services which inevitably results in a greater dependency on the private car. To address this, the Western Gateway STB together with Peninsula Transport STB have commissioned consultants WSP to undertake a rural mobility study covering the South West of England.
The Western Gateway STB is pleased to confirm that we have commissioned Sustrans and Atkins to identify and develop plans for a strategic cycle network across the Western Gateway area. This network will link key settlements and include smaller towns and transport hubs.
The Western Gateway STB is delighted that the Chancellor has announced funding for a number of transport initiatives across the Western Gateway area; the principal one being enhancements to the Chippenham Bypass (A350) which will now proceed to the next stage of development. It is planned to dual a section of the bypass and improve capacity and safety at two roundabouts with construction expected to start in 2023.
The Western Gateway STB has joined the East West Main Line Partnership, formerly known as the East-West-Rail Consortium. The STB recognises the strategic importance of rail links between Bristol and the South Coast to Oxford and from there on to Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich.
The Western Gateway STB is pleased to announce it will be working with Network Rail on taking forward their recently completed strategic rail corridor studies for Bristol to Birmingham and Bristol to Exeter. Both studies set out an ambitious programme of enhanced services including four trains per hour between Bristol and Gloucester and four trains per hour from Bristol to Worle and Weston-super-Mare.
Western Gateway Sub-national Transport Body (STB) is delighted to launch its Strategic Transport Plan which has been approved by the Western Gateway Board. This short‐term plan covers the period from 2020 to 2025 and outlines the strategic challenges facing transport, setting out important transport investment priorities across the Western Gateway area within the Government’s existing funding programmes. It lays the ground for a long-term strategic plan to be produced covering the 25 year period through to 2050.