Cambridge plans “better and sustainable transport system” to drive shift from cars

Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) has opened consultation on its far-reaching proposals to transform the way people travel in, out and around the city region. Built around delivering a “London-style” bus network and active travel improvements, the plans include a road congestion charge for vehicle movements into, out of and within a proposed central Sustainable Travel Zone.

Core to the plans is a faster, more reliable bus network with services running from 5am until 1am to more locations with cheap £1 and £2 fares.

These upgrades – which also include significant investment in walking and cycling – would be paid for upfront by the GCP and phased in over four years before the proposed introduction of a Sustainable Travel Zone with a road user charge in 2027/28.

The proposals have been welcomed by Sir John Armitt, Chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, and Andrew Carter, Chief Executive for Centre for Cities.

Sir John said, “Any city with a growing population and congested roads seeking effective local transport will realistically only achieve that goal if people are encouraged to make the shift out of private cars for some journeys. Improving local public transport alongside some form of demand management is part of the toolbox for promoting that transition.

"Cambridge is one of a number of cities grasping the nettle and actively exploring congestion charging. With a commitment to invest at the same time in active travel infrastructure, simpler ticketing and a better bus fleet, the aim is for many residents to have more attractive choices about how to get around."

Andrew Carter added, “A quality public transport network is essential to ensuring cities can grow their population, boost their economies, and offer better job and education opportunities for residents, and the Greater Cambridge Partnership’s proposals to deliver cheaper and more reliable bus services are a big step in the right direction.

“We support GCP’s plans to initially fund this scheme up front, but it will need to be sustained by increased ridership in the long term. Congestion charging is proven to be effective in both encouraging people on to public transport and reducing emissions, so it is right that Cambridge is exploring this option as it looks to invest in better, greener journeys across the city.”

To help explain the potential changes, the GCP has unveiled a video and interactive map so people can see how their daily journeys would be transformed by more frequent and direct bus services in, out and around the city, to villages, workplaces and healthcare sites.

Key features of the London-style bus network and active travel improvements are:

• New bus routes, additional orbital and express services to key sites across the city, and a huge increase in services for villages and market towns.

• Longer operating hours from 5am to 1am and more frequent services - 6-8 buses every hour in the city and from market towns, and hourly rural buses.

• Flat fares to make public transport cheap and accessible for all; with passengers paying £1 to travel in the city and £2 in the travel to work area.

• New segregated cycling routes in the city, completing connections between villages and the wider active travel network, including the 12 Greenways.

• Improvements to public spaces to create a more pleasant and accessible city to make Cambridge more ‘people-centric’.

All vehicle movements into, out of and within the proposed Sustainable Travel Zone (STZ) would pay a flat daily charge between 7am and 7pm on weekdays.

GCP says there will be discounts, exemptions and reimbursements for some, including those on low incomes and blue badge holders. The money generated by the zone, which would not be fully introduced until 2027/28, would be ringfenced for investment in the transport network.

Cllr Elisa Meschini, Chair of the GCP’s Executive Board, said, “We have reached a crossroads when it comes to tackling congestion on our region’s busy roads, air quality and climate change, particularly with COP27 fresh in all our minds.

“A shift away from cars can only happen if we provide a better and sustainable transport system. That’s why we are proposing a London-style service with more cheap buses to more locations and faster, more frequent services, alongside improved walking and cycling links, and the repurposing of public space to create a city that prioritises people over cars.

“With the City Deal money in place to pay for and set up the network up front, we have a once in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform how we live and travel around Greater Cambridge.”

The City Access package is central to the GCP’s integrated transport network – providing the thread that links together the GCP’s busways, active travel schemes and plans to provide 10,000 additional Park and Ride spaces around the city region.

To view the proposals and to have your say visit the Consult Cambs webpage. The consultation closes at midday on 23 December.