FAQs
Make bus services more frequent
Make buses faster and more reliable
Make fares lower and simpler
Modernise and de-carbonise buses
Improve integration of buses with other transport providers
Improve safety, security and passenger facilities
Involve bus passengers
Make buses easier to use
Make buses easier to understand
To increase average bus speeds across the network
Increase the % of all buses operating on time
Increase passenger numbers
Increase user satisfaction
Improved journey times and reduced delays by providing a new two way route for buses direct into Bournemouth Town Centre.
Improved passenger waiting facilities, including new shelters with widened pavements, real time information and CCTV.
Reduced congestion and improved traffic flow. This will help to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions.
Improve connectivity and access to Bournemouth Town Centre, the Lansdowne and Bournemouth Train Station.
Create safer options for pedestrians and cyclists and improved safety and visibility for all users.
The provision of improved pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities at key points along the corridor to make local walking and cycling trips easier and safer. This will improve connectivity to local shops, services and leisure facilities.
The provision of widened pavements areas in locations where enhanced bus stop facilities are proposed. This will make getting about on foot and wheeling easier and more pleasant/attractive.
The package of scheme proposals to deliver bus service and bus stop infrastructure improvements will make public transport a more attractive option along the corridor and will benefit the whole of the local transport network. The improvements will promote multi-modal journeys undertaken on-foot or by bike to connect with the local bus network, providing an attractive sustainable transport option.
The provision of footway and highway treatments along Westover Road will significantly improve conditions for users.
Reliable bus journey times from the Bournemouth Travel Interchange to Town Centre (including during busy Summer period) with a positive effect on punctuality across the network as a whole.
New bus waiting facilities along the corridor (including throughout Gervis Place), including new shelters on widened pavements. All stops will have improved accessibility through the provision of raised kerbs to allow step free access onto a vehicle.
New and repositioned bus stops to reduce walking distances and make changing between buses easier (particularly at the Lansdowne).
Improved safety through the provision of better lit bus stops, comprehensive CCTV and the provision of pedestrian crossing points along the corridor to make it safer and easier to connect to local bus services on foot.
Improved information through the provision of real time information displays at all stops along the corridor.
Improved connectivity and access to local shops, services and leisure facilities along the corridor, Bournemouth Town Centre and the Bournemouth Travel Interchange.
Bus passengers with accessibility requirements will benefit from raised kerbs to make bus stops easier to use, with flat level access onto the bus.
All new bus shelters will have full width seating with armrests and wheelchair spaces
All shelters will be fitted with easy-to-read Real Time Information displays. Audible announcements will be available for passengers that are visually impaired.
New and repositioned bus stops will reduce walking distances and make changing between buses easier (particularly at the Lansdowne).
Blue Badge holders will benefit from an enhanced and more balanced parking offer along Old Christchurch Road and Westover Road, providing improved access to local shops, services and leisure facilities along the corridor and in the Town Centre.
Wheelchair and mobility scooter users and pedestrians in general will benefit from improved footway and highway treatments on the Westover Road section.
The provision of widened pavements areas in locations where enhanced bus stop facilities are proposed. This will make local journeys by wheeling and on foot easier and more pleasant/attractive.
Businesses based along/close to the corridor route and in the town centre will benefit from increased public transport connectivity and increased bus use to support access to and the use of local shops and services.
Business will benefit from an improved balance of parking and loading arrangements along both sides of Old Christchurch Road. This will support the use of local shops and services.
Business will benefit from an improved balance of parking and loading arrangements along Westover Road. This will support the use of local shops and services.
New/repositioned bus stops will bring additional footfall at key locations.
The scheme will take opportunities to create safer options for pedestrians and cyclists along the corridor, to support access to local shops and services by active travel modes.
What is a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)?
As part of the joint commitment to the National Bus Strategy, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP Council) and the local bus operators have compiled a Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).
Through the BSIP the Council will deliver a range of bus service enhancements, bus stop improvements and introduce bus priority measures to:
The following top priorities are set out in the BSIP:
Government funding has been secured to deliver a package of measures to improve bus transport in the BCP area. This funding will be used to deliver schemes to reduce bus journey times and improve reliability of services, which are the top two priorities for passengers. This will enable greater bus usage in the future, helping to reduce congestion in our area.
Why are improvements needed?
Bournemouth Travel Interchange to Bournemouth Town Centre has been identified as the key section of route causing most delay to bus passengers.
Significant congestion on the local road network, especially during peak seasonal periods, has a severe impact on bus services and bus users. In the Summer months traffic heading for carparks close to Bournemouth Pier often results in queueing along the whole length of Bath Road, Lansdowne roundabout and beyond.
A nine minute bus journey from Bournemouth Station to the Square can take up to fifty minutes in the busiest Summer months. This section is used by 21 services per hour causing significant delays to passengers from Winton, Charminster, Moordown, Wallisdown, Kinson and Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Visitors arriving by train or coach are also affected on their onward bus journey from Bournemouth Interchange.
In addition 20 services per hour from Boscombe, Southbourne and Christchurch experience delays when joining the route from Lansdowne Roundabout into Bournemouth Town Centre.
This results in significant numbers of buses arriving late into Bournemouth and impacts upon reliability of following journeys to Westbourne, Branksome Parkstone and Poole. Overall the operation of the wider bus network becomes adversely affected, so tackling this key section will make a big difference to reliability of services in BCP.
What improvements are being considered?
The BSIP: Bournemouth Travel Interchange to Town Centre scheme corridor has been split into 4 key sections:
Section 1, Holdenhurst Road (Station Roundabout to Lansdowne Roundabout)
Section 2, Old Christchurch Road (Lansdowne Crescent to Madeira Road)
Section 3, Gervis Place/Hinton Road Junction
Section 4, Westover Road
A package of proposed measures are planned to achieve the following benefits:
How could pedestrians and active travel users benefit?
The scheme proposals include measures that will provide the following benefits:
How could bus users benefit?
The scheme proposals include a range of measures that will provide the following benefits for bus users:
How could residents with disabilities benefit?
How could local businesses benefit?
How is the scheme being funded?
BCP Council successfully bid for funding from Central Government funding to deliver this project.
What happens at the end of the consultation?
April 2024 – At the end of the consultation, we will evaluate the feedback received and produce a consultation summary report.
May 2024 – We will present this report to the Enhanced Partnership Board which will provide an overview of the consultation outcomes and include recommendations for the next steps.
May/June 2024 – Move to detailed design of the scheme which considers all consultation feedback.
Summer 2024 - Consultation on detailed designs.
Autumn 2024 – Mobilisation of contracts to deliver the scheme.
Early 2025 – Commence work to deliver scheme improvements.