Portway Park and Ride improvements set to advance

Plans to make a series of improvements to Portway Park and Ride in Bristol look set to advance next week.Upgrading the bus access at the Portway Park and Ride was set to be included as part of the A4 Portway Strategic Corridor project.However, the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) identified this work package as an “opportunity for early delivery” under the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme.There is also a desire to “fast-track the bus access work package’s delivery to meet the YTL Arena travel mitigations in time for the arena opening in 2025/2026″.”Consequently, the bus access work package is being progressed straight to Full Business Case stage ahead of the wider A4 Portway Strategic Corridor, which is currently being worked up to an Outline Business Case,” said a report drawn up for Bristol City Council’s Cabinet.”Currently, the infrastructure at the Portway Park and Ride site’s bus entrance is set up to only serve buses travelling to and from the southeast, which restricts opportunities for site development.”The provision of new access arrangements can unlock this barrier to the development of the Park and Ride as a transport hub for multiple connecting services. This will initially provide for a direct shuttle service to and from the YTL Arena, and for rail replacement services associated with the new station at the Park and Ride site.”It will also allow for future development for both orbital bus connections and for services using the Portway, from Avonmouth, Severnside, and North Somerset. This development opportunity makes it a strategically important intervention.”The report noted that in order to access the CRSTS funding allocated for the project, Bristol City Council is required to submit a Full Business Case that is compliant with the Department for Transport’s Transport Appraisal Guidance and WECA’s Assurance Framework.The Portway P&R Bus Access work package will be looking to draw down about £2.01m.Cabinet has been recommended to approve the submission of a Full Business Case to the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), with the meeting set to take place on 3 October.