Issue - meetings

(i)           Cambourne to Cambridge Better Public Transport Project

(ii)          Choices for Better Journeys

The Committee received a presentation from the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) Communications Managers regarding:

       i.          Cambourne to Cambridge Better Public Transport Project

     ii.          Choices for Better Journeys

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          Residents were concerned that bus routes had already been chosen. These could exacerbate existing congestion issues eg Grange Road.

     ii.          Queried what evidence had been used to decide bus routes.

   iii.          Expressed concern that other options had been discounted.

   iv.          Residents and commuters would express different views on congestion charging and transport options. Queried how GCP would balance these so people could commute into Cambridge (preferably on affordable public transport) without exacerbating existing traffic flow issues.

The GCP Communications Managers and Mott MacDonald Representative said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          GCP would publish its Bus Strategy in future which set out routes options and evidence for these. An outline business case was available on the GCP website.

     ii.          Buses would go through Grange Road onto others (rather than stop in it).

   iii.          Bus frequency would be agreed with operators in future.

   iv.          The GCP Board were looking at ways to encourage people to switch from private cars to public transport.

    v.          GCP could work with bus operators but not co-ordinate their routes due to national de-regulation.