Bristol’s transport infrastructure is critical in creating better connected and safer places. Our future-focused strategy puts economic recovery and renewal at its heart. We are proactively responding to changes in travel patterns, addressing air quality and connecting our residents to jobs, training and services with sustainable transport options.
Our transport strategy aligns with our development priorities for Bristol. This means it will ensure we deliver homes, jobs and quality places, alongside improved connectivity and protection for our green spaces.
We are committed to improving transport options in communities experiencing long-term deprivation and ensuring there is a ‘just transition’ as we move to a zero-emission transport network.
The city centre is Bristol’s most significant transport interchange with limited opportunities to create more physical space on the highway network. A key component of our strategy is to make the best use of the space we have available by prioritising more efficient modes of transport like walking, cycling and using public transport. Some of our recent improvements include:
These improvements align with our ambition to make the city centre a destination for work, leisure, tourism and investment, key to our sustainable development goals:
As well as improvements to our key transport corridors and the city centre we are also promoting improvements in our local communities. Our primary strategy for communities is the creation of ‘Liveable Neighbourhoods’.
Liveable neighbourhoods are designed with the local community through a process called co-design. They aim to prioritise walking, cycling, scooting and public transport trips within the boundary of a neighbourhood as an alternative to people passing through the area by car. There is still vehicular access to properties and businesses for local residents and visitors across the scheme area, but through the strategic placement of ‘modal filters’ more sustainable means of travel is encouraged.
Following extensive community engagement, Bristol is currently delivering the trial phase of its first scheme in East Bristol. Find out more about our Liveable Neighbourhoods.
This project directly drives both a core principle of our transport strategy:
And, our city-wide Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) development framework:
For Bristol to be an attractive place to work, live and visit for everyone, it needs a transport network that supports the local economy, enhances the urban environment, and contributes to high-quality, people friendly places.
Building on the success of the three-cross boundary metrobus services, the city is working with its neighbouring local authorities and the West of England Combined Authority to improve the efficiency, capacity, and reliability of public transport services on key roads such as the A4, A37 and A4018. Extensive bus priority measures will pave the way for more frequent public transport options, with increased capacity, to make it the most convenient option for residents and visitors travelling along these routes.
In addition, funding is also being allocated to local railway stations. Portway Park and Ride Station opened in summer 2023, and it will be followed by Ashley Down Station in summer 2024. Improving the accessibility of existing stations is also underway, alongside the funding for improving service frequency.
Our commitment to these broader plans drives two of our core Sustainable Development Goals:
