City Access response to Covid-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION

As part of the work GCP is undertaking on City Access, a series of experimental measures have been installed which will encourage more journeys on foot or by bike, and support social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic.

These experimental measures have been worked up with input from GCP, other local authorities and stakeholder groups and the County Council, as the Highway Authority.

A series of experimental schemes were implemented in August this year which closed various streets to through traffic movements by car. These measures could offer longer-term benefits by providing lower traffic routes for walking and cycling which could be made permanent at the end of the experiment.

CONSULTATION OPEN

To get feedback and inform a final decision about the schemes, GCP has commenced a 6 week period of consultation on the effects of the experimental traffic restrictions. To have your say, please fill in the survey online at www.greatercambridge.org.uk/etro-consultation .

The consultation runs from midday Monday 9th November and closes at midday on Friday 18th December 2020.

You can request a printed survey by contacting us either via consultations@greatercambridge.org.uk or by calling 01223 699906.

Junction at Lensfield Rd, showing cars, cyclists, and busses crossing the junction.

TRANCHE 1 SCHEMES

Following a period of engagement with local councillors, the University and affected colleges, and the business sector the County Council made experimental traffic regulation orders on the 29^th July, for a first tranche of measures which have the effects listed in the table below.

The following experimental measures were installed on the following dates:

Area	Measure	Road Closure Date
Silver Street	Extend the bus gate restriction to operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week	24 August 2020
Luard Road	Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles on a short section west of the Luard Close junction to prevent through traffic movements	24 August 2020
Storey’s Way	Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles at the existing 2 metre width restriction point to prevent through traffic movements The existing 2 metre width restriction will be suspended.	25 August 2020
Newtown Area - Bateman Street	Phase 1 measures: Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles to prevent through traffic movements in the area: Bateman Street, just west of the Panton Street junction	25 August 2020
Newtown Area - Coronation Street	Phase 1 measures: Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles to prevent through traffic movements in the area: Coronation Street, just west of the Panton Street junction	26 August 2020
Newtown Area - Pemberton Terrace	Phase 1 measures: Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles to prevent through traffic movements in the area: Pemberton Terrace, just west of its junction with Panton Street	26 August 2020
Newtown Area - Coronation Street	Phase 1 measures: The one-way flow between St. Eligius Street and Panton Street will be suspended	26 August 2020
Newtown Area - Panton Street	Phase 2 measures Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles: Panton Street, south of the Coronation Street junction	tbc
Newtown Area - Panton Street	Phase 2 measures Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles: Panton Street, south of the Saxon Street junction	tbc
Newtown Area - Panton Street	Phase 2 measures The one-way flow in Panton Street between Russell Court and Coronation Street and between Union Road and Saxon Street will be suspended	tbc
Newtown Area - Norwich Street	Phase 2 measures The one-way flow in Norwich Street will be reversed	tbc
Nightingale Avenue	Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles on a short section immediately adjacent to its junction with Hills Road to prevent through traffic movements	28 August 2020
Carlyle Road, Cambridge	Prohibit the driving of motor vehicles on a short section between Holland Street and Grasmere Gardens to prevent through traffic movements	27 August 2020

DEFERRED SCHEMES

It has been agreed with the County Council that the following schemes will be deferred to allow issues arising from earlier engagement to be considered further with key stakeholders to see how they might be mitigated. It is anticipated that these schemes would form part of a second tranche of measures later in the year.

Area	Measure	Reason for deferral
Historic Centre pedestrian zone	Extend core pedestrian zone hours from 6 hours to 8 hours per day (10:00 to 18:00)	Defer to consider further how best to support social distancing whilst balancing this with the need for businesses and colleges to have access for deliveries and servicing.
Burleigh/Fitzroy pedestrian zone	Tightening of the existing access restrictions	Requirement for further barriers for enforcement purposes would be counter to supporting social distancing. Defer scheme and re-evaluate later in the year.
St Andrews Street / Hobson Street area	Prohibit motor vehicles except hackney carriages and buses between 10:00 and 18:00	Issues raised over consistency with current County Council bus gate policy, which could undermine the camera enforcement process. Deferral will give more time to assess other traffic management options for potential implementation in a second tranche
Maids Causeway / Victoria Avenue, Cambridge	Prohibit through traffic movements between Newmarket Road and Mitcham’s Corner Avenue except for buses	Deferred to ensure coordination with the city-bound traffic restriction associated with the GCP Histon Road improvements and other measures being developed by the County Council in the north of the city, including a bus gate on Milton Road and a modal filter on Arbury Road.
Grange Road	Prohibit through traffic movements between Barton Road and Madingley Road	Defer to allow more time to consider concerns raised over the location of the proposed bus gate and the potential impact on essential access trips in the area.

COMMENTS, OBJECTIONS, AND CONSULTATION

During the first 6 months of the trial period, the public can lodge objections to any of the experimental measures being made permanent. During this time, the GCP would also welcome other representations or comments on the experimental measures. Representations, comments, and objections can be emailed to contactus@greatercambridge.org.uk

The GCP will be undertaking a formal consultation exercise for all the experimental measures during the first six months of operation when it will seek feedback from a wider range of stakeholders. Details of the public consultation will be made available on the GCP website once plans are finalised. Traffic sensors are to be installed at the experimental sites, during the first 6 months, to record information on traffic movements which will be made available to the public ahead of the public consultation.