Board set to take decisions on key transport projects

Decisions on key projects to transform public transport journeys and improve walking and cycling links are set to be taken by the Greater Cambridge Partnership.

Papers have today (Friday) been published for the GCP’s Executive Board meeting on 2 October, with members recommended to progress three projects which could help people travel to where they need to go quickly, easily and reliably.

Cambridge South East Transport (CSET) project – phase two

The Board will be formally asked to resume and progress phase two of the CSET project.

This would see the creation of a dedicated public transport route to provide fast and frequent bus journeys from a new travel hub at the A11 to the city centre. A new walking and cycling link would be built alongside the busway to increase people’s transport options.

It would take people from Cambridge to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus (CBC), Granta Park and Babraham Research Campus, providing direct links to employment and health sites.

The scheme was paused by the Board last September subject to identifying new funding streams. The Chancellor announced in the Spring Budget that £7.2m would be allocated towards the scheme to support the proposed expansion of CBC and tens of thousands of new homes.

If approved, the GCP will ask Cambridgeshire County Council – as the highways authority – to submit a Transport & Works Act Order (TWAO) application to the Government.

Cambridge Eastern Access

Members will be asked to agree to the submission of a planning application for a new and expanded travel hub to replace the existing Newmarket Road Park & Ride.

The preferred location, which is referred to as Site P1, is immediately south of Newmarket Road and east of Airport Way and was the most popular among respondents to a public consultation in 2022 and it has been put forward as the preferred option.

The proposals form part of the Cambridge Eastern Access project which aims to significantly improve walking, cycling and public transport journeys to the east of the city.

Greenways

The Board will be asked to approve the start of early works on Adams Road in Cambridge and in Coton village to make walking and cycling safer.

This would be part of the Comberton Greenway linking Comberton, Coton and Cambridge with a spur to Hardwick and would include traffic-calming measures and new landscaping.

The report also contains proposals to improve safety in Barton with the construction of a new zebra crossing and the expansion of a 20mph zone. Works are already underway to widen the existing path along Barton Road between the city and Haggis Farm Roundabout.

Members will also be asked to note the ‘Greenways Green and Blue Infrastructure’ (GBI) strategy. This strategy is to ensure the designs are sensitive to the different landscapes and communities the 12 routes will travel through, while enhancing them wherever possible.

To read the papers visit Cambridgeshire County Council’s website.