Plans for a potential tram network in Bristol remain on track as city centre junction upgrades will create an "unbroken" pathway, that could one day become the first route in a mass transit system.
The preliminary route stretches from Long Ashton park and ride to the M32 and nearly completely segregating it from general traffic.
Several key intersections, including Bedminster Bridges roundabout and Redcliffe roundabout, will undergo major construction in the coming years, allowing Metrobus's M2 service to avoid car congestion.
In light of these developments, transport chiefs at Bristol City Council have suggested this "red route" could be the cornerstone for a new mass transit line.
Councillors received an update about these transformative plans at a transport policy committee meeting held on Thursday, May 15, reports .
Green Councillor Emma Edwards said: "This route in future could potentially turn into a mass rapid transit route, whatever that might mean: more buses or maybe other modes as well.
"We're trying to solve a problem for the future by creating an unbroken route that could turn into mass transit. We're trying to think about the long term."
While still uncertain, Bristol’s mass transit could manifest as trams or a "bus rapid transit" system, depending on forthcoming decisions.
The long-standing issue of mass transit in Bristol, a city plagued by unresolved traffic and transport problems, continues to be a contentious topic.
During his initial term as Bristol's mayor, Marvin Rees proposed the construction of a mass transit network for the city, which included an underground component.
However, due to escalating costs, the project never truly advanced, and in 2023, former West of England Mayor Dan Norris completely vetoed the plans, labelling them 'unrealistic' and refusing to allocate any more taxpayer funds to the scheme.
At that time, council leaders from the West of England Combined Authority agreed to explore other options for a regional mass transit system - excluding the underground - but failed to reach a consensus on whether it should take the form of a bus or tram network.
In the lead-up to the mayoral elections earlier this May, the new West of England mayor, Labour's Helen Godwin, remained non-committal about her preferred form of mass transit.
Ultimately, the West of England Combined Authority will be responsible for drafting any plans to construct a tram network or another type of mass transit system.
Meanwhile, the council is beginning to lay the groundwork with the route from Long Ashton to the M32, which will enhance existing bus services.
Adam Crowther, head of city transport, emphasised the importance of segregation for mass transit systems, stating: "Whether mass transit there ends up as a bus or a tram, either way it needs to be fully segregated from traffic, otherwise you get stuck and that's when they become unreliable and therefore people don't want to use them. So it's about providing that full segregation."
He acknowledged that the introduction of new bus lanes on Bond Street is likely to exacerbate traffic issues in the short term due to reduced space for cars.
However, local councillors are optimistic that enhancing bus services and cycling infrastructure will encourage residents to opt for public transport or bicycles over cars, aiming to ease Bristol's severe congestion.
Labour Councillor Tim Rippington argued in favour of prioritising buses, saying: "One bus carrying 50 passengers really should be given priority, in my opinion, over 25 cars queuing up. I don't see a problem with stopping the traffic in order to allow a bus to pass by.
He added: "It's all designed to deliver this red route. The worst thing that could happen is that we deliver all the infrastructure and then the lanes stay empty and we don't deliver the mass transit route until 10 years later.
"I'm not even sure that the new metro mayor is aware that this route is our plan."
The alterations, especially around the Redcliffe roundabout, are intended to facilitate an orbital bus service looping the city centre. Initially, this would just run anti-clockwise, because "left turns are easier than right turns".
While it remains uncertain how this new service would be financed since profitability concerns may deter bus companies, franchising emerges as a potential avenue.
The envisioned red route will originate from the existing Long Ashton park and ride, navigating through Spike Island's Cumberland Road – now equipped with a new bus gate – to streamline connections.
Further improvements include transforming the Bedminster Bridges roundabout into a signal-controlled junction to facilitate buses travelling from Redcliff Hill to Commercial Road.
To give precedence to public transport, Redcliff Street will be converted into a bus-only thoroughfare, bolstering the changes previously seen with the installation of a bus gate on Bristol Bridge, which now prioritises buses and taxis by excluding general traffic. The route would then pass down Union Street, and over a planned junction at the Haymarket passing Primark.
The plan foresees the creation of dedicated bus lanes along the M32 and the establishment of an additional park and ride facility, although these components have encountered delays due to ongoing debates regarding the park and ride's location. There's even talk of reclassifying the motorway as an A road to make room for bus or tram stops.
Meanwhile the West of England Combined Authority is hard at work developing an outline business case for a more expansive mass transit network. Owing to the lengthy process of drafting business cases, no construction is expected to commence until the 2030s.
