Issue - meetings

This report updates the Executive Member with progress on the Clarence Street bus improvement scheme, particularly with how it has been revised to provide better value for money for City of York Council and minimise disruption during construction.  It also sets out when the scheme will be delivered in the 2016/17 year.

Resolved: (i) That the progress with the scheme be noted and the proposal to proceed with the revised, better value and less disruptive scheme be supported.

                (ii)The scheme shall be amended so that the cycle feeder lane remains in place on Lord Mayor’s Walk and that a separately signalled left turn out of Clarence Street is not delivered at this stage but the operation of the junction is kept under review and a report brought back to enable a further decision to be taken if warranted by increased demand in the area.

Reason:     To deliver a higher capacity junction whilst maintaining the existing cycle lane arrangements.

The Executive Member considered a report which updated him with progress on the Clarence Street bus improvement scheme, in particular how it had been revised in order provide better value for money and minimise disruption during construction.  The report also set out when the scheme would be delivered in 2016/17.

Officers reported that although they wished to incorporate the cycle lane the cost would be prohibitive and not represent value for money as it would mean the expensive relocation of electrical and communication cables and closing the Gillygate and Lord Mayor’s Walk Junction. Widening of the lanes would however still be possible under the new scheme, but not sufficient if a cycle lane is incorporated to prevent conflict due to the type of vehicles that turned out of Lord Mayor’s Walk.

Following consideration of the public speakers, additional written representations and the Officer’s report the Executive Member commented that the junction had been problematic for many years. He therefore suggested an amendment of the Officer’s original recommendation and ;

Resolved: (i) That the progress with the scheme be noted and the proposal to proceed with the revised, better value and less disruptive scheme be supported.

                (ii)The scheme be amended so that the cycle feeder lane remains in place on Lord Mayor’s Walk and that a separately signalled left turn out of Clarence Street is not delivered at this stage but the operation of the junction is kept under review and a report brought back to enable a further decision to be taken if warranted by increased demand in the area.

Reason:     To deliver a higher capacity junction whilst maintaining the existing cycle lane arrangements.