Evaluation criteria published ahead of Lendal Bridge trial

 
Issued by City of York Council

City of York Council has published a set of key indicators ahead of the trial traffic restriction on Lendal Bridge, which will last for an initial period of six months from 27 August.

Assessment of the trial against these indicators is to be independently undertaken by the Institute of Transport Studies (ITS) at Leeds University.

The indicators are those expected to see a change (either positive or negative) during the trial period and broadly assess: how the traffic network operates; the impact on bus reliability and journey times; and the changes in the overall experience for residents and businesses.

The council has followed the FSB’s best practice guidelines for business engagement as part of the consultation process.

The full set of lead indicators and key baseline (before) data has been published online on the council website.

Data will be collected throughout the trial and monthly updates will be published on the council’s website for all possible datasets. An interim report published by ITS after three months of the trial will also be made available.

Public sentiment towards the public realm and public transport services as a result of the traffic reprioritisation is due to be collected by ITS in a separate survey.

Councillor Dave Merrett, Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning and Sustainability, said: “The traffic restrictions on Lendal Bridge are an important first stage trial to improve the environment at the north end of the city centre by reducing its congestion, as well as improving the reliability and timekeeping of bus services all the way between Blossom Street, Bootham and Gillygate, and Stonebow and Piccadilly, without unacceptable side effects.

“Working with an independent body – the expert Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds – we are undertaking comprehensive and open monitoring of the trial so everyone can see its impacts.”

The Lendal Bridge traffic restriction sits alongside the Reinvigorate York initiative and has been proposed by the council at various points since the Seventies.

During the trial cars’, lorries’ and motorbike access on Lendal Bridge will be restricted in line with the existing footstreet hours between 10.30am to 5pm, seven days a week. Buses, cyclists, pedestrians, taxis and emergency vehicles will continue to have full access over Lendal Bridge at all times.

The council will be closely monitoring the transport network during the trial and will be actively managing city centre traffic flows to ease movement and respond to incidents.

Performance against the key indicators and feedback gained during the public consultation will be used to inform any decision of whether or not to make restrictions permanent and / or to change the hours of its implementation.

More information about the trial, its metrics, and FAQs can be found on the council website.

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