Further safety improvements to the Guided Busway will be considered by the Highways and Transport Committee meeting on Tuesday 17 June.
The additional safety measures being proposed builds upon the Council’s full acceptance of historical failures relating to the busway, as part of the recent court case. The Council was clear that following the sentence received, lessons had been learned, the busway safety regime had changed and there would be further improvements going forward. This new and robust regime includes a programme of comprehensive risk assessments and a team of dedicated officers focussing on the safety of the busway.
As a result of this enhanced regime and comprehensive programme of risk assessments, further safety improvements are being recommended, including installing a fence or barriers along the whole of the Guided Busway, and options to help with the flooding on sections of the path which run alongside the busway.
In April 2024, a permanent fence was installed on the southern section of the busway between the train station and Long Road Bridge. The fence was designed and developed working closely with the bus operators and the emergency services and includes removable gates to support evacuation. This is proving to be effective, and it is now being recommended that fencing and barriers are installed across the whole busway. It is estimated this will cost about £4.7m (plus contingency), however costs are subject to design and procurement processes.
The committee will also be advised about the feasibility work which has been carried out to address the flooding along sections of the busway near the Holywell crossing and Fen Drayton. During flooding, when the gates are closed across the path, people still find ways to divert the flooded sections - causing a safety risk. Various solutions are being looked at, including a pontooned walkway. The estimated cost is £5m (plus contingency), however, further design work is required before works can start.
In June 2022, Mott McDonald produced an independent safety study. One of the recommendations related to ‘widening the existing footpath and cycle path as much as is practicable’ along the southern section between the train station and Trumpington Park&Ride. A budget of £2.9m was approved by the Strategy, Resources and Performance Committee of the council for this work in April 2023.
Councillors will also hear about the feasibility, ecological and topographical surveys, preliminary design work and costings for a widening scheme at this location and the key issues. These include, land ownership constraints – it is only possible to work within the land owned by the council. This means it is not possible to achieve the width set out in the Department for Transport’s guidance. There are pinch points along the route due to existing structures and the costs are not within the available budget. Therefore, it is being recommended to the committee not to proceed with the widening of the path in this section as it does not address the safety concerns. However, additional signs, markings and lighting will be installed to address safety in addition to the fencing, barriers and flooding.
Cllr Alex Beckett, chair of the Highways and Transport Committee at Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “The Council is responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of the Guided Busway. The council accepted full responsibility for the historical failings and officers have been looking at what other measures we could explore to try and reduce any risks further.
“This report proposes additional safety measures, and a lot of work has gone into looking at what we can do, which will not only benefit the people who cycle, walk and run alongside the busway, but which will also bring the greatest safety benefit in a way which delivers value for money. I look forward to the debate.”
If approved, these works will be complemented by a dedicated maintenance budget, a programme of signage and markings to enhance safety, and a campaign to promote safety along the busway. There will also be more engagement with those who use the busway, communities and parish councils on the future management of the busway.
The committee papers can be found on our website and the meeting will be live streamed on the council’s YouTube channel.
