ITEM EX14 - ANNEX 5EXECUTIVE – 15 OCTOBER 2002CARTERTON, WITNEY AND OXFORD – TRANSPORT LINKSOperational Characteristics of new link road In brief, the link would incorporate the following elements:
the A40 and along the new link on the approach to the A44
In general traffic terms, the new link would offer the chance for the 1 in 5 vehicles approaching the Wolvercote Roundabout that turn left, to leave the A40 before the roundabout via a free flow left off slip on to the new link. These vehicles would then be able to gain access directly on the A44 and the A34 at the Pear Tree interchange or directly in to the Pear Tree park and ride car park. The right turn movement at the new A44 junction from the new link would be banned (apart from buses) to improve the efficiency of the signal timings. The new link would be beneficial in also reducing pressures on the Wolvercote Roundabout from the A44 approach in that all A40 westbound traffic would be able to turn right at the modified junction before joining the new link. Compatibility with proposed Oxford GTE system In the longer term, one major advantage of the proposed alignment for the new highway link is that it allows for relatively straightforward integration with the proposed Oxford GTE guided bus scheme. The bus lanes at the centre of the new highway link could be converted to guideways at a later date. Given the importance of the GTE project, it will be essential to ensure that the needs of GTE are taken fully in to account if more detailed work on the design of the new highway link is authorised. Public Transport Provision as part of and associated with the new link The provision of two 3m wide bus lanes within the new link would allow direct bus access to and from the A40 and Pear Tree park and ride car park. This would help to develop the park and ride as a bus interchange point with one possibility being that buses from West Oxfordshire would stop at the park and ride with bus connections to either the city centre or other employment destinations such as Headington. It may also be that a park and ride site close to Witney may come forward as a result of the Local Plan Review process in which case some of the buses arriving from Witney may be carrying even larger numbers of passengers. For
buses wanting to travel non stop towards the city centre and seeking to
avoid any delays on the final A40 approach to Wolvercote Roundabout, it
is suggested that it would be beneficial to use the new link before turning
right to join the bus lane already provided on the A44 approach to Wolvercote.
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