Decision details

Conversion from Experimental Traffic Regulation Order to Traffic Regulation Order for westbound bus lane on St Clements Street and Headington Hill, and associated measures.

The Chair introduced the item to the meeting, invited speakers to make their addresses and responded to their points in turn.

Officers noted that the scheme was to improve bus measures, rather than to introduce a cycle lane. Officers further commented that the traffic filters were intended to reduce traffic levels to that road space could be allocated differently, in places such as St Clement’s.

The Chair noted some of the improvements of 15-20% in bus journey times, which was welcomed.

The Chair noted support from Oxford City Council with some concerns around increased traffic flow towards the City Centre.

The Chair noted support from the bus company for the scheme.

The Chair thanked officers and agreed to the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED to:

a) Approve the making of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for the existing experimental westbound bus lane on St Clement’s Street and Headington Road and retain the other measures previously introduced to accommodate it as shown in Annex 1:

i.               Removal of the on-street parking bay between Caroline Street and Boulter Street

ii.             Conversion of parts of the existing eastbound cycle lane from ‘mandatory’ (solid white road marking) to ‘advisory’ (dotted white road marking)

iii.            Removal of a short section of eastbound cycle lane between Boulter Street and Bath Street, and

iv.            Extension of existing cycle lanes in both directions at the signalled crossing west of Caroline Street by relocating the crossing zig zag markings

b) Instruct officers to review the need for the bus lane following the introduction of the trial traffic filters approved by the Council’s Cabinet in November 2022