Proposed transport developments in Bristol

Work for the Metrobus express bus services began in 2015. Service on the first of three routes – from Emersons Green in the northeast, to the city centre – commenced in May 2018.[1] The route from Long Ashton in the southwest is expected to begin in autumn 2018, and the north-south route, from Cribbs Causeway to Hengrove Park, in January 2019.[2]

The greater Bristol bus network (GBBN) is a scheme by the West of England Partnership, to improve 12 bus corridors across the greater Bristol area.

Bristol Airport created plans for an extension but in October 2007 the airport announced that it would delay the planning application until the middle of 2008 to complete research on the airport's effect on the environment. This news came just a week after the World Development Movement stated that flights from the airport generate the same amount of CO₂ as the nation of Malawi.[15] Plans for the expansion of the airport have been now completed and are to be submitted to the council for approval in summer 2008. A coalition to fight the expansion, known as Stop Bristol Airport Expansion was formed by Bristol Friends of the Earth, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and other groups and individuals in North Somerset, Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset. In early 2008, an opposition to the Stop Bristol Airport Expansion campaign was launched to support the expansion and operations of the airport. Named BISON – Bristol International Supporters Group – it is targeted at the travelling public.

A decision was due on 3 March 2010 after a meeting at Weston-super-Mare Town Hall, on 24 May permission was granted by the council. As part of the expansion, planning permission was also granted for a 251-room hotel, which was scheduled to open in 2012.[3] However in 2014, the plans were revised and reapproved instead for a 201-room hotel, which will in the future include the addition of 50-rooms.[4] Construction began on the airport hotel in 2015 with the hotel expected to be completed in 2016.[5]

The MetroWest scheme, previously known as The Greater Bristol Metro, is a proposal to improve the rail services in Greater Bristol. It was first proposed at First Great Western's Stakeholder Event in March 2008, and received political backing in 2012. The scheme include the reopening of the Portishead Line and increasing train frequency on the Severn Beach Line as part of phase 1;[6] the reopening of the Henbury line and increasing train services to Yate in phase 2.[7]

The Bristol and Bath Railway Path is proposed to have a light rail line running alongside the pedestrian and cycling paths

In November 2016, the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership began a consultation process on their Transport Vision Summary Document, outlining potential light rail/tram routes from the city centre to Bristol Airport, the eastern and north west fringes of the city, and a route along the A4 road to Bath.[8]

In July 2017 a leaked draft of that document, due to be published in October 2017, suggested an underground rail network around the most built-up areas of the city as one of many solutions to congestion equating to £8.9billon.[9] In September 2017, incumbent mayor, Marvin Rees vocally supported the creation of an underground line in the city. The service would run from Bristol Airport to Temple Meads, the centre and north of Bristol and then to Cribbs Causeway, and would cost an estimated at £2.5bn.[10] The city council commissioned a £50,000 study to determine the financial viability of the project and Rees has suggested £3m for a geological survey.[11][10]

As of 2019, four mass transit lines are proposed (with technology type and exact routes to be determined):[12]

• Bristol to Airport – connecting the city centre, South Bristol, and the Airport.
• Bristol to North Fringe – connecting the city centre, North Bristol, Southmead Hospital, Cribbs Causeway.
• Bristol to East Fringe – connecting the city centre, East Fringe and East Bristol.

It has been long proposed for there to be a motorway junction linking the A4174 road (Avon ring road) to the M4 motorway near to Emersons Green as they pass very close. It has attracted support from the Kingswood MP[13]

As part of Crossrail the Great Western was already planned to be electrified from Airport Junction to Maidenhead but, following a number of announcements and delays the government announced in March 2011 that the line would be electrified between London and Cardiff together with the section linking Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads.[14][15] It is scheduled to be completed by 2017.

There have been several proposals to extend the ring road from the junction with the A4 at Hicks Gate, Keynsham, along the southern edge of Bristol as far as the A370 at Long Ashton.

The 2005 Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study, commissioned by the regional government office, recommended construction of the new southern route to tackle congestion. The proposals follow the route set aside west from Hengrove Park roundabout to the A38 at Castle Farm (phase 1), and from there to the A370 near Long Ashton Park and Ride (phase 2). There are additional recommendations (phase 3) for a new Whitchurch bypass from Hengrove Park roundabout, along the base of Dundry Hill, around Stockwood and joining the existing A4174 at Hicks Gate roundabout on the A4.[16] Phase one and two of the ring road are the only major road building schemes adopted by the Joint Local Transport Plan, which claimed they would reduce delays across the Greater Bristol area by 6%, and lead to a 9% increase in public transport use.[17] Bristol City Council has endorsed all three phases, and was hoping to begin construction of the first two phases in 2010 and 2011, and the third phase some time after 2016.[18] However, the plan had not been approved by the Department for Transport.[19]

In January 2015, the Department for Transport approved plans for the construction of the South Bristol Link road,[20] as part of the MetroBus rapid transit scheme. Construction began in late 2015 and was completed in early 2017.[21]

• A4174 road
• Bristol Airport
• Transport in Bristol