Cambridge’s historic city streets are popular destinations with limited capacity, and more jobs are being created at employment sites across the area. Without action Greater Cambridge’s already congested roads will become increasingly crowded, unpleasant and inaccessible as planned local growth increases demand on the network.
The City Access programme seeks to improve sustainable transport to the city centre and key employment sites, and to reduce congestion by encouraging people away from cars. Supporting local partners’ net zero carbon ambitions and the government’s net zero by 2050 target, the project seeks to improve air quality and create a more people-focused, city-centre environment.
A series of experimental schemes implemented in August 2020 restricted traffic in various streets identified as having potential for reducing traffic and encouraging walking and cycling in the long term.
Other quick win schemes aimed to encourage cycling and walking. This included looking at additional cycle parking at workplaces and in the city centre, as well as expanding access to ebikes and ecargo bikes. We provided match funding for an ecargo bike scheme to provide bikes for businesses and residents to try.
A deliveries consolidation pilot is being developed. The pilot would involve goods being delivered to a consolidation centre on the edge of the city and secondary facility in the city centre for onward delivery by electric bike or other electric vehicle and assess the basis on which it could operate commercially in the longer term, either independent of or in partnership with local authorities. Work is ongoing to develop proposals working with business leaders including the Cambridge BID, Cambridge Ahead, and the University of Cambridge.
Parking controls and park and ride/travel hub facilities are a key tool in reducing congestion and encouraging the uptake of sustainable transport options. Data will continue to be used to inform an integrated parking strategy, working together with the city and county councils.
Air pollution from transport remains an issue and is likely to do so in future. In partnership with the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, Stagecoach East and the Department for Transport, we’ve funded thirty new electric buses.
It’s clear that as communities continue to recover after the pandemic and grow in line with the area’s local plan, sustainable transport options will continue to be vital to access work, study and other opportunities the city has to offer – whether using public transport, cycling or walking.
Through our sustainable travel programme, we’re already delivering multiple projects across Greater Cambridge to create a world-class future network for public transport and walking and cycling.
Public engagement has been fundamental to understanding Greater Cambridge’s transport challenges, travel behaviour and attitudes and continues to shape the project going forward.