Bus operator First and City of York Council have today officially launched a free WI-FI service for tens of thousands of bus users thanks to York’s share of £50 million from the government’s Super-Connected Cities programme fund.
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Changes to traffic priorities on Clarence Street
Clarence Street proposals – click to access
Following consultation with residents and businesses a new scheme to improve one of York’s key city centre bus routes is set to go to a Cabinet Member meeting for final approval.
The proposals include introducing a longer lane for vehicles turning left into Lord Mayor’s Walk from Clarence Street, so that straight-through/ right-turning traffic is not held up by queuing vehicles.
Traffic signals will be changed so that the left turn from Clarence Street into Lord Mayor’s Walk gets additional ‘green time’.
The scheme is supported through part of the £3.5 million Better Bus Area Fund (BBAF) awarded to the council from the Government’s Department for Transport in 2012.
The five-week consultation took place in September and October and asked for views on the proposed measures on Clarence Street to help improve the reliability of bus services on the approach to York city centre.
The findings of the consultation will now go before the Cabinet Member for Transport’s public Decision Session on Friday 21 November for final approval.
The improvements will help three of York’s five most frequent bus services, specifically routes 1, 5 and 6 which can experience some delays on Clarence Street, Gillygate and St Leonards Place.
Overnight closure of Green Lane Thursday 13 November 2014
Bus Service Updates – Front Street area
Route Diversions
Area: Green Lane Acomb
Cause: Emergency Works
Duration: Thursday 13th November 18:00-23:00
Dates: Thursday 13th November
Times: 18:00 ” 23:00
Due to emergency works, Green Lane will be closed on the times and dates above.
To Acomb; Normal route to Cornlands Road, then right on to Gale Lane, left to Tudor Road, turn at roundabout and bus to terminate at Acomb Hotel.
From Acomb Hotel, normal route.
Stops not served; Front Street, Green Lane
Additional stops; Tudor Road
Andrew Waller takes action to deal with footpath hazard
Andrew Waller tackles hedge
BEFORE – Hedge blocking Askham Lane
AFTER – bus shelter revealed
The bush blocking the Askham Lane footpath has been cut back by Andrew Waller and a team of volunteers.
The path had been blocked by the overgrown hedge for a couple of weeks forcing pedestrians to walk in the road.
The bush also potentially could have damaged passing vehicles.
The overgrown hedge has been reported to the Council several times during the summer with passengers, waiting in the shelter, complaining that they could not see buses approaching
The hedge still needs cutting back further with specialist equipment and we hope that the Council will do that and treat the nettles – which make access to the shelter difficult for elderly people – as quickly as possible.
First bus service changes from Sunday 28 September 2014 – full details
Most services affected including numbers 1, 4 , 5/5A, 12, 13/13A and a new 14 service
Bus terminus to be moved from Front Street to reduce traffic congestion. Bus will wait on Acomb Green
First say the changes are being made to improve the reliability and punctuality of services
The 5 service will now terminate at Acomb Green rather than Front Street (to reduce congestion problems)
New timetables are available here.
Details below
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Changes to the 13a Acomb bus service
The Council has announced that the 13A bus service – which provides a link from Tudor Road, Front Street and Green Lane to the City centre via Holly Bank – may be scrapped.
The service was only introduced about 12 months ago and had been criticised by residents in Tudor Road for only providing a one way link to essential services in the Front Street area.
There was no prior consultation with passengers about the threat to end the service.
We understand that, from Monday 29 September, the 13a Acomb to York bus service will be subsidised by the York Council.
Ominously the Council also says
“The council is currently in the process of reviewing its portfolio of subsidised bus services in order to deliver significant savings in this area for 2015/16, which was agreed at the Budget Council in February.
A consultation on all bus services in York will start soon and more details will follow shortly. However, until this review has been finalised, the council will continue to subsidies the 13a until it considers where savings need to be made across the city”.
The move followed a decision by First York to review the operation of the hourly 13a bus service to Acomb due to low usage.
First apparently claim that there are insufficient numbers to run the 13a service on a commercial basis.
The council has agreed to continue financing the operation of this service, at around £1,000 per week from the council’s transport budget. This will provide a 13a service for customers operated by First on behalf of the council.
We think that another operator would be able to provide the service for a much lower subsidy and would expect the Council to advertise the contract quickly and take the opportunity to address the concerns of Tudor Road residents.
From Monday the majority of the 13a service will operate as per the current timetable although the following journeys will no longer be in operation:
- 7.15am: Acomb – York Station
- 7.54am: York Station – Acomb
- 4.57pm: Acomb – York Station
- 5.36: York Station – Acomb
- 6pm: Acomb – York Station
Previous 13a journeys between York & Haxby will continue to be operated by First but will be renumbered 13.
For further information on bus service changes and for bus timetables, visit www.itravelyork.info/buses, call 01904 551400 or visit the Bus Information Point in the Travel Centre at York Station.
Big hike in fares for Moor Lane car park bus stop passengers
The Council and the bus company have decided that Park & Ride fares won’t be available for journeys from Moor Lane Car Park from Sunday 7 September.
The Adult Single fare to the City Centre will remain at £2, but Park & Ride return fares won’t be available and MinsterCards won’t be valid to/from this stop.
For customers making a return journey, the FirstDay ticket is priced at £3.70 can be used across the whole York network.
This compares to the £2 – 70 standard return Park and Ride fare (which will remain available for anyone willing and able to walk the extra 600 yards along Tadcaster Road to the new car park).
It seems that although this bus stop is now being treated as part of the normal “stage carriage” network, pensioners will also not enjoy free travel. We understand that they will have to continue to pay the standard 80p per journey.
While we are pleased that this bus stop has been retained as it is appreciated by many older residents who live in nearby flats, we think that the authorities are being harsh in implementing what is effectively a 37% increase in fares.
It seems irrational that passengers joining the service at this stop – and using what would otherwise be vacant seats – will be charged more for what will be a shorter journey than those who joined the service at Askham Bar!
Construction students present heritage sculpture for York’s new Park&Ride site
The Construction Division at York College has worked alongside main contractor Balfour Beatty to produce a fitting sculpture for the new Askham Bar Park&Ride site, owned by City of York Council and operated by First bus.
The sculpture, a medieval stone window in a brick surround, depicts the heritage of the city as the site is situated on the original roman road leading to the gateway to the City of York.
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Burdyke Avenue traffic improvements proposed
City of York Council has listened to calls from residents and bus operators and is taking action to address traffic issues along Burdyke Avenue in Clifton and improve local bus services.
£1 million Exhibition Square bus stop improvements nodded through
Controversial plans to spend half of a £1 million Exhibition Square refurbishment budget on new bus shelters has been nodded through at a behind closed doors meeting.
click to see original drawing