Manchester City Council has submitted a package of bids totalling around £600,000 to support schemes to make more space for people travelling across the city on foot or by bike.
If approved, the funding would come out of the UK Department for Transport’s emergency active travel fund.
Councillor Angeliki Stogia, executive member for environment, planning and transport, said: “Encouraging residents to travel on foot and by bike has long been a key priority for us, in order to help create a healthier, cleaner city.
“Through this funding bid, we are seeking support for additional work, which can be delivered in the short-term, but which also has the potential to secure longer-term benefits for people travelling across the city by bike or on foot.
“We are hopeful of a speedy and positive response to our bid from the government, so that we can get moving urgently with schemes, which will complement our significant existing investment in building a safer, greener transport network for Manchester.”
The mix of bids includes a plan to temporarily create pedestrian and cycle-only zones at Stevenson Square in the city centre’s Northern Quarter and on Ducie Street, from London Road to Dale Street.
The council has also proposed starting a process of making permanent improvements for the city’s cycle network at 20 different locations, plus the creation of new low-traffic ‘filtered neighbourhoods’ in the north and south of the city.
The programme has been devised so that its full list of proposed interventions could be completed within weeks of receiving funding confirmation, said the council.
Funding is being sought for work to begin to permanently fill a list of existing gaps in the city’s cycle network, creating a more coherent, attractive and connected set of routes.
The first phase of works would provide new cycle infrastructure for Lower Mosley Street and Princess Road in the city centre, plus Stretford Road in Hulme, Albert Street in Beswick and Parsonage Road in Withington.
The council has also requested support for interventions, including the purchase and installation of cycle stands, which it said will “kickstart a new vision for a future ‘Triangle’ of connections” linking Manchester’s Piccadilly, Victoria and Deansgate rail stations for people travelling on foot or by bike.
It is envisaged that the proposed triangle would ultimately extend to connect with major bus hubs at Piccadilly Gardens, Shudehill and Chorlton Street, said the council.
Currently being constructed are two major permanent schemes – the Manchester to Chorlton cycling and walking route and the Princess Road and Medlock Street junction improvement scheme – that will provide improvements to the city’s cycling and walking infrastructure.
A pipeline of major infrastructure projects, totalling £79m of investment, is being progressed in Manchester.
And in response to the coronavirus crisis and the need to create more space for people to socially distance in some of the city’s busiest areas, the council has temporarily designated part of Deansgate as a pedestrian and cycle zone, while also extending an existing traffic-free scheme on Thomas Street to apply for seven days per week.
Footways have been widened at a series of busy city centre and district centre locations across Manchester, which the council said will “help people to return to shops and businesses more safely and confidently as the government’s lockdown restrictions begin to be eased”.
Finally, where neighbouring local authorities are planning to create temporary pop-up cycle lanes that approach Manchester, the council said it will work with partners in each case, to ensure that safety for all road users is prioritised.
Read more from CiTTi
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/greater-manchester-seeks-extra-funding-for-cleaner-vehicles/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/greater-manchester-announces-emergency-funding-for-active-travel-plans/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/study-supports-plan-for-20000-crossings-in-greater-manchester/
https://www.cittimagazine.co.uk/why-greater-manchesters-radical-cycling-plan-deserves-funding/
