The current Shrewsbury park-and-ride will be developed into a ‘next-generation’ transport system under new plans seeking council approval.
A report will be submitted to Shropshire Council’s cabinet on 05 October 2020 detailing the remodelling of the current Ppark-and-ride into ‘Shrewsbury Connect’.
Alternative locations, service frequency, fare structure and use of electric buses will be considered as part of the development plans. The council will also look into integration with wider public transport network.
According to Shropshire Council, Shrewsbury park-and-ride user numbers have halved in the past few years and it is looking to improve the service.
Steve Davenport, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Officers have developed an exciting vision to address all the key drivers of demand – cost, time, quality and convenience, with the aim of attracting commuters, shoppers and visitors to the town.
“We now need to develop and build on this to make sure we have a park-and-ride service that is fit for the future, and that we can all be proud of. I’m also discussing our future plans for Shrewsbury park-and-ride with ministers, and hope that these talks will help us to identify possible national funding opportunities.”
Before work on improving the park-and-ride can begin, formal discussions with partners and stakeholders will be held, along with study into how the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the transport industry and changed passenger requirements as a result.
Following successful completion of a formal consultation, the council said it aims for a phased introduction to the Shrewsbury Connect transport model in 2021, along with modernisation of the existing sites and the introduction of electronic buses into the operation.
