Active Travel Fund - Cycling, Walking and Public Transport - Initial Engagement

Overview

As set out in the Reading Transport Strategy 2036, we want to make Reading a great place to live, work, study and play. Our vision is to develop a sustainable transport system that creates an attractive, green and vibrant town with neighbourhoods that promote healthy choices and wellbeing.

We’ve secured more than £1 million through the Government’s Active Travel Fund to help us achieve this. We’re working to improve walking, cycling and public transport facilities and would like to understand your views on our early ideas on how this funding could be used.

As well as helping to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of everyone in Reading, these proposals are also designed to support the local economy and help tackle the Climate Emergency.

About this Initial Engagement

We want to hear your views on our initial proposals in four areas of the Borough. Whilst we recognise that not all these schemes can be delivered through this initial Active Travel funding (initial indicative costings estimate each scheme could cost between £750,000 to over £1million each), results from this initial engagement will help to decide what scheme(s) to progress to the next stage of development.

These initial ideas have been developed in the context of uncertainty regarding changes to traffic flows and unknown future travel demand, post-Covid-19. It is possible that peak hour traffic will not return to previous levels as more flexible working arrangements and changes in travel behaviour towards cycling, walking and public transport will reduce commuter car use.

About the Proposals

The four schemes are:

Bath Road/Castle Hill (Southcote Lane – Inner Distribution Road (IDR)/Castle Street)

A mostly segregated cycle facility in each direction, including a segregated facility across the IDR junction, achieved by removing sections of highway currently dedicated for general traffic. There will also be improvements to junctions and crossing facilities along the route.

London Road (Borough Boundary to London Street)

A package of mostly segregated cycle facilities in each direction, and shared bus and cycle lane, providing access to key destinations including the Royal Berkshire Hospital.  To achieve this, one inbound traffic lane will need to be removed. There will also be improvements to junctions and crossing facilities, including at the Cemetery Junction local centre. The scheme is an alternative to the previously promoted fully segregated, fast-track cycle and bus facility in East Reading.

Shinfield Road (Christchurch Green – Shinfield Rise)

A segregated cycle facility in each direction, providing access to key destinations including the University of Reading. There will also be improvements to junctions and crossing facilities, including at the Christchurch Green and Shinfield Rise local centres.

Southampton Street (Pell Street/Crown Street –Bridge Street/Fobney Street)

We have two alternative options on this key route into the Town Centre; either a two-way segregated cycle facility, or a shared bus and cycle facility, both achieved through the removal of one inbound traffic lane. Either scheme will be complemented by segregated cycle facilities on Crown Street and through the Oracle roundabout, and improvements to junctions and crossing facilities.

Further details for each scheme, and our wider programme of cycling and walking improvements, are available on our dedicated Active Travel webpage: www.reading.gov.uk/activetravel.

Your feedback will be vital in helping to shape which schemes are progressed, ahead of a further public consultation later in the year on more detailed proposals. We anticipate future funding opportunities to develop further the schemes that may not be progressed at this stage.

This survey will close at 23:59 on Friday 23rd April 2021.

Alternative formats: If you require any of the engagement material in an alternative format, please email: transport@reading.gov.uk

What happens next

Following the initial engagement exercise (phase 1), responses received will be reviewed and will determine which scheme(s) are progressed to the detailed design stage. The selected scheme(s) will be again shared with residents and businesses as part of a statutory consultation exercise (phase 2) later this year.