A NEW “sustainable transport base” will be created as part of plans to bring a rapid transit system to Colchester.
The facility, dubbed a Park and Choose site, will be located near Essex Unversity, either north east of the new A133/A120 link road near where it meets the A120, or south east of the link road next to the A133.
It is called Park and Choose because a variety of transport modes will be available.
It will be linked by the new rapid transit system to Colchester’s existing Park and Ride, off the A12 at junction 28.
From the Park and Ride, the rapid transit system will travel south via the A134 Northern Approach Road to Cowdray Avenue.
There are three options for the next section of the route.
One uses East Hill before crossing the East Gates level crossing towards Clingoe Hill.
The second travels from the High Street into Queen Street taking the A134 Magdalen Street before crossing the railway at Hythe.
The final option would take passengers down East Hill, on to Ipswich Road south and then via St Andrew’s Avenue.
From Clingoe Hill the rapid transit system will continue either travelling via Essex University, the A133 or through the east of Colchester garden community.
It is likely the town centre part of the route will use the existing road as they are, with no suggestion more bus lanes or car bans will be introduced.
David Finch, Essex County Council leader, said: “People and businesses are best placed to tell us what does and doesn’t work in terms of the journeys they make, and their insight will allow our engineers and designers to evolve the plans.”
Preferred routes will be announced early next year. Work could start in 2022 and be complete by 2024.
Essex Highways is hosting consultation events where more detail of the plans will be on show.
These take place:
- November 15 at Greenstead Community Centre, from 1pm to 6pm
- Thursday, November 21, at St John’s Church, from 1pm to 8pm
- Saturday, November 23, at Colchester Stadium, from 10am to 5pm
- Monday, November 25, at Wivenhoe House, from 1pm to 8pm
- Monday, December 9, at Colchester Stadium from 1pm to 8pm.
The consultation closes on December 16.
To take part in the consultation click here.
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