Consultation on improvements to Park Row, Perry Road, Upper Maudlin Street and Colston Street

Why we are making changes

Bristol City Council is asking for your views on the proposed improvements to Park Row, Perry Road, Upper Maudlin Street and Colston Street. At the end of 2020 (14 December 2020 to 24 January 2021) we asked people for their views on suggested improvements to these roads. We have considered the feedback from this initial engagement and now want your feedback on our proposed designs. The proposed improvements to Park Row, Perry Road, Upper Maudlin Street and Colston Street would bring benefits to businesses and community in this area.

The proposals aim to:

• Make it easier and safer to walk and cycle in this area by providing more space for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Support local businesses to stay and thrive in the area by increasing the number of pedestrians.
• Improve safety of traffic light junctions for all road users.
• Manage traffic flow and reduce pollution in the area.
• Encourage people to take the bus, walk or cycle to key destinations such as the hospital and university.

Have your say

This survey will look at each of the different roads where we are proposing improvements and ask for any feedback you have on the designs. The responses from this consultation and technical work will be considered before a permanent scheme for Park Row, Perry Road, Upper Maudlin Street and Colston Street is potentially implemented.

If you have a comment, question or you would like this information in an alternative format please contact us by:

• Email: transport.engagement@bristol.gov.uk
• Phone: 0117 903 6449 and leave a message on the answerphone.
• Write to: Park Row, Transport Engagement Team, PO BOX 3399, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 9NE

Park Row to Woodland Road – proposed changes

• Create an interpeak loading bay bypass outside 68 to 70 Park Row. An interpeak loading bay is a raised kerb cycle track that runs between the pavement and loading area. This would improve safety for cyclists by separating them from motorised traffic, whilst providing a safe space for delivery vehicles to unload outside of peak hours. Dedicated footway space remains for people walking. Outside of loading times, cyclists can continue to use the cycle lane.
• Make the current segregated cycle lane permanent with high quality screw down bollards. These would help indicate where the cycle lane is to other users.
• Replace the informal crossing points at Woodland Road with a signalised crossing that separates pedestrians and cyclists. Additional cycling parking would be installed as well as a two stage right turn facility for people exiting Woodland Road.

Woodland Road to Perry Road – proposed changes

• Create an interpeak loading bay bypass outside 28–30 Park Row. An interpeak loading bay is a raised kerb cycle track that runs between the pavement and loading area. This would improve safety for cyclists by separating them from motorised traffic, whilst providing a safe space for delivery vehicles to unload outside of peak hours. Dedicated footway space remains.
• Upgrade to the flag and pole bus stop at Park Row (U4) to a bus stop boarder. This would provide safe separation for cyclists from buses pulling in to use the bus stop. A raised kerb would be introduced to make it easier for pedestrians to get on the bus and provide a buffer from general traffic, as shown on the image above. Pedestrians crossing the cycle lane would have priority over cyclists. Bus stop boarders are new in Bristol. The alternative to a bus boarder as part of this package of measures would be to maintain the flag and pole layout, where the cycle lane would stop either side of the bus stop as it is on sit. We would also raise the kerb. You will be asked which type of bus stop you feel would improve facilities for people walking, cycling and using bus services.
• Upgrade and move the pedestrian crossing adjacent to Trenchard Street Car Park to the junction of Lower Park Row. This would provide a safe right turn access for people cycling between Park Row and Lower Park Row. The footway would be widened to make it easier for people walking from Perry Road to Park Row.

Perry Road to St Michael’s Hill – proposed changes



Bus stop border:


 

• Move the north bound flag and pole bus stop at Park Row to the start of Perry Road and upgrade to a bus stop boarder (as described in the Woodland Road to Perry Road proposals). This would provide safe separation for cyclists from buses pulling in to use the bus stop. A raised kerb would be introduced to improve accessibility for pedestrians using bus services and would provide a buffer from general traffic. Pedestrians crossing the cycle track would have priority over cyclists. 
• Create an interpeak loading bay bypass. This would improve safety for cyclists by separating them from motorised traffic, whilst providing safe space for deliveries to unload outside of peak hours.
• An interpeak blue badge parking bay would also be permanently installed to improve accessibility to local shops.
• Upgrade existing two stage pedestrian crossings next to St Michael’s Hill to single stage. This would mean that pedestrians could cross Perry Road in one go, rather than having to wait in the refuge island.
• Lower Church Lane to possibly be made a no through route with a point closure (road closed for through traffic) adjacent to Christmas Steps. This would prevent rat running and improve pedestrian access along a busy walking route between the University and the City Centre, whilst maintaining access for refuse and local access.
• Replace temporary bollards protecting the cycle lane on St Michael’s Hill with kerbed separation. This would make it safer for people cycling towards Upper Maudlin Street/ Perry Road.

Upper Maudlin Street to BRI Hospital – proposed changes

• Remove the central reservation so that a continuous protected cycle lane can be put in for people cycling towards The Triangle.
• Make Colston Street one-way south bound to the junction of Lower Park Row. This would reduce ‘rat running’ and make cycling and walking on Upper Maudlin Street easier by widening the pavement, introducing a puffin crossing and reducing the risk of cyclists being ‘left hooked’ (a motor vehicle overtaking a person cycling, then turning left across their path).
• Put ‘early release’ in place for cyclists at the Upper Maudlin Street/Colston Street junction. This means that traffic lights would go green first for cyclists, whilst holding traffic back. This would allow people cycling to clear the junction without coming into conflict with vehicles.
• Add cycle rests at the Upper Maudlin Street/ Colston Street junction. This would provide a resting space for people cycling uphill and allows cyclists to balance if they are waiting at the traffic lights.
• Significant upgrades would be made to pedestrian crossings outside the BRI. This would include; the introduction of additional crossing points, removal of guard railing and widening of an existing crossing point, so that pedestrians can cross the road without stopping in the middle. An ‘all green’ (a full pedestrian stage, in which all pedestrian phases run at the same time while traffic is held on a red signal) phase would control the pedestrian crossings to make it as easy to cross this busy road as possible. Please note, all trees are being retained throughout the scheme area.

BRI entrance to Lower Maudlin Street – proposed changes

• Reconfigure parking and bus stops on both sides of the road to provide room for ‘bus stop bypasses’. This would greatly improve walking, cycling and bus accessibility by running the cycle track behind the bus stops, parking and taxi rank. This means that cyclists would be separated from traffic throughout the most complex section of the route.
• Upgrade bus stops to include shelters and a raised kerb.
• Provide additional cycle and e-scooter parking to cater for the high level of demand at the hospital.
• Put in low level planting and trees where possible to create a green space and improve air quality.
• Upgrade the existing pedestrian crossing at Marlborough Street/Lower Maudlin Street by separating pedestrians and cyclists. A two stage right turn facility would improve access for people travelling from Upper Maudlin Street to Broadmead via Lower Maudlin Street.

Marlborough Street – proposed changes

• Make the northern footway slightly narrower to provide enough room for a protected cycle lane on both sides of the road. This would create a bigger buffer between general traffic, cyclists and pedestrians making it safer and more pleasant for people to use.

Colston Street and Lower Park Row – proposed changes

• Make Colston Street one-way from the junction of Upper Maudlin Street to Lower Park Row. This would reduce ‘rat running’ and would create space for a protected cycle lane on the northern side of Colston Street.
• Relocate the zebra crossing onto the popular walking route via Christmas Steps. A raised table would be installed to slow traffic and the footway would be built out, providing room for additional cycle parking, plants and trees and benches.
• Make lower Park Row one-way North bound from the junction of Colston Street to Perry Road. This would provide room for advisory cycle lanes (cycle lanes that are painted on the road rather than segregated with bollards) on both sides of the carriageway. 
• There would be a protected cycle lane along Colston Street towards the entrance of the Bristol Beacon.

Cycle hangars



We are considering proposals to replace parking spaces with cycle hangars (for resident use only) at the following locations:

• Colston Street
• Woodland Road
• Lower Park Row

We would like to invite early feedback on these proposals from residents living on or near one of these roads, please let us know if you would be in favour of this. Make sure you provide your full postcode as we will prioritise the opinions of local residents. These proposals would be subject to a public consultation before they are installed.