TWA order granted for West of England MetroBus Rapid Transit scheme

The Secretary of State for the Department of Transport (DfT) has today recommended that the Transport & Works Act Order (TWA Order) for the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre (AVTM) MetroBus rapid transit scheme be made. This follows the public inquiry held into the TWA Order undertaken from May through July 2012 and reactivated Programme Entry gained from the DfT in November 2011.

Steer Davies Gleave has been working with the West of England in developing the AVTM scheme since 2006, with our major role being the provision of project management services. Liaising with the Department for Transport we have lead on consultation and community engagement activities and managed internal processes and approvals including the TWA Order / associated consents. We have also undertaken route option development and detailed technology reviews to establish the preferred vehicle technology for the route and we are now driving forward the delivery of the scheme to construction.

The AVTM scheme introduces bus rapid transit services to the south west of Bristol whilst linking through to the towns and villages of North Somerset. It will feature a segregated bus way and other bus priority measures to speed public transport journeys into Bristol city centre. It will use modern sustainable vehicles that will link outlying areas with the major employment and shopping hubs.

Steer Davies Gleave’s project manager, Darren Pacey, said: “We are delighted to have successfully supported Bristol City Council and North Somerset Council through the TWA Order process. The MetroBus schemes will improve accessibility and enhance the local economy with significant benefits for residents as well as employers in the area”.