Council wants to improve bus reliability as it looks to Metrolink extensions
A picture of flats on the waterfront at Salford Quays(Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Plans for a Metrolink expansion and new bus improvements are the latest effort aimed at easing congestion on Salford’s roads.
Salford council and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) have put together the new scheme to make buses more frequent and more reliable in the city.
Future works would be focused around the route of the number 50 bus in Salford, which enters the city from East Didsbury via central Manchester.
The plans come as massive regeneration work around Salford could see thousands of new homes built across the city in future years, including around Salford Crescent and Salford Quays.
The proposed transport changes could slash bus journey times between Salford Crescent Station and MediaCityUK according to a council report.
The report stated: ‘Southbound route 50 services in the morning peak show a substantial journey time improvement of 4.3 minutes (–10 per cent), directly benefiting the highest volume passenger flows during the busiest period.’
It added that plans for improved bus routes would ‘complement the city’s ambition to expand the Metrolink from MediaCityUK to the Crescent on this key route, with high demand for public transport services.’
A TfGM spokesperson said: “The Salford Quays-Crescent scheme is one of several proposals that we are considering to deliver improved ‘rapid transit’ – including tram and tram-train services – across Greater Manchester.
“We are currently carrying out a strategic assessment of this scheme to help develop a formal business case in the near future.”
The proposed scheme of works to improve bus journeys includes creating a new bus gate on South Langworthy Road giving priority to buses and trams, and upgrading bus stops ‘along the full corridor’ to improve accessibility, comfort, and safety for passengers.
There are changes planned to junctions at Broadway, Eccles New Road, Langworthy Road, and Liverpool Street aimed at reducing delays.
New crossings and protected cycle tracks are also included in the scheme.
Up to £1.8m has been made available to back the initial development of the project from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Fund.
Councillors in Salford met at the town hall today (December 12) to approve a second wave of public engagement over the proposals.
Listing the benefits of the scheme, a report highlighted that it could ‘Make journeys quicker and more reliable for both bus (Route 50) and tram passengers (Eccles Line).’
It added: ‘By giving more people the freedom to travel safely, easily and affordably on the Bee Network, we’ll help to ease congestion for all road users, including motorists, and clean up our air.’
The report also noted that the proposed bus gate could ‘divert some traffic via Trafford Road (east) and James Corbett Road (west) for access to Salford Quays’, leading to ‘increased congestion and longer journey times for some general traffic routes, while others may see improvements.’
A spokesperson for Salford City Council said: “Transport for Greater Manchester has made significant progress on developing the ‘Improving Journeys – Salford Crescent to Media City project. The first phase of public engagement concluded in 2023.
“Today [January 12], councillors agreed to move the project forward and approved proposals for a second phase of public engagement, giving local residents the opportunity to share their views on the suggested improvements. This consultation is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
“We encourage everyone to provide feedback. Once the consultation closes, we will analyse the responses and use them to shape the final proposals before submitting a business case.”
Other upgrades to public transport in Salford were launched recently such as the new number 30 bus route between the Trafford Centre and Manchester.
