Rougier Route- York city centre traffic plan rethink calls

Disability rights campaigner Flick Williams said City of York Council risked a potential legal challenge unless it exempted Blue Badge holders from a ban on private cars driving through Rougier Street and George Hudson Street.

York City Taxi Association Chair Arshad Mahmood said some of their trips could take up to 20 minutes longer and almost double in cost unless hackney carriages are exempted.

But Tom Horner, the council’s travel behaviour lead, said the way York city centre traffic is managed had to change though officials were open to tweaking the Rougier Route plans.

The comments at the council’s Place Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, March 24 follow a consultation on the proposals which ran from November to January.

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The proposals would see traffic barred from driving from Rougier Street to Micklegate except for buses, cyclists and emergency services vehicles.

Private traffic turning onto Rougier Street from Station Road would have to turn onto Tanner Row and travel along a new one-way loop via Toft Green to get to Micklegate.

A bus lane would be put in George Hudson Street running southbound and a ‘bus gate’ would be imposed from the road’s junction with Micklegate to the latter’s junction with Skeldergate and North Street.

Blue Badge holders and delivery drivers would still be able to enter the area to park.

Councillors agreed to support recommending an exemption for Blue Badge holders, hackney carriages and private hire vehicles.

A map showing the new one way system in Rougier Street, Tanner Row, Toft Green and Micklegate (blue) and bus gate in Rougier Street, George Hudson Street and Micklegate up to the North Street and Skeldergate junction. Picture is from York Council

A council report on the plans stated a Blue Badge exemption would require a registration system to be created costing an estimated £40,000.

The measures would be trialled for 18 months and Tuesday’s meeting heard changes could be made during that period if necessary in response to any issues which arise.

A reduction of speed limits to 20mph along the route could also be looked at along the route in the long term but they would not be part of the trial.

Council officials have said the measures are needed to speed up bus journeys and make them more reliable along the route which carries more than 1,000 services a day.

Roger French, of the York Bus Forum, said the measures were a crucial step towards creating a transport system that was more reliable, inclusive and sustainable for York’s growing population.

York Civic Trust’s Professor Tony May said the plans offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve public spaces on the route but said 20mph speed limits should also be brought in.

Green Party activist Andy D’Agorne said the measures should be in place all day, every day to stop alternative routes being used in the evening.

York Cycle Campaign’s Robyn Jankel said the measures would help save lives and urged the council to reserve it for buses, cyclists and walkers.

But disability rights activist Ms Williams said it was a leap of faith to think the measures would improve services and it would instead leave disabled people facing longer journeys.

York City Taxi Association’s Mr Mahmood said they understood and supported the council’s aims

But he added the changes could see a journey from St Saviourgate to York Station take 15 to 20 minutes longer and increase in price from about £5.80 to £10.40.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Cllr Paula Widdowson said there was a concerning lack of detail in the proposals and clarity was needed on how potential exemptions would work.

Mr Horner said officials were not wedded to specific parts of the plans and would be open to changes.

He added bus companies could begin improving routes if services run better as a result of the measures but he currently had had no direct assurances of extra investment.

The council officer said: “Bus reliable really affects people, when there’s significant delays it brings more uncertainty into people’s lives and some just won’t take that journey at all.

“Doing nothing isn’t an option, we need to make sure people have confidence in buses because with the housing growth we have in York, North Yorkshire and neighbouring authorities if we can’t move more people onto buses we risk serious congestion.”