Sheffield Council has set out its new plans for transport in the city centre – which could see the first new tram tracks laid in 30 years.<\/p>\n
According to Sheffield Council<\/a>, the need for public transport in Sheffield<\/a> city centre is on the rise, and so the authority is looking into creating a “truly integrated and sustainable transport<\/a> network that works for everyone”. To do this, it has put forward a draft plan including bus franchising and tram renewal.<\/p>\n This City Centre Access and Movement Plan could mean the first new tram track laid in the city centre since 1995, when the original network was completed. New tracks were also laid in 2018 but this was a tram-train extension to Rotherham<\/a>.<\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/b> Picturesque Yorkshire market town that ‘everyone should visit’<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/b> ‘People are already moving out’ say Sheffield residents amid concerns over who will live in new flats<\/a><\/p>\n The council has also proposed creating a “bus priority corridor” in Arundel Gate as it is the busiest part of the bus network, to redesign Sheffield Interchange, retaining West Street as the “primary east-west bus and tram corridor”.<\/p>\n It is hoped this would create a small, new interchange at Moorfoot and additional bus and passenger facilities through Castlegate and Wicker. Under council proposals there would also be more “prominent infrastructure” to make the free Sheffield Connect bus more visible and easy-to-use and an extension of Park and Ride options into the city centre.<\/p>\n The plan says: “Support the development of a second Supertram route within the city centre that connects key growth areas and destinations, including Royal Hallamshire Hospital and Moorfoot. This proposed loop will enhance the operational resilience of the network by ensuring that disruptions in the city centre do not impact the entire Supertram system.<\/p>\n “It will also create opportunities for future extensions to additional destinations, subject to further study by SYMCA.”<\/p>\n These plans would also see “major changes” to streets in the city centre. The changes would see the development of “people-friendly, prosperous streets” by adding “clearly defined” space for different types of transport.<\/p>\n The proposals would include better walking and cycling spaces, in addition to the earlier public transport proposals and proposals to improve private vehicle traffic. You can find out more about the plans, and comment on the proposals here.<\/a><\/p>\n