TfGM have created or improved over 25 miles of Manchester’s bus network since 2012.
The £122m Bus Priority Package has allowed cross-city bus services to run directly through Manchester city centre, free from other traffic.
As part of the Bus Priority Package, significant improvements have been made to key city centre commuter routes, Portland Street and Oxford Road. TfGM have also built the first guided busway from Leigh to Ellenbrook.
Bus times on the East Lancs road have been reduced, three new park and ride sites have been created and significant town centre improvements in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley have been made.
These changes will make bus travel a better experience for customers, making bus services quicker, more punctual and more reliable.
Oxford Road
As part of the Bus Priority Package, Oxford Road has been transformed, improving a busy route into the city centre and turning it into a more pleasant, green environment for everyone.
Some of the changes include:
- Wider pavements
- 'Dutch-style’ cycle lanes on each side of the road
- New ‘bus gates’ on Oxford Road which restrict access to sections between Hathersage Road and Portland Street. The gates are in operation from 6am and 9pm, 7 days a week
- A cycle bypass lane at each bus stop which features a zebra crossing
Oxford Road is now bus, hackney carriage and cycle only between 6am and 9pm, 7 days a week.
Leigh guided busway
The Leigh guided busway is the North West’s first guided busway. The service is operated by First and is branded ‘Vantage’.
Each bus is powered by a low-emission hybrid engine, has free Wi-Fi and on-board, next stop audio and visual announcements.
The bus-only guided section is 4.5 miles and connects Leigh and Ellenbrook before joining the East Lancs Road on a prioritised route taking 50 minutes from Leigh and Atherton to Manchester city centre.
The busway has improved journey times, bus punctuality and bus reliability for passengers.
Alongside the guided busway, a dedicated walking and cycling route runs alongside the full 4.5 miles of the route.
A580 East Lancs Road
Bus priority measures introduced on the A580 East Lancs Road help to improve bus journeys for passengers between Salford, Manchester city centre and beyond as well as reducing congestion.
A new park and ride site has been opened beneath the M60/M61 motorways which is free for all bus users. New pedestrian crossings have also been installed along the route.
Portland Street and Princess Street
In order to offer true cross-city bus services, a section of Princess Street was changed from one-way to two-way for all traffic.
This means vehicles have better connections to the city from Upper Brook Street, giving general traffic an alternative route in and out of the city centre.
To ensure that priority is given to buses, cyclists and hackney carriages, a section of Portland Street has also changed meaning general traffic must now use alternative routes.
Rochdale Road and Manchester New Road
In 2014 work was completed to introduce a series of bus priority measures, highway and pedestrian improvements to Rochdale Road between Manchester city centre and Middleton. The changes benefit bus passengers, improve conditions for cyclists and pedestrians as well as reducing congestion for general road users.
As well as the improvements on Rochdale Road, TfGM and Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council also made changes to the connecting Manchester New Road.