Key Elements of the Public Transport Option
- Expansion of the guided bus network to serve Fulbourn, the proposed new
housing developments in east Cambridge, and between east Cambridge and
Chesterton
- Tunnels for public transport vehicles that connect the north, south and
east of the City (with underground interchanges at Drummer Street bus station
and the railway station, and an underground station at Parkers Piece), providing the opportunity to extend the City centre
pedestrian zone.
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Sustainability implications
The proposed public transport options would improve the economic prosperity
of the area. The overall production costs are reduced by 3% making the
Sub-region more competitive in comparison with the Base Case. The 6% reduction
of costs in the City of Cambridge is of particular significance because this is
the location of a substantial amount of employment engaged in exporting goods and services to outside the Sub-region.
The universities, high-tech and related services, retailers and public
employers will all benefit. The overall savings in production costs for
exporters the Sub-region are estimated at 90 million per year. This cost saving
will make the area more competitive. From the social point of view, this option
offers people more choice of where to live, work, and obtain services, as well
as increasing accessibility for non-car users. It would not alter the
socio-economic structure of the Sub-region, maintaining a similar distribution
to the Base Case. It would, however, particularly benefit higher income groups
that commute to the City. If the scheme includes the tunnel between the bus and
railway stations it would enhance the environment by reducing local air
pollution and freeing up road space in the City centre for pedestrians and
cyclists.
| Investment Costs |
Tunnel |
270 |
| |
Interchanges |
120 |
| |
Guideways |
10.4 |
| |
Bridges |
4 |
| |
Traffic Management |
5 |
| |
Total Costs |
409.4 |
| Annual Benefits |
User: tolls |
- |
| |
User: cost savings |
1.4 |
| |
User: time savings |
2.6 |
| |
User: convenience |
-1.6 |
| |
User Total Benefits |
2.4 |
| |
Operator: revenues |
- |
| |
Operator: costs |
- |
| |
Operator Total Benefits |
- |
| |
Government Benefits |
-0.1 |
| |
Total Benefits |
2.3 |
| Rate of return |
Social |
0.6% |
| |
Operator |
- |
Results
- Car traffic reduces slightly
- Public transport use increases
- Walking and cycling reduces
- Environmental improvement in the City centre but no overall change in
carbon emissions
- Cost of living and production costs reduce making the Sub-region more
competitive
- Investment cost is high due to tunnels but there is a modest transport
economic benefits
|
