Manchester

How the public transport investment would affect Manchester

A Metrolink extension to East Didsbury and a new line to Manchester Airport serving Wythenshawe would connect residents to stops across the network.

A second Metrolink city centre crossing would be developed as well as the other extensions, and funding has been earmarked for a line to the Trafford Centre via Trafford Park.

The TIF proposals also include bus and rail improvements and a new cycle hire scheme for Manchester and a series of new cycle routes.

Metrolink

TIF proposals would deliver 20 miles of new Metrolink track. New lines would also be built to Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham and Rochdale town centres.

TIF would also see the delivery of 62 new trams and 41 new stops, increasing capacity by 30,000 passengers in each of the morning and evening peak periods.

Bus improvements

A new bus station would be developed at Chorlton Street, improvements undertaken to the facilities at Piccadilly Gardens and a new coach station would be built next to Piccadilly train station.

Proposed improvements to bus services in Manchester include:

A new rapid transit bus scheme would provide a high quality, limited stop service linking Didsbury, Withington, Fallowfield and Rusholme with the city centre along Oxford Road.
24 buses an hour along Rochdale Road including eight buses an hour operating across the city to provide a direct link to Manchester Royal Infirmary and the relocated Children’s Hospital.
Additional orbital bus routes connecting areas outside the city centre with services every 20 minutes during the week and every 30 minutes at evenings and weekends.

180 Yellow School Buses would be introduced across Greater Manchester providing customised services to schools, with seats allocated to pupils and drivers dedicated to the service.

These are some examples of the bus service improvements Manchester would get. Greater Manchester would see an overall increase of 10% to bus services with more services starting earlier, running later in the evenings and at weekends.

Rail improvements

Improvements would be carried out at Piccadilly, Victoria and Ashburys stations. Improvements at Oxford Road would provide increased capacity for passengers and ‘step free’ access.

Under the proposals, there would be extra seats on peak-time commuter trains to reduce overcrowding.

There would be additional rail carriages for services across Greater Manchester with capacity for an extra 2,950 passengers in the three hour morning peak period. This is as well as the additional capacity for 4,100 passengers in the three hour morning peak, which would be funded by the Government without TIF.

Park and Ride

The TIF proposals would double the existing number of Park and Ride spaces serving Greater Manchester. Money has already been dedicated to this and positive feedback in the recent consultations has resulted in additional funds being set aside in re-allocated Local Transport Plan budgets for further sites across the region – funds that might have been invested elsewhere without TIF.

Cycling

Improvements for cyclists with 125 miles of cycle routes and cycle parking across Greater Manchester and cycle hire schemes in Manchester and Stockport. Cycle routes planned for Manchester include:

the A664 Rochdale Road – between Middleton and the city centre
the A5103 Princess Road corridor, between Didsbury and the city centre, Jackson’s Boat and Whalley Range and Chorlton and the city centre
the A665 Cheetham Hill Rd – between Whitefield and the city centre via Cheetham Hill

Improvements for passengers

Further passenger improvements would include:

a 20% reduction on public transport fares at peak times for low paid workers (statutory minimum wage)
better and more timely travel information via real-time electronic displays and improved safety and security with CCTV, help points and better lighting at stops and stations
an integrated ticketing and simplified fare structure using a new ‘Smartcard ticket’ would allow prepayment of fares for travel on trains, trams and buses

80% of the public transport improvements would be in place across Greater Manchester with a significant improvement in public transport in Manchester, before the peak-time congestion charge would begin in summer 2013.