After more than a decade of uncertainty, permission has now been given to build a new busway between Cambourne and Cambridge – known locally as the C2C.
Busways are dedicated routes, separate from roads, that are exclusively for the use of buses. There are currently less than 20 active busways across the UK, however, projects are under the way throughout the country – with 6 currently in proposal or planning stages.
The C2C has been the subject of opposition throughout years of planning, but supporters say it will provide a direct route to Cambridge for thousands of new homes being built in the area.
Cambridgeshire already has a guided busway between St Ives and Cambridge, around 16 miles long. A shorter busway also links the main Cambridge rail station and the biomedical campus.
The existing busway is constructed of concrete guideways which require special buses with side guide wheels – meaning that bus companies have to invest in specialist vehicles and train their drivers to use them.
However, the C2C route will use different technology - it will look like a normal road but will use lane markings and sensors on buses to guide the vehicle, working in a similar way as the lane sensors in modern cars.
Private cars are prevented from accessing the existing busway with car traps, which prevent vehicles from travelling onto the guideway. Details of how cars will be prevented from accessing the C2C busway will be decided during the detailed design stage – with options including car traps, gates and ANPR cameras.
The new route will link the relatively new town of Cambourne, where new homes are still being built, and the centre of Cambridge. Currently, public transport in the vicinity consists of regular on-road bus routes.
Last year's C2C inquiry heard that the anticipated cost of the project would be around £192m. From that money, £37m will come from developer contributions, but the majority will come from a fund known as The City Deal. The City Deal, worth £500m, was awarded to the Greater Cambridge area in 2014 to build infrastructure to support growth. To facilitate the funding, an organisation called the Greater Cambridge Partnership (GCP) was set up - made up of councillors from three councils, plus representatives from the universities and business community. The GCP confirmed during the inquiry that it had allocated £181m for the project.
One of the biggest criticisms of the plans was the route being constructed through greenbelt land on the western side of Cambridge, through a historic orchard. Many opponents said they wanted to see the busway re-routed alongside existing roads.