Liverpool to trigger transport masterplan
A report to the city council’s cabinet seeks sign-off for the Liverpool Urban Mobility and Public Spaces Plan, an investment programme running up to 2045.
The draft plan, which goes before cabinet on Tuesday 21 January, is part of LCC’s overarching drive to achieve net zero status.
WSP and LDA Design are working with the council on the project.
Officers and advisors have identified key sites, opportunities and challenges within the city centre as they put together proposals for investment in enhanced transport and public space for both the immediate and longer-term future.
No specific project costings are given at this stage, but the headline aims are for a fully integrated public transport system, a comprehensive active travel network, and improved public spaces.
The plan builds on the Liverpool city centre connectivity programme – delivered amid some difficulties from 2020 onwards – which saw more than £50m invested in upgrading key routes such as Lime Street and The Strand and developing active travel routes from the waterfront to the city’s Knowledge Quarter.
LCC said the new masterplan follows a data-driven approach to identify the next chapter in the evolution of the city centre.
Immediate progress will be through the introduction of “quick win” schemes, followed by long-term projects.
The initial quick wins are:
- Castle Street – develop the area to improve public realm and link the business district to the city centre.
- Monument Place/London Road – work with the Green Bus Route team at the Combined Authority and the City Development team to develop bus priority measures and improve public realm.
- Moorfields station – develop a masterplan for the area to guide its development.
- St George’s Gateway – improve pedestrian and public transport links. Key partners include National Museums Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University.
- Parking strategy – develop a strategy that guides parking for the whole city.
Longer term, the council is mulling changes to bus routings. Potentially to be carried out under bus franchising, there is a suggested routing map to improve connectivity across the city and its two main underground rail stations.
One possibility mentioned in the report going before cabinet is considering more bus routes through, rather than to, the centre, meaning less congestion at busy terminals.
Also mentioned in the report to cabinet is the potential reclassification of city centre roads, and the introduction of 20mph limits in the core city centre.
The adoption of the UMPSS would bring about full alignment with LCC’s cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP), combining in a bid to make active travel preferable to car use where possible.
Cllr Dan Barrington, cabinet member for transport and connectivity, said: “This mobility strategy presents a long-term plan for all types of movement in the city centre.
“It creates a clear blueprint for more active and sustainable movement. One of the key aspects is the improvement of the public realm.
“Areas such as Castle Street and London Road will be more attractive for people and businesses, boosting the attractions that Liverpool has to offer.
“Strategies such as this are key in driving the city forward into a future that prioritises people over cars, and creates and attractive and sustainable environment for us all.”
The consultants’ report on the proposed strategy can be viewed in full from the documents prepared for the cabinet meeting.
Transport Masterplan ! Is that some kind of joke, a 12 year old might have come up with such a list of weak, visionless, and pretty uninspiring proposals. Nothing about being bold and wanting a tram network at least around the city centre for starters, nothing about wanting more stations on the Merseyrail network in areas of high residency with unused rail lines running through them, and then Moorfields ,which is a disgrace , along with it`s silly “take you up then take you down” escalator provision.
I could go on but the lack of ambition is startling and if this is all we can look forward to in the next 20 years public transport-wise then I`ll carry on using the car.
By Anonymous
Are they rectifying past mistakes or creating new ones. A city has to have freedom of circulation to help it flourish and grow similar to the blood flow in a body, to many areas of the City centre have been deprived of free movement and not everyone wants to ride a bike.
By Liverpolitis
Net zero will destroy our economy.
By Anonymous
The parking strategy should include the refurbishment of Mount Pleasant multi-storey car park. With 1500+ spaces it is important to the success of the city centre, at £5 for 24 hours it encourages us to regularly visit Liverpool.
By Dom
Wouldn’t the easiest of quick wins would be a) a bus stop outside Central station and b) for the buses to actually use the bus stop outside Lime Street station. ‘Improving connectivity’ 101 surely.
By Anonymous
So they make the strand narrower and more congested and think that’s progress ? Have got school kids sitting around a table thinking these ideas up
By Billy
Underground rail usage should increase by utilising underused lines. The line used to bring freight to the docks, totally under-used should be expanded to take more lorries off the roads. It should be electrified and used at various times when LFC are at home. Stations should be built at Utting Avenue and extended at the south end of the city for fans to be able to travel to the ground. A ten minute walk up and then reconnect afterwards. During these times the line should connect to Northern Line and be used for people to use. The underground line that runs from Parliament Street and closed in 1917 should be reopened as it was going to be if Everton had gone to where the M & S Arena is now. It runs under Scotland Road towards Anfield. Again would allow people to access Anfield and take away more traffic. It would increase the underground use. The main Northern Line should be run through to the airport as we are lacking this connectivity. Build a monorail through from Southport along the dock road to the airport. A station could be built by the new Everton ground and again would help to take large numbers away from and to the ground. It should be at least four ones long as two could be used during maintenance. An extension at Sandhills station, using maybe a travel-lata to the exit could be used to speed things up. Since we are not likely to get trams perhaps electric trolley buses be brought back. Would create jobs and help the environment and increase connectivity around the city and to the airport especially and Southport.
By Patrick Wright
Just get the trams back and solve all the problems on pollution
By Anonymous
If you want more people walking and biking then get more people living in the inner city areas, but wait Liverpool Council won’t allow the high-rise buildings that will bring the population density.
In addition we haven’t got the rapid public transport systems like Berlin, Barcelona , or Hamburg so people from the suburbs won’t shop in town they’ll take the car elsewhere, I doubt if these planners use the bus much, as they’re often slow, uncomfortable, and there is higher propensity for anti-social behaviour.
By Anonymous
Liverpool could do with a Park and Ride
By Anonymous
Meanwhile the hoardings around now derelict pall mall are still scattered around the place, and those still standing covered in graffiti.
You know what encourages “active travel”? Not having the place look like a dump.
By Jeff
Weak and lacking in any ambition, I echo the previous comments – Merseyrail expansion, John Lennon Airport rail link, sort Moorfields out and trams. New paving and a cycle lane isn’t going to cut it.
By GetItBuilt!
How about something to improve access to the airport ? Improved access from Liverpool South Parkway to the airport would be a good idea, a dedicated bus transfer.
By C
Will this include more than the ONE bus (the 10a) which stops outside Lime Street Station?¹
By Bill
They should allow helipad’s on top of our buildings because Liverpool is more and more like New York with all the glorious new and old skyscraper’s!
By Mary Woolley
The transport system is not fit for purpose. There are areas of city centre that are inaccessible from certain parts of city. No buses stopping outside Lime Street the only mainline station in city useless. Prefer going to different cities to shop. Underground station with limited access dont work.
By Anonymous
This council is crippling the transport in Liverpool with the madness these bike lanes creating congestion buses now diverted away from were the public wanna go
Catherine Street in Liverpool is insane.
I am embarrassed being a bus driver in Liverpool and watching the public suffering due to the bike lane being but in .
Bikes don’t use bike lanes.
You have destroyed a great city with you crazy plans.
Most weekends the city is at a stand still traffic lights not fit for purpose.
I am so angry and embarrassed watching whoever you may be crippling this great city.
Regards Mr John lunt.
By Mr John Lunt
I echo a few others in saying that Moorfields is an eyesore and the station needs remodeling. The whole entrance just gives a terrible first impression. It needs to be prioritised.
By Anonymous
A further comment on transport strategy that for me sums the ineptitude up. I drove past Sandhills station yesterday and witnessed the disgraceful ” Strategy ” for fans using rail services at the new Bramley Moore stadium . Was it a gleaming new fit for purpose station , was the final workings of a substantial refurbishment ,the master plan ? build holding pens for the fans until they can get on a train and absolute outrage . Rotherham should be ashamed of this. Don’t improve the station and platform for the amazing new facility and asset for the city , just pen the them in , out in the open exposed to the elements etc . Hang your head in shame Mr Rotherham
By Paul M - Woolton
@Mr John Lunt London, Paris and New York all have extensive cycle lanes – are they doing it wrong?
By CG
Another vote here for stop strangling off bus access into and through the city centre and bring back/introduce easy interchange between bus/Merseyrail/Lime Street.
The last lot of public realm around Lime Street is very attractive but simply doesn’t work, it cuts off the station from the rest of the city centre.
I’m glad LCC have twigged that more buses through the city centre might be a good thing, but they’ve spent years cutting off this access, and have only just finished the last lot of expensive and disruptive works.
Pedestrians might also be helped by a crackdown on fast food deliverers bombing up and down Church Street and pavements generally on ebikes, aggressively and at high speed or blocking pavements.
By Anonymous
What a sad and hopeless transport plan till 2045! Full of tiny weeny things, no major investment in public transport: No Merseytram, no tram routes, no new Merseyrail lines. The people in charge seems to think that Liverpool is no civilised European city. Everywhere on the continent metropolitan areas of this size have a large Urban Rail system with the majority of the population living less then a 10 minutes walk from the next urban rail station. But Liverpool is deemed not worthy of this. Will become more and more congested. Here is a map how other cities in Europe are doing: Just click on a specific city to compare: https://www.urbanrail.net/eu/euromet.htm
By Urs
Trams like Manchester, reopen existing urban stations, build a ferry port to serve the new stadium.
By Martin Dale
The City Council leaders and CEO, plus Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, need to understand that if you don`t think big and put the big ideas and visions to Government then they won`t take you seriously. Manchester, via Andy Burnham ,always make sure their ideas and visions are out there in the public realm and therefore in the mind of the politicians, media, and the the people generally. Unless Liverpool makes it known they really would like a tram system and keep hammering on about it no one will take notice, look at Leeds which seems to be on the verge of fulfilling it`s long term aim of an urban tram network.
By Anonymous
Train links to the airport and Anfield (Utting Avenue) need to prioritised.
Connect rail line between Southport and Ormskirk.
Switch island needs sorting out with a bridge.
By Jack Black