Liverpool considers introduction of red routes
Liverpool City Council is to work up a business case for the introduction of three red routes, where vehicles are not permitted to stop, on some of the city’s busiest roads.
The council has identified three areas where red routes might be introduced; the A57 Kensington and Prescot Road; the A562 Smithdown Road in Wavertree; and the A59 County Road and Walton Road, near Goodison Park.
The red routes will be the first in the city region and will prohibit any stopping, loading or unloading, and boarding or alighting from a vehicle. This excludes licensed taxis and blue badge holders.
The routes would be enforced by camera technology with penalty fines issued to road users found to have stopped along the route. The no-stopping rules will generally operate between 7am and 7pm Monday to Saturday.
Fines for stopping on red routes could potentially be higher than those which apply to yellow lines, said a report to the council.
The report, due to be discussed at next Friday’s cabinet meeting, said: “Widening schemes and other whole route engineering interventions are not on option on this route, not only due to cost, but also [due to] surrounding infrastructure restrictions, although minor pinch points could be considered.
“Therefore, a red route scheme is seen as the best option to release all the inherent but unused capacity contained within the network which is lost to inappropriate parking.”
The council also said the introduction of the red routes would improve safety for pedestrians and improve journey times.
Liverpool Council has been recommended to sign off the process to start a business case for the red routes at next week’s meeting.
A further report will be then presented to the cabinet outlining the final business case, the capital investment needed, and the management and charging strategy, at a later date.
The report added that a consultation process with the public would be “vital in ensuring the successful implementation of a red route”, with the council now planning consultation events, a media campaign, and online information to help the public respond to the proposals.
Deputy mayor, Cllr Ann O’Byrne, said: “Every driver gets frustrated by other road users who show no consideration for others by stopping on major routes or parking half on the pavement, causing inconvenience for pedestrians as well.
“It leads to inconvenience, congestion, delays and increases pollution because cars are stationary when they should be moving.
“At a time when we are investing £250 million upgrading major routes across the city, it is vital we complement this work by ensuring we have a free flowing traffic network able to operate at maximum capacity.
“As we continue to rebuild our city for the 21st century, attracting more investment, jobs and people, we have to make sure road users can get across the city as quickly and easily as possible. Delays to journeys cost businesses and commuters both time and money.
“We believe that the introduction of red routes could help ensure a smoother journey – but we want to hear all views during the consultation period.
“This is just something are looking in to at this stage. I promise we will listen carefully to feedback and look to put into place measures which mitigate any impact on local businesses if we decide to push ahead with one or all of the routes.”
Queens Drive!
By Moomo
One more problem for shop owners,for deliveries and collections meaning longer working hours, people with mobility problems not able to access shops, prohibits passing trade. It will be interesting to see how this affects the viability of some shops and their incomes. As long as the councillors are okay that’s the main thing!
By Just saying
Urban highways, great. Just what is needed to slow speeds and create walkabout cities…
By Rachel