Experimental Bus Lane - Oxford: A420 St Clements Street/Headington Road

An 'Experimental' Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) has been made - which comes into force on 31 July (subject to works being completed on site) - which will introduce a westbound (towards city centre) bus lane on the A420 St Clements Street, London Place & Headington Hill. This follows a local pre-engagement exercise, after which the Cabinet Member for Highway Management approved the Officer recommendations to proceed with an Experimental TRO (see item no.124/22 here for details).

The proposed 24-hour bus lane (which will also permit pedal cycles, legal E-scooters, taxis & licensed private hire vehicles) will extend from a point approximately 186 metres northeast of the junction of with the B4150 Marston Road south-westwards to a point approximately 45 metres west of the junction with Jeune Street. In order to accommodate the proposed bus lane, the parking places on the south side of St Clements Street east of Alma Lane will be removed.

Additionally, adjustments to cycle lane provision on both sides of the road will be made, from the junction of Jeune Street/Boulter Street westwards to the signalled crossing west of Caroline Street.

UPDATE (29/09/2023):

Following discussions with local bus operators in regards to the current experiment and its impact on the day-to-day operation of services, the county council is modifying the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order. The bus lane on the A420 St Clements Street will now end 10 metres northeast of its junction with Rectory Road, thus removing the conflict with the bus stops on the northern side of the carriageway. Additionally, a short length of bus lane will also be removed on the A420 London Place, south of its junction with Cherwell Street & the B4150 Marston Road to help improve the management of stationary & flowing traffic through the junction.

The modification comes into force on 7 October 2023, with the effect of the change is that the new extents of the 24-hour bus lane will be as follows:

• Headington Road - from a point 190 metres northeast of its junction with the B4150 Marston Road, westwards for a distance of 130 metres,
• London Place/St Clements Street - from the junction with Morrell Avenue, westwards to a point approximately 10 metres northeast of its junction with Rectory Road.

What is an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order?

Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (ETRO) are used when it is difficult to assess the impacts of the scheme beforehand, but the cost of implementation is relatively low. In an ETRO, the Council introduces the scheme as an experiment first and there is then a six-month period after the scheme is introduced when the public can see for themselves the impact of the scheme and the Council can monitor its impacts. At the end of the six-month period, the Council assesses the impacts, including any letters of support or objections, and decides whether to confirm, cancel or extend the ETRO for up to 12 months longer (18 months in total) to allow further consultation and monitoring.

The experiment will be closely monitored during its operation and any comments/complaints that are received will be given due consideration with a view to deciding whether the experiment, or any part of it should become permanent.

Have your say.

Please read the detailed information provided on this consultation and take the time to complete the survey as your views and opinions matter. Your response should be completed and returned by 5pm on Sunday 07 April 2024.

Whilst we will endeavor to answer simple queries during the course of the consultation, any more complex questions/issues will be appraised and dealt with as part of consultation process.

What happens next?

The county council will review the responses and if necessary (i.e. if objections are received) prepare a report to be presented to the Cabinet Member for Highway Management at a meeting scheduled for later in 2024. This will be public meeting at which members of the public may apply to speak. The agenda and reports for meetings will be made available on the Oxfordshire County Council web site about a week before the meeting (please note that occasionally it is necessary to defer reports to a later meeting, and it is therefore advisable to check the agenda ahead of attending a meeting). The Forward Plan of decisions meetings can be viewed here.