Quality Bus Corridors

The Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTE), the ten District Councils along with the local bus, train and tram operators have formed a Quality Partnership to provide an improved public transport system that will provide a viable alternative to the car.

The overall strategy aims to achieve this through the implementation of a countywide high quality integrated public transport system.

Central to this strategy is the creation of an integrated network of Quality Bus Corridors covering over 200km of the main bus routes throughout Greater Manchester.  On these Corridors there will be extensive bus priorities, timetable information at every stop, bus shelters at the majority of the stops, modern fully accessible buses and frequent services.

As a result of these measures buses will offer a consistently high quality service, which will be quicker and more reliable than services at present.

The Current Quality Bus Corridor Programme within Tameside will be completed in the financial year 2007/2008. Work is underway in conjunction with GMPTE and other partners to identify further improvements on the existing Corridors and on other major bus corridors.

A671/A627 Rochdale - Oldham - Ashton - Hyde

The Rochdale - Oldham - Ashton - Hyde Corridor is one of the most important in Greater Manchester linking the key towns and important residential and industrial areas on the eastern side of the county.

Detailed studies by the three District Councils and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive have identified problems and opportunities for improvements on this Corridor.

As part of the process of implementing this corridor detailed consultation took place with the bus operators, the Police and the Public on proposals that aimed to provide improvement for buses, bus passengers, pedestrians and cyclists on the Tameside section of this Corridor.

The work on the Tameside section of this Corridor have largely been completed. Improved bus stops, with additional bus shelters and bus stop clearways, to prevent parking at bus stops have been provided within Ashton Town Centre and on the section of the Corridor between Ashton and Hyde town centres. Work is currently underway at the Dukinfield Road/Newton Street junction in Hyde to provide improvements for buses, other traffic and pedestrians.

Peak hour bus lanes, improved bus stops, additional on street parking bays, upgraded pedestrian crossing facilities and upgraded footways have been provided on the section of the corridor between Ashton town centre and Downshaw Road.

Manchester - Ashton - Stalybridge

Improvements have been introduced on this corridor during the last two years, which include improved bus stops and additional bus shelters, as well as bus stop clearways to prevent parking at the bus stops.

Also pedestrian crossing facilities have been introduced along the A635 between Manchester and Stalybridge which greatly assist access to bus stops, this is particularly helpful for less abled bodied people.

Works have taken place on this corridor to introduce a computerised system on the route which links all the traffic signals together and will help reduce delays for all motorists especially buses.

Work is currently underway on Audenshaw Road in Audenshaw, to provide a Manchester bound bus lane, improved bus stops and enhanced on-street parking facilities.

A57 Hyde - Denton - Manchester

Improvements have been introduced on this corridor during the last two years, which include improved bus stops and additional bus shelters, as well as bus stop clearways to prevent parking at the bus stops.

A public consultation exercise was undertaken in February 2006 on bus priority measures on the A57 at Denton. Work to provide bus lanes and improved bus stops has recently been completed on Manchester Road North and South in Denton.

A627/A560 Hyde - Woodley - Stockport

Improvements have been introduced on this Corridor, which include improved bus stops, bus shelters as well as bus stop clearways to prevent parking at the bus stops. Work is also underway at the Market Street/Union Street junction in Hyde town centre, which will provide improvements for buses, other traffic and pedestrians.

Further details on Quality Bus Corridors and how this forms one of the central elements in the overall transportation strategy for the Greater Manchester Area can be found in the Local Transport Plan.

Further information is also available from GMPTE (Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive) at www.gmpte.com