There is a County Council consultation setting out proposals for pedestrianizing Queen Street. Here is their information below.
Summary
- Oxfordshire County Council proposes to improve Queen Street in central Oxford by prohibiting buses, taxis and private hire vehicles from using it. This would in effect make the street largely ‘pedestrianised’ – similar to Cornmarket.
- No changes are proposed to access for cyclists and delivery vehicles, which would continue to be permitted between 6pm and 10am.
- Between New Road and New Inn Hall Street (i.e. through Bonn Square), cycling will continue to be permitted 24 hours a day, as now.
Why pedestrianise Queen Street
Queen Street forms part of one of the main east-west routes across the city centre, and pedestrian and cycle numbers are expected to increase significantly in future as a result of development in the city’s West End and elsewhere across Oxford
It is vital that strong pedestrian and cycle links are maintained and encouraged, and improvements to the pedestrian experience are made, to ensure a well-connected and joined up city centre that will continue to thrive
The pedestrianisation of Queen Street is part of the county council’s Local Transport Plan and Oxford City Council’s development plan for the West End, the West End Area Action Plan. It is an important element of wider improvements to the public realm in the city centre, such as the recent transformation of Frideswide Square
It is proposed that the changes required to pedestrianise Queen Street are made by the time the new Westgate centre opens in autumn 2017
This is because major changes to bus routes and stops will be required when the new Westgate centre opens in any event. Co-ordinating these changes with the Queen Street proposals will minimise disruption and will also mean Queen Street will be better able to cope with the increased numbers of pedestrians and cyclists going to and from the enlarged Westgate centre once it opens
This proposal is not part of the Westgate development, but Oxfordshire County Council is working closely with the Westgate Oxford Alliance (the owners of the Westgate centre) to plan this project
Proposed changes
The project includes a package of measures to provide alternative arrangements for buses, taxis, and private hire including:
- New bus routes around the city centre to allow buses to avoid Queen Street and serve the expanded Westgate centre
- A new bus turnaround at the Worcester Street/New Road junction, including new zebra crossing facilities on New Road, Worcester Street and Park End Street
- Changes to bus stop locations, including removal of the bus stop in Bonn Square
- Changes to the pick and set down points for many bus services
- Relocation of loading bays on certain streets
- Relocation of disabled parking bays on certain streets
- Relocation of taxi rank at Carfax
Project costs and funding
It is estimated that the infrastructure required to close Queen Street will cost around £965,000. This includes some major works to create the turnaround at the Worcester Street/New Road junction, provision of new bus stops and shelters, and changes to pavements
At this stage the project is not fully funded; funding sources are to be confirmed following further design work to finalise the proposals, including consideration of the feedback from this consultation.
This consultation
This consultation will run from 9th May to 6th June. Your views are invited on all aspects of the proposals.
Future consultation on Traffic Regulation Orders
Some of the proposals require amendments to existing Traffic Regulation Orders. These will be advertised separately later in the summer, as part of the formal consultation on the scheme
Responses to this consultation will be used to further refine the scheme in advance of that formal consultation
Project timetable (subject to consultation and funding)
Initial consultation May/June 2016
Consultation on TRO amendments Summer 2016
Detailed design commences Autumn 2016
Construction period April – Sept 2017
Westgate opens and changes come into effect October 2017
Details of all of the proposals are available at https://consultations.oxfordshire.gov.uk/consult.ti/Queen_Street_Pedestrianisation/consultationHome.
Paper copies are available on request.
contact details are below.
Oxfordshire County Council
Speedwell Street
OX1 1NE
Or e-mail them at:
The deadline for comments is: Monday 6th June 2016
Telephone: 01865 792422