Choices for Better Journeys

More than 5,000 residents and travellers completed the survey for Choices for Better Journeys – thanks to everyone for their feedback.

The Choices for Better Journeys engagement took place from Monday 25 February until Sunday 31st March 2019. It asked people for feedback on proposals for a future public transport network and ways to reduce congestion.

The Choices for Better Journeys Engagement Report provides further details on the survey results.

Choices for Better Journeys Survey Results

• 82% of respondents backed our vision to significantly improve public transport.
• 81% of respondents chose a traffic-reducing measure as their first choice for both funding public transport and reducing congestion.
• 44% of respondents chose pollution charge as their first or second choice option for funding public transport and cutting congestion, followed by a flexible charge to drive at the busiest times (36%).
• 32% of respondents chose introducing pedestrianised zones or physical restrictions, as their first or second choice.
• 29% opted for introducing a Workplace Parking Levy, which would charge employers for parking spaces that they provide.
• 20% of respondents thought higher parking charges would be the best option.
• 19% of respondents put forward an alternative idea first, including improving public transport to encourage greater use, better Park & Ride provision and higher taxation to fund better vehicles.

Next steps on Choices for Better Journeys

The Greater Cambridge Partnership Executive Board and Joint Assembly will consider the results of the Choices for Better Journeys survey in their meetings in June.

A Citizens’ Assembly will be held in the autumn and will consider evidence about how to reduce congestion and better support public transport to improve people’s daily journeys. The solutions will also help to reduce emissions causing climate change.

Find out more about the Greater Cambridge Citizens' Assembly.

A world class public transport system for Greater Cambridge

We want to create a world class public transport system that makes it easy to get into, out of, and around Cambridge.

The future network will offer quicker, more frequent and reliable services. Extended operating hours and a single ticketing system will provide more options and make it easier to get around. Villages will benefit from new services linking them into the network, speeding up journey times and offering simpler routes. More cycling and walking facilities will open up new routes, offering more options for shorter journeys.

The public transport network will offer better journeys and more choice for people across the area. See how people could use public transport in future.

Options for Delivering a World Class Public Transport Network

During the Choices for Better Journeys engagement, we presented a number of options to reduce congestion and also fund public transport so that it is more attractive than by travelling by car.

The options put forward were:

• Physical Measures
• Parking Controls
• Workplace Parking Levy
• Flexible Charge
• Pollution Charge

Before any of these options were introduced, it would be important that an improved public transport system was in place so people had alternative options. These ideas could be used independently or in combination, and all examples given are for illustrative purposes only.

Cambridge is a historic city with limited space available for people to move around. At the moment public transport often gets stuck in traffic, leading to slower, less reliable journeys. We need to reduce the number of cars on the road and create space for more sustainable transport. We also need to raise money to pay for a transformed public transport network that offers a more attractive journey than the car.

Further information on the options is available in the Choices for Better Journeys brochure.

Further detail on Choices for Better Journeys

The Choices for Better Journeys brochure contains detailed information on our vision for a world class public transport network for Greater Cambridge, along with the options for funding it and reducing congestion.

The Clean Air Zone feasibility study investigated whether introducing one or more clean air zones in Cambridge would help reduce air pollution.

If you have any questions, please contact us by emailing consultations@greatercambridge.org.uk or calling 01223 699906.