Steer Davies Gleave appoints David George to lead bus rapid transit network for West of England region
Steer is delighted to announce the appointment of David George to our London office.
Steer Davies Gleave is delighted to announce the appointment of David George to our London office. David is a chartered civil engineer with over 30 years’ experience and joins from Kent County Council where he managed and delivered the successful Fastrack Bus Rapid Transit system. Fastrack is the award-winning bus rapid transit system that has transformed local travel in Kent Thameside since opening in 2006.
In his new role at Steer Davies Gleave, David will lead the delivery of the ‘West of England Rapid Transit Network’, as Programme Senior Responsible Owner commissioned by the West of England local authorities, including Bristol City Council, South Gloucestershire Council and North Somerset Council.
Stephen Hewitt, Joint CEO said: “I’m extremely pleased to welcome David George to Steer Davies Gleave. The leading role David will play in delivering the West of England Rapid Transit Network on behalf of the local authorities will be key to developing a successful public transport system that supports job creation and drives economic growth”.
From inception in 2006, Steer Davies Gleave has been supporting the West of England authorities on their rapid transit network. The rapid transit schemes include the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol city centre bus rapid transit scheme, the North Fringe to Hengrove Package and the South Bristol Link.
Background Information
David has successfully managed the development and delivery of Fastrack since 2006. He has had wide-ranging experience in civil engineering over the last 30 years with his roles increasingly focused on project management. This has culminated in leading all aspects of project development and implementation for Fastrack, an innovative, high profile and award-winning Bus Rapid Transit scheme in north Kent.
Fastrack was designed to serve large-scale regeneration within a key Thames Gateway growth area. Acknowledged as a bold new approach in delivering mass transit solutions for sustainable development, the many innovative features of this high profile scheme have attracted national and even international critical acclaim. To date nearly £100m of public and private sector funding has been invested in Fastrack infrastructure, with much more planned.
West of England Rapid Transit Network
The new West of England rapid transit network will be a higher quality experience; reliable, easy to use and understand, with modern bus-based vehicles and, in places, its own right of way.
The rapid transit vehicles will have clear information, fast boarding and `smartcard’ ticketing linking with wider bus and rail services, creating a new way of travelling and be a catalyst for transforming public transport travel across the West of England area.
- The rapid transit network forms part of the West of England’s overall aim to
Reduce carbon emissions - Support sustainable economic growth
- Promote accessibility
- Contribute to better safety, security and health
- Improve quality of life and a healthy natural environment
Together with the Bath Transportation Package and the Weston Package, the rapid transit network and plans for the local rail network create a transport system that is reliable affordable, safe, secure, simple to use and available to all.
The three rapid transit routes are:
- Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre
- North Fringe to Hengrove
- South Bristol Link
More information can be found at: http://travelwest.info/rapidtransit
Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Bus Rapid Transit
The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme introduces BRT services from the Long Ashton Park and Ride in the south west of Bristol to Bristol City Centre. Additional services will make use of the BRT alignment to provide faster journey times and improved reliability for services to North Somerset (Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Nailsea), as well as Bristol International Airport. It will feature a guided busway for the majority of its length with additional bus lanes in Bristol City Centre. It will use modern sustainable vehicles and link key employment areas and public services. The outturn cost of the scheme is approximately £49.5m.
North Fringe to Hengrove Package
The North Fringe to Hengrove rapid transit route will connect key employment hubs like Cribbs Causeway, Aztec West, Science Park at Emersons Green and Bristol City Centre with key residential areas in the north and south of the city, such as Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford, Emersons Green, Bedminster, Knowle West and Hengrove. Key elements will include the Stoke Gifford Transport Link, M32 bus only junction and bus lane extension, major improvements to the City Centre including a new public transport interchange and a new crossing of the Avon New Cut. The outturn cost of the scheme is approximately £102m.
South Bristol Link
The South Bristol Link will connect the A370 near Long Ashton Park & Ride to the A4174 Hartcliffe roundabout via a single carriageway road with rapid transit bus lanes and other bus priority measures, as well as pedestrian and cycle facilities. A key role of the South Bristol Link is to provide a new route for the rapid transit system – a rapid and reliable public transport service that will link South Bristol to other areas of the city making it easier to travel to work, to study or to the shops and encourage new business to locate to the area. The outturn cost of the scheme is approximately £44m.
