News / Transport
MetroBus costs swell by up to ?15 million
Just when you thought the MetroBus project couldn’t get any more unpopular.
Amid a year of delays across the city caused by roadworks, it has now been announced councils will have to fork out as much as an extra £15 million to keep the project alive.
The project was supposed to cost £203 million, but a new report due to be discussed on Friday shows this could increase by between £10.2 million and £15 million.
is needed now More than ever
The extra “cost pressures” have come from extra security following protests, unexpected diversions of key utilities, and more complicated traffic management.
The new bus route, which is set to run partly on segregated lanes, is still due to begin service in spring of 2017 – although questions have been raised about appointing an operator.
First Bus looks to be the most likely candidate, but an unplanned council subsidy is also now looking likely.
The MetroBus project is part funded by the Department for Transport, with the remaining cash coming from Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council.
The councils are due to meet on Friday to agree to increase their contributions to fill the funding gap.
The MetroBus project will be made up of a route from Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Cribbs Causeway to the city centre via Emersons Green.
It includes an overhaul of the city centre layout and will provide an express bus service on 31 miles of segregated bus lanes. Extra cycle lanes will also be built alongside part of the route.
A spokeswoman from MetroBus said: “This report is about making provision for increased costs – so the money is available if needed – there have been some unexpected costs such as the protestor action, changes of design on bridges and similar and as we near the end of construction costs become finalised.
“The councils apologise for the disruption during the build, but it will be worth it – reducing congestion, improving air quality and providing a brand new public transport option.”
Read more: 2016: the year of the MetroBus delays?