We’re asking for feedback on plans to install a new bus lane in the city.
As part of our work to speed up bus journey times, we’re installing a westbound bus lane on Marine Parade, between Lower Rock Gardens and the Sea Life Centre.
We’ve sent more than 7000 leaflets and postcards to addresses in the immediate area, inviting residents, businesses, and other stakeholders to give us their views.
The public engagement period runs until 28 June. Feedback received during this time will be used to finalise the designs before the bus lane is due to be installed in early 2025. There will then be a further six-month consultation period after the bus lane is introduced.
Read more about the plans and give us your feedback.
Picture: Marine Parade
More information
In 2022, we were awarded £28 million by the Department for Transport for our Bus Service Improvement Plan.
The money is being used to improve bus services, infrastructure and provide lower fares.
Marine Parade is a major bus route with over 250 buses in each direction per day. Traffic flow on Marine Parade varies throughout the day and year.
Congestion at busy times can be unpredictable which makes bus journey times unreliable, sometimes causing buses to terminate routes early or start late. A bus lane will help more buses run to timetable.
The bus lane would operate 24 hours a day and could also be used by taxis and cyclists. As this part of the road is very wide, there wouldn’t be any need to reduce the number of traffic lanes. We’ll also be providing a new pedestrian crossing on the road.
It would be installed under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). This means, if necessary, we can make changes for up to 18 months before a decision is made on whether to make it permanent.
People can also give us feedback on the bus lane during the first six months it’s in operation.
Faster, more reliable journey times
Councillor Trevor Muten, Chair of the Transport and Sustainability committee said: “We have a fantastic bus network in Brighton & Hove, but we’re always looking for ways to improve reliability and journey times.
“A new bus lane on Marine Parade will mean passengers reach their destination on time more often, reducing delays on a busy part of the seafront. Because of the width of the road, they’ll be no need to remove any traffic lanes.
“We’ve already used funding from the Bus Service Improvement Plan to make travelling by bus cheaper for families and young people, run buses later and more frequently and provide a lifeline for Breeze Buses to the South Downs.
“This new bus lane will mean more reliable journey times into the heart of the city and I would encourage people to give us their feedback.”