Commuters in Yate will be able to enjoy a more sustainable way to travel thanks to the opening of the town’s new park and ride site on Monday 7 February.
Yate Park and Ride is a new £4.5 million transport hub that will help reduce traffic along the congested A432 Badminton Road corridor by providing attractive alternative travel options such as public transport, cycling or car sharing.
The new facility on Badminton Road will be open seven days a week (excluding bank holidays) and includes 198 parking spaces and cycle parking for 46 bikes, as well as improved bus stops.
The site will provide an initial park and ride service using the existing bus network, with buses running approximately every 30 minutes. The A432 corridor between Bristol, Yate and Chipping Sodbury will continue to benefit from investment in public transport over the next five years, which will see bus service provision improve.
The car park will also be available for rail users at Yate Station, which is just an eight-minute walk away.
In the coming months further facilities will be installed at the park and ride including 38 electric vehicle (EV) charge points, a car club and click and collect lockers.
South Gloucestershire Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure Cllr Steve Reade said: “We are very pleased to announce the opening date for the new Yate Park and Ride.
“The site offers commuters a credible alternative to using their car for journeys into Bristol city centre and will also provide an all-day parking option for people visiting Yate and Chipping Sodbury, reducing congestion on local roads.
“Anyone traveling into Bristol city centre or around the Yate and Chipping Sodbury area can also now use the park and ride to easily switch to public transport, car sharing, walking or cycling.
“The new facility will support sustainable travel in Yate, Chipping Sodbury and the surrounding area and is part of our commitment to create more green travel options for our residents and visitors. It will additionally contribute towards our Climate Emergency goals by helping to reduce carbon emissions and improving air quality.”
Doug Claringbold, Managing Director, First West of England, said: “We are delighted to have collaborated with South Gloucestershire Council on this exciting new initiative helping to encourage more customers to use public transport and contribute to a cleaner environment for all of us.
“We are proud to be the first UK public transport operator to sign-up to ambitious science-based targets to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and to operate a 100 per cent zero-emission fleet by 2035.
“The vital role of public transport has never been clearer in helping to address the challenges of climate change, and we are committed to helping deliver a more sustainable future for the communities we serve.”
Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall said: “Having campaigned for years alongside the Council to secure a brand-new Park and Ride for Yate, I am delighted that it is set to open. Improving local transport connections is a major part of our Positive Plan for South Gloucestershire and this important piece of transport infrastructure will go a long way towards keeping Yate moving.”
The £4.5 million project is being funded by the West of England Combined Authority and Local Enterprise Partnership through the Investment Fund, administered by the West of England Combined Authority.
