To introduce bus gates to reduce city-centre congestion, reduce bus journey times and allow for the re-prioritisation of road space towards active travel modes.

To allocate up to £30,000 of capital to Oxfordshire County Council to fund temporary bus gates in the city centre. The funding is subject to a Funding Agreement with Oxfordshire County Council.

It is for Oxfordshire County Council to design and implement the temporary bus gates, as well as undertake monitoring, review and consultation.

The City Council funds will be drawn down from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) income. As transport related infrastructure, it has been confirmed as eligible expenditure by the Planning Policy team.

The detail of the bus gate proposals will be worked up by Oxfordshire County Council, but the principle is to reduce city-centre congestion, reduce bus journey times and allow for the re-prioritisation of road space towards active travel modes.

The City Council had the option not to fund the temporary bus gates. This would mean that Oxfordshire County Council would not be in a position to take forward the design and implementation of the temporary bus gates at this point in time. This was rejected because the proposed bus gates represent an opportunity to reduce traffic congestion, reduce bus journey times and re-prioritising road space towards active travel modes, all of which are priorities for both City and County Councils.

As this decision focuses on the approval of funding only, consideration around the design and implementation of the bus gates are not part of this decision and will sit with Oxfordshire County Council.

Tom Bridgman, Executive Director of Development, 01 July 2020.