superCAM or the Cambridge to Huntingdon Rapid Transit (CHRT)?

There has been a lot of publicity over the Gallagher's guided bus proposal - superCAM. You may even have seen one of the exhibitions about the system. Now the CHRT is being sponsored by the County Council, who are asking for more than £70M of public money to make the system work.

Much of the basics of the County plan are the same as superCAM. For example:

• The route is Huntingdon to Trumpington (Park & Ride site) and Addenbrookes;
• Park & Ride sites to the north - at St Ives and Longstanton;
• Only about half of the route guided (23km), the rest on road (17km). Buses will use Histon Road and Milton Road to access the City Centre;
• Aimed at getting traffic off the A14. Provide transport for a new settlement at Oakington/Longstanton.

But there are some key differences:

• Kerb guided - as used at Adelaide and elsewhere;

	Adelaide - single decker on curve	Adelaide - driver's side view

• No commitment to "bendy" buses - though they are a possibility;
• 8 buses an hour in 2006, rising to 21 an hour in 2016 - each way;
• 10% premium on fares;
• No (NO) stop in Histon or Impington.

Impington and Histon are the largest settlement (8,000 residents) on the route to Cambridge. 5,000 people also work here. Nevertheless there is no stop planned because we are so close to the end of the guided section. Since buses will then be using the normal roads, there is little to be gained.

There is more bad news in the County Council report (editor's additions in italics):

• Substantial adverse visual impact would be experienced by houses in Histon south of Park Lane (and presumably also in Impington: Villa Road, Villa Place, Pepys Terrace et al) that are directly adjacent to the disused railway;
• Moderate increase in noise along northern fringes of Histon (and Impington);
• Moderate increase in emissions along northern fringes of Histon (and Impington);
• Traffic lights at Histon Station, replacing current level crossing.

CHRT doesn't appear to meet local wishes and needs. The community appraisal gives some interesting figures. 40% wanted to see the railway line re-opened. Almost as many wanted a route to Addenbrookes, but no stop for CHRT means no change there.

A more reliable service (almost 50%) may happen because of priority measures put in place to help CHRT. But more, and cheaper, services aren't going to come from CHRT.

There are a number of stages that have to be gone through before this becomes a reality:

• The completion of the Structure Plan. This will finally decide where the new settlement will be. CHRT makes little sense if Oakington/Longstanton is not confirmed. The Inquiry into this ("Examination in Public") is in October/November;
• The Government has to commit the funding. A decision will be taken over the next few months, and the County will be informed at the end of the year;
• The final scheme (which may be different again) has to be presented to a "Transport and Works Act" Inquiry. This is likely to be mid next year. Anyone can raise objections to be heard, and decided, by that Inquiry.

Local Councillors and residents are already raising concerns and questions about CHRT. The current scheme will bring no benefits to local residents. More than 200 homes within 100m of the route will suffer from noise, pollution, and a bus passing every 90 seconds (in 2016).

What do you think?

 

What can you do? You want to know more: let any Councillor know. If there is enough interest, we can organise a public meeting. Now: write to Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU; Jim Paice (MP), House of Commons, London; and copy to either Parish Council Next year: look out for the Transport and Works Act notices, and write in