Green light for Preston City Centre bus lane and 20mph speed limits

Lancashire County Councillors have approved the creation of a bus lane in Corporation Street.

Cycles and taxis will be able to use the bus lane, which will be in place in Corporation Street in both directions between Heatley Street and Marsh Lane.

Councillors say preventing private vehicles from using the stretch of road between UCLan and Ring Way will encourage use of buses and make cycling safer and more attractive.

Also set to be brought in is a 20mph speed limit across the Friargate North and Corporation Street areas, designed to increase pedestrian, cyclist and vulnerable user safety in the area to encourage active travel.

The changes are designed to transform how people travel in and around Preston City Centre as part of the Transforming Friargate North and Ringway scheme.

The aim of the project is to create improved links across Ring Way and encourage bus use, walking and cycling into and around Preston City Centre, while making Friargate a more attractive destination.

After consultation on the proposed changes took place between 4 November and 2 December last year, the county council’s cabinet gave the green light at a meeting on Thursday 2 February.

Vehicles and pedestrians on Corporation Street — Corporation Street

Cllr Rupert Swarbrick, Lancashire County Council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Preston is going through an exciting change and these proposed measures are a vital cog in the machine we are building.

“In conjunction with the major construction works we are undertaking, these proposals will fundamentally change the way we travel in and around Preston City Centre.

“Thank you everyone who took the time to look at the proposals and give feedback.

“All of the responses have been considered and cabinet colleagues have agreed to move forward with these plans to bring Preston in line with other major cities in the North.”

For more information visit the Lancashire County Council website.