Somerset Council is set to launch a trial aimed at accelerating bus journey times through Taunton town centre. This initiative is part of the council’s commitment to improving public transport reliability and encouraging more residents to use buses for commuting to school, work, and local services.
The trial focuses on creating ‘greenwaves’—synchronised traffic signals along key routes entering the town from the west, north, and east. These upgrades will prioritise buses by adjusting existing traffic light patterns, avoiding the need for costly new bus lanes.
Recent improvements to traffic signals along the A38 East Reach and at the Hurdle Way junction have paved the way for this trial. The council will soon implement the revised signal timings, which allow buses to move through important junctions faster.
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David Northey of the Somerset Bus Partnership highlighted some concerns during a council executive committee meeting in Taunton. He questioned the lack of specific plans and funding for bus priority measures despite the draft bus service improvement plan’s promises, especially on heavily congested routes such as Wellington Road, East Reach, and Priorswood Road.
In response, Councillor Richard Wilkins, portfolio holder for transport and waste services, confirmed that the council is currently analysing bus operator data to test the ‘greenwaves east’ measures imminently. The findings will guide further bus priority improvements across the region.
The council’s new local transport plan includes a £550,000 budget for additional traffic signal upgrades starting in April 2027, though exact locations remain undecided.
The ‘greenwaves’ cover:
- East: A38 East Reach and A3027 East Street.
- West: A38 Wellington Road, Orchard Grove park and bus facility, Tangier area, and the forthcoming £3.2 million transport hub on Tower Street.
- North: A3038 Station Road between Staplegrove Road and Whitehall, including Bridge Street, Priory Bridge Road, Station Road, and Tangier Way.
This trial represents a significant step toward making Taunton’s bus services faster and more reliable, benefiting commuters and contributing to a greener transport network in Somerset.