Integrating Public Transport and Urban Planning: Fastrack and the Bridge in Kent Thameside

Kent Thameside is a major growth area to the east of London. As large brownfield sites are regenerated, the area has the potential to deliver up to 50,000 new jobs and 30,000 new houses over the next 20-30 years. This article describes how a new bus rapid transit system called Fastrack will hopefully influence the travel choices of the future residents of Kent Thameside even before they arrive. A 40 km Fastrack network is being planned for Kent Thameside. The objective is to provide sufficient priority from end-to-end so that journey times can be guaranteed. Dedicated busways are planned wherever possible, and priority lanes constructed alongside existing roads are planned for areas where full segregation is not viable. The planning of a mixed-use development in Kent Thameside called The Bridge involved a combination of measures to discourage unnecessary car ownership and to encourage use of alternative modes such as Fastrack. Each new house in the development will be fitted with an information display screen that provides real-time information on Fastrack service. Comfortable stations will be provided along the route in lieu of conventional bus stops. The hope is that 40% of trips from The Bridge will be made by public transportation. After an initial "kick-start" by the public sector, much of the network will be delivered by the private sector.