Future transport schemes in Swansea will aim to largely benefit pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers.
The council wants to encourage these modes of transport in and out of the city centre, particular as the indoor arena and other large-scale regeneration schemes head towards completion.
Swansea City Council commissioned transport advice from engineering firm Atkins to assess the current road hotspots and explore ways of improving the situation, reports Wales Online.
Cllr Mark Thomas, cabinet member for environment enhancement and infrastructure management, said traffic levels had returned to pre-Covid levels in Swansea, but that patterns of car use had changed.
He said the council wanted to accommodate everyone’s transport needs, but added: “We have to change. There has to be more use of public transport by the residents of Swansea, Wales and the UK.”
Cllr Chris Holley said it was the fourth or fifth transport strategy he had seen over the years and that it hadn’t told him anything new, except for the policy push on walking and cycling.
He said: “Let’s be absolutely honest, we’ve got too many hills in this city to have a fantastic cycle system, unless you are (Tour de France winner) Chris Froome or someone of that nature.”
During the wide-ranging transport discussion, Cllr Thomas and transport officers said:
– The council was keen to build a new park and ride at an as yet unidentified site in north-west Swansa
– Funding bids to the Welsh Government to improve the busy Dyfatty lights junction had not been successful to date
– Funding for a new link road through SA1, parallel to Fabian Way, had not been secured, although the Welsh Government had provided the council with money to acquire the necessary land
– The council supported the concept of small buses being used to pick up people from outlying areas and estates and bringing them to places such as Mumbles, where large buses could run straight to and from the city centre on a frequent basis
– The Welsh Government did not wish to continue building major highway infrastructure.
