Scheme background and proposals

Scheme Background

History of the Scheme

Improving bus facilities in Westminster is essential to enhance public transport accessibility, safety, and sustainability. The Westminster City Council's Sustainable Transport Strategy 2023 emphasizes the need to increase sustainable transport options, focusing on areas with the greatest potential for positive change in safety, congestion, health and environmental impact.

Data from Transport for London shows that over half of Londoners use the bus network every week and with over 70 routes passing through the borough, maintaining a reliable and efficient service is an important part of Westminster’s sustainable transport strategy.

As a result of this, Westminster are looking to improve facilities for buses through the introduction of 24h bus lanes, bus lane extensions where feasible and the removal of congestion points along bus routes.

Methodology

As part of the development of these proposals, surveys have been conducted that have included:

• Kerbside parking and loading surveys
• Traffic modelling of new and extended bus lanes
• Bus route surveys to identify congestion points

Using the data provided, designs have been developed to enhance sustainable transport options for both buses and cyclists as well as looking to mitigate impacts on traffic congestion, parking and loading requirements.

Proposals for Kensington Road Road

Summary of the Proposals

Kensington Road between The Royal Albert Hall and Hyde Park Barracks is serviced by multiple bus routes both eastbound and westbound. The proposed improvements include:

• Extending the eastbound bus lane by circa 140 metres from West Carriage Drive / Exhibition Road signalised westwards to The Royal Albert Hall.
• Extending the eastbound bus lane by circa 670 metres from West Carriage Drive / Exhibition Road signalised junction eastwards to Hyde Park Barracks.
• Extension of the westbound bus lane by circa 80 metres westwards to The Royal Albert Hall.  
• Conversion of the existing eastbound and westbound bus lanes including the extensions    to operate 24 hours and 7 days a week.
• Changes to the permanent parking and loading restrictions to facilitate the 24 hour and 7 day operation of the bus lanes.