The Banana makeover

Birmingham's Route 11 in the UK is a 26-mile urban bus route that crosses every major arterial route into the city. It is also known as the Outer Circle or the Banana Route as its buses often arrive in bunches. Congestion is a problem on the route, which caters for 50,000 passengers a day. Centro, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, is about to upgrade the route with a #26million makeover as part of the Showcase concept. The upgrade will consist of new buses, shelters, real-time information, CCTV, bus lanes and priority at major junctions. New buses will be Volvo B7TL/Wrightbus Gemini low-floor double deck vehicles. These feature the CrystalEyes CCTV system. The real-time information system will allow buses to be regulated to prevent bunching. Mobile phone text messaging and internet information are planned. The Route 11 Showcase partnership involves Birmingham and Sandwell councils, who have provided highway improvements. Planners have had to drop plans for bus lanes in some areas because of opposition from local residents on the route.

• Authors:
  • Plisner, P
• Publication Date: 2004-11-28

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p11
• Serial:
  • BUS AND COACH PROFESSIONAL
  • Issue Number: 93
  • Publisher: PLUM PUBLISHING LTD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alignment; Bus priority; Bus stops; Buses; Equipment; Highways; Improvements; Intelligent transportation systems; Intersections; Local government agencies; Low floor vehicles; Planning; Public transit; Traffic lanes; Traveler information and communication systems; Urban areas; Video cameras
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2894: Alignment; 1272: Bus; 6750: Camera; 3674: Equipment; 2755: Highway; 9108: Improvement; 8735: Intelligent transport system; 455: Junction; 192: Local authority; 1285: Low floor vehicle; 8786: Passenger information; 143: Planning; 648: Priority (traffic); 744: Public transport; 1084: Stop (public transport); 2827: Traffic lane; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; I10: Economics and Administration; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01012817
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 21 2005 3:05PM