Views sought for transport survey in Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside

Bus passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users are being asked to share their experiences of travelling between Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Tameside to help shape highways, bus and active travel improvements across the boroughs.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is delivering the Bee Network, Greater Manchester’s vision for a fully integrated, London-style transport system joining together buses, trams, cycling and walking by early 2025, with rail incorporated by 2030.  

Buses and bus infrastructure will form the single largest component of the Bee Network, and last year Greater Manchester received more than £1bn from the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement – with significant funding set to be invested in buses, routes and services to improve the quality of these journeys across the city-region.

As part of the next phase of this work, TfGM and partners are looking at ways to make improvements to bus journeys connecting Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Ashton town centres. The A627 and A671 combined is the main bus corridor connecting the four towns and will be the focus of a new survey.

TfGM, along with Rochdale, Oldham and Tameside councils, is keen to hear the views of people who use the routes, whether it is by bus, foot, bicycle, car or combination of different modes. Anyone who visits, lives in or travels through the boroughs is welcome to take part in the survey.

People’s feedback will then be used to help shape highways, bus and active travel improvements in the area with a wider aim to support better quality and more reliable journeys across the three boroughs using sustainable modes of transport. Future improvements could include making buses quicker and more reliable and facilities such as bus stops safer, more accessible and more comfortable. Feedback will also help with potential plans for new and improved routes for walking, cycling and wheeling.

Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner, said: “We are getting on with delivering the Bee Network and this latest engagement exercise is an example of how people can have their say on improving transport in their area.

“We know that the A627 and A671 corridor is a key route connecting the towns of Rochdale, Royton, Oldham and Ashton for people across the three boroughs.

“We want to learn more about people’s experiences of using these routes so that we can develop improvements for bus and active travel and strengthen connectivity across this part of the city-region. With all that in mind, I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in the survey and have their say in shaping local transport services.”

The potential highway infrastructure improvements, proposed to go ahead between now and Spring 2027, will complement other key transport projects being developed in Greater Manchester, including the start of bus franchising in September, delivering ultra-low emission and accessible buses, simplifying the purchase of tickets, and making fares more affordable.  

These improvements aim to support the broader transport ambitions for Greater Manchester, which include:

• Helping more people use sustainable transport, thereby easing congestion, improving air quality and helping Greater Manchester achieve its aims to reduce carbon emissions. 
• Improving accessibility of and integration between different types of transport including walking, wheeling, cycling, bus, Metrolink and rail. 
• Improving access for local people to town centres, employment, education and leisure by reliable and effective sustainable travel modes. 

The survey findings will also help TfGM and partners explore options for enhancing the quality of bus journeys between the four towns such as the quality of stops and connections to rail and Metrolink services and other destinations. The standard of nearby walking, cycling and wheeling facilities to these routes will also be considered as part of the survey.

People can take part in the survey online via this link until 28 April 2023. If people need to complete this survey in an alternative format please email customer.relations@tfgm.com or call 0161 244 1000.