Graham Road Bus Priority Proposal for Routes 38, 242 and 277

Overview

We are seeking views on proposals to improve the local road network for buses and make Graham Road safer for all road users.

Why are these changes being proposed?

The Council is committed to making Hackney’s roads safer for everyone living, working and visiting the borough as well as promoting public transport and helping to make buses more reliable. In addition to achieving faster journey times for bus users, these changes aim to create a favourable environment for and encourage more people to use sustainable transport such as public transport, cycling or walking which will improve air quality and reduce emissions within the local area.

Graham Road is served by three bus routes, 38, 242 and 277 which provide links to Dalston, Clapton Pond, Shoreditch and Central London. Over 45 buses per hour travel down this road in each direction carrying up to 4,000 passengers per hour.

During the hours of operation of the bus lane, only one lane is available for general traffic in each direction. As a result, a pinch point occurs by the existing permit holders parking bays near Penpoll Road. Similarly, on Sundays vehicles constantly park at the eastbound bus lane on Graham Road between Mare Street and Royal Oak Road which obstructs the bus service. This has been identified as a cause of significant delay in the bus service on Graham Road. The obstructing parked vehicles can result in the queuing of vehicles in the westbound direction and this also hampers cyclists and emergency vehicles.

The existing permit holders parking restriction on Graham Road between the numbers 166 and 182 operates from Monday to Saturday between 8:30 am and 11 pm. To improve the flow of buses and traffic on Graham Road the Council is proposing a scheme to remove the parking bay on Graham Road between the numbers 166 and 182 to be replaced by a single yellow line and also to change the timings of the existing eastbound bus lane hours between Mare Street and Royal Oak Road from Monday to Sunday (7 am to 7 pm). The current bus lane operating hours are Monday to Saturday (7 am to 7 pm).

As a result of the above mentioned issues, the Council is proposing the below parking proposals on Graham Road between Mare Street and Royal Oak Road.

What is the proposed scheme?

Please refer to this drawing for details.

The proposal is to amend the existing bus lane timings and vehicle parking timings on Graham Road between Mare Street and Royal Oak Road. The proposed amended timings for parking and loading are mentioned below.

• The new timings for the existing eastbound bus lane on Graham Road between Mare Street and Royal Oak Road would be Monday to Sunday (7 am to 7 pm). 
• The single yellow lines within the existing bus lane would remain as it is. This means people would be allowed to park their vehicles between 7 pm to 7 am on all days.
• The existing permit holder (zone D) parking bays on Graham Road between the numbers 166 and 182 would be removed and will be replaced with single yellow lines. This means people would only be allowed to park their vehicles between 7 pm to 7 am on all days.

Have your say

Please give your views by completing the online questionnaire. Should you require a paper copy of the questionnaire, please call 020 8356 2897 or email streetscene.consultations@hackney.gov.uk.

What happens next?

Your views will also be taken into account as part of the detailed design process. We will publish the consultation responses as well as the decisions made at: consultation.hackney.gov.uk

Should the Council agree to proceed with these proposals, a further statutory consultation will need to be carried out to make the legal Traffic Management Orders & Notices, and subject to this, residents will receive a letter to inform them about the start date for the scheme. Public notices advising the changes will also be displayed in the street at that time.