Rookwood Road Bus Routes 318 & 349 Extension

Overview

This consultation document outlines Hackney Council’s proposals for bus stop improvement measures in Rookwood Road to allow the extension of bus routes 318 & 349.

Why your views matter

Transport for London (TfL) has received customer requests for routes 318 and 349 to be extended in public service along a route they already take to and from their stand on Rookwood Road. At present both routes terminate their public route at the ‘Egerton Road’ stop on Stamford Hill, and then proceed "out of service" along Egerton Road to the Rookwood Road stand. They then return to public service via Clapton Common, first calling near Stamford Hill Broadway for the 318 and opposite Egerton Road for the 349.

In response to customer requests, Transport for London (TfL) consulted stakeholders and residents in August/September 2013 on proposals to change the first and last bus stops on routes 318 and 349. The proposed changes are intended to allow passengers to get off and on the 318 and 349 in Rookwood Road, rather than having to walk a long way to/from Clapton Common or Stamford Hill, where the current first and last stops are located

The outcome of TfL’s consultation was very positive and TfL has planned to go ahead with the changes. A new combined pick-up bus stop and bus stand would be installed in Rookwood Road, adjacent to the Gregorian Orthodox Cathedral and a new bus stand for bus operational purposes would be installed in Rookwood Road outside the Stamford Hill bus garage.

In order for the bus service extensions to work a number of on-street highway changes are required, which Hackney Council are proposing as set out below

The Proposals Include:

A major aim of the work is to help passengers get on and off the bus more easily, particularly those with mobility difficulties. Raising the kerb and the footway within the boarding/alighting area will help when the ramps on the bus need to be used. This will make getting on/off the bus easier for people in wheelchairs and those with pushchairs, shopping trolleys etc. Each of the proposals below has been numbered and are shown on the accompanying plan for ease of reference.

1. The existing bus stand on Rookwood Road outside the Stamford Hill bus garage will be shortened and will serve as a new bus stand for bus operational purposes.
2. The introduction of new combined bus stop and bus stand in Rookwood Road adjacent to the Gregorian Orthodox Cathedral, will serve as a new bus stop and bus stand for bus route 318.
3. The introduction of new combined bus stop and bus stand on Rookwood Road near the junction with Castlewood Road will serve as a new bus stop and bus stand for bus route 349.
4. Removal of the existing northbound bus stand on Rookwood Road at the junction with Castlewood Road and also removal of existing 9 metres of double yellow line to provide six additional car parking spaces.
5. Relaying the eastern pavement in Rookwood Road using new paving slabs and raising the kerb height so that passengers can get on and off the bus more easily.
6. Installing 18 metres of new double yellow line waiting restriction across the church vehicle crossover entrance and the private car parking area.
7. Installing double yellow line waiting restriction across both the entrances to the Stamford Hill bus garage.
8. Installing new "Keep Clear" road markings outside the entrance of New Synagogue, outside Joel Emanuel house and outside Yesodey Hatorah school car park to reduce congestion and improve the free flow of traffic.
9. Installing new dropped kerbs in Egerton Road outside the New Synagogue and at the junction with Rookwood Road for better pedestrian accessibility.
10. Providing one additional vehicle parking space in Rookwood Road at its junction with Clapton Common.
11. Taking out 4.5 metres space of the existing private car park driveway and 2 metres of the existing bus garage driveway for new bus stop accessibility.

The overall impact of these proposals is residents will not lose any car parking spaces and will gain a new pick up and drop off bus stops for bus route 318 & 349 as part of these scheme proposals.

What happens next

Your views will be taken into account as part of the detailed design. Works are programmed to commence in September / October 2015 should we get a positive response. May we take this opportunity to thank you for replying to this consultation