Bus firms have claimed the new Corporation Street bus gate will ‘significantly improve’ the reliability of services in the city.

Lancashire County Council is switching on the bus-gate cameras in the stretch of road between Marsh Lane and Heatley Street from Tuesday 21 May.

More than 2,700 bus journeys are taken along Corporation Street each week with the county council saying peak-time delays can be considerable due to traffic.

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Assistant operations manager for Stagecoach in Preston and Chorley, Mike Stevens, said: “We at Stagecoach eagerly anticipate the implementation of the new bus gate on Corporation Street in central Preston. This initiative represents a significant stride towards improving bus reliability and fostering sustainable transportation in the area. By prioritising buses along this key route this will ease congestion and provide quicker journeys for passengers.

“We expect the Corporation Street bus gate to substantially enhance bus reliability and reduce congestion, encouraging modal shifts towards eco-friendly modes of travel. We commend the collaborative efforts of Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council, and the University of Central Lancashire in spearheading this initiative as part of wider city centre improvements, supported by the Transforming Cities Fund project.

“As we move forward, we urge the public to familiarize themselves with the altered road network and adhere to designated routes. At Stagecoach, we are committed to delivering reliable, accessible, and environmentally responsible transportation solutions, contributing to a more sustainable future for Preston and its residents.”

Preston Bus – who have been under-fire recently for proposing to scale-back a number of evening services in the city – have also welcomed the new bus gate.

Operations manager Dave Wright said: “We are looking forward to the go-live of the new bus gate, which will significantly improve punctuality on our services along Corporation Street, and would like to thank our customers for bearing with us while these works have been ongoing.”

The new bus gate has also been welcomed by the University of Central Lancashire.

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The stretch of road – between Marsh Lane and Heatley Street – is close to the city’s university campus and the Adelphi Square.

Head of space and property management at UCLan, Claire Lowe, said: “The University is already feeling the benefits of the Transforming Cities Fund which has opened a gateway between the University and the city of Preston with our students enjoying the newly developed Friargate as a great destination to eat, drink and meet up.

“The new cycling infrastructure and increased bus reliability will improve sustainable travel within the city.”

The bus gate will operate 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week from Tuesday 21 May and a ‘short grace period’ will be operational with drivers given warnings. No date has been given for when the penalty charge notices will begin.

Buses, Hackney-carriage taxis and cyclists can continue to use the stretch of road. Private-hire taxis cannot.

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