PJA was commissioned to design and review options for a new central bus interchange in Swindon.
As part of the Kimmerfields major regeneration project in central Swindon, the town centre bus station was due to be demolished and replaced with a new facility which was designed in 2011. Swindon Borough Council had concerns relating to the safety and operation of the proposed bus station.
Initially, a desktop study was undertaken. This used timetable data to understand vehicle routing and potential usage of the existing interchanges at Fleming Way and Swindon Bus Station. Given the passage of time since the 2011 scheme, detailed dwell time surveys recorded the actual usage of the two central interchanges. This data allowed PJA to find efficiencies in bus stop utilisation.
Best practice from both the UK, and around the world, was scrutinised. This included site visits to understand the strengths and weaknesses of several types of interchange at Bath, Bristol, Oxford, and Reading.
The project was complicated by Fleming Way, a grade-separated street which creates severance in the town centre. There was a desire to re-grade Fleming Way; however, this would incur significant cost associated with utilities protection and diversion. Options for the refurbishment or reconfiguration of the street were considered.
Based on the determined design and operational parameters, schematic options for a central bus station were presented to the client, Swindon Borough Council, and local bus operators.
The preferred options were taken to preliminary design by PJA. This included wider highways works to accommodate existing and proposed traffic management in the town centre. Following a key stakeholder meeting in May 2017, the decision was taken to reduce the land take of the proposed bus station by splitting the facility into two smaller interchanges. PJA was retained for preliminary design of a smaller bus station on Cheltenham Street, and part of Fleming Way. The earlier operational work was used to inform the requirements for the supplementary interchange.
Finally, bus routing during the temporary closure of Fleming Way was considered. A preliminary design for a temporary bus station facility was drawn up and costed. PJA also provided cost estimates for the preferred bus interchange options.
