The Issue: Would trams provide the solution to Oxford’s chronic traffic congestion?

Van Coulter, Oxford City Councillor for Barton and Sandhills

COMMUTERS travelling in, out or across Oxford by car, bus or cycle would agree a tram system must benefit Oxford.

Getting to Oxford is time consuming and often frustrating. Even when I walk the couple of miles into town, trying to cross each road is a pain – traffic congestion has many negative social, environmental and economic impacts. Oxford is a congested city.

It’s a significant problem.

As vice-chairman of a planning committee, I’m well aware of objections raised by residents concerning proposed developments and the lack of capacity within Oxford’s transport infrastructure.

In terms of the condition of Oxford’s roads, I’m lobbied by residents about vibrations stemming from buses travelling through Barton.

Barton’s roads were not built for double-decker buses passing through every seven minutes. Even roads resurfaced in 2011 show signs of failing and, in places, are already falling apart. A radical solution is required.

Where trams have been introduced, a one third increase in the use of public transport is observed. To encourage such a shift requires a high quality of ride – the type achieved by trams, but not by buses.

Grenoble, Oxford’s twin city in France (population 157,000), is a good comparator for Oxford (population 154,000). A tram system introduced in Grenoble in the 1980s grew incrementally to 27 miles of tramway, forming the backbone of the public transport network. It preserves Grenoble’s attractiveness as a historic city and tourist destination, while facilitating its success as a major economic centre.

A significant benefit is that it takes on average 20 minutes to cover six miles by tram. It can take as long to travel two miles by bus from Seacourt to Oxford.

Starting with a tramway linking Barton to Botley (including connecting Thornhill and Seacourt Park and Rides), a steady expansion would share the benefits city-wide.

Borrowing on the experience of Nottingham, it can be partly funded by a charge for parking at work.

Yes, a tram system would benefit Oxford.

NO

Jean Fooks, city councillor for Summertown, county councillor for Summertown and Wolvercote

I have doubts about trams and one thing I would say is that Oxford has a peculiar geography.

That means either we have trams – as buses at present – building up in St Giles or we possibly have trams running through Cornmarket, which would not be popular.

Fixed route vehicles have limitations in our tight city. Buses have the flexibility to divert when necessary onto alternative routes.

There is a general feeling that the population in Oxford would not be sufficient for a tram system to appeal.

Each of the roads that enter the city are different.

We do not have normal routes, which means people are taken off main routes and on to different modes of transport. Buses already head off down different routes and you cannot do that with trams.

We have very many people commuting into the city every day from some distance away and these people are likely to want to get on a vehicle that will take them direct to their destination without having to change to another vehicle.

That is always unpopular as it lengthens the journey time.

Within the city boundaries, many people can bicycle or walk, which we should encourage.

Buses carry those from further afield in many directions and I do not see how a tram system would be able to provide these routes. I think trams work in some places, but these are bigger cities than Oxford and in this city there are problems with the routes.

How will the trams be powered?

I think having a fixed route may cause more problems because if something gets stuck or breaks down, then the trams have nowhere to go.

We have to find something that will get people out of their cars, an alternative that will work.

We need to have a link with buses and trains, and encourage people to do something different.

I do not have an easy answer and I do not think there are any easy answers to the transport problems in Oxford.

But detailed proposals with indicated routes would be needed before we could consider the possible introduction of a tram system.