York to Test New Bus Priority Route in Bid to Cut City Centre Delays

A major overhaul of traffic management in York city centre is set to be tested next year as the council looks to improve bus reliability, reduce congestion and encourage greater use of public transport.

City of York Council has approved an 18-month pilot of its proposed Rougier Route, a £2.3 million initiative that will introduce new access restrictions across key city centre roads from January 2027.

Under the plans, sections of Rougier Street, George Hudson Street and Micklegate will be reserved for buses, taxis and emergency vehicles between 7am and 11pm, limiting access for other traffic in an effort to improve journey times.

The decision received unanimous backing from councillors, with the authority arguing that worsening congestion is having a growing impact on both passengers and bus operators.

Growing delays driving up costs

Council analysis found that more than 1,000 bus movements pass through Rougier Street every day, making it one of the busiest public transport corridors in the city.

According to the council, buses travelling through the proposed priority route now take significantly longer than they did before the pandemic, with journey times increasing by around six minutes since 2019.

Transport Executive Member Councillor Kate Ravilious said these delays are affecting both operators and passengers.

She explained that longer journeys increase operating costs and reduce network efficiency, ultimately placing upward pressure on fares while making services less attractive to potential users.

Ravilious said the trial would allow the council to monitor the impact of the scheme and make changes where necessary before deciding whether the restrictions should become permanent.

She also confirmed that motorists who breach the new restrictions during the first six months of the trial will receive warning notices rather than financial penalties as the changes are introduced.

Bus operators back the proposals

Public transport operators and passenger groups have welcomed the move, describing it as an important step towards creating a more dependable bus network.

York Bus Forum highlighted how increasing congestion has steadily lengthened cross-city journey times over the past decade, arguing that improving reliability is essential if more people are to choose public transport instead of private cars.

First Bus York also voiced strong support for the initiative, stating that traffic congestion in the city centre remains one of the biggest obstacles to providing punctual and reliable services.

The operator believes reducing delays will improve customer confidence and encourage higher passenger numbers, helping to ease congestion further by reducing car dependency.

Questions remain over wider traffic impacts

While backing the trial, opposition councillors stressed the importance of carefully monitoring its wider effects on the city's road network.

Liberal Democrat group leader Stephen Fenton said there were legitimate concerns about how displaced traffic could affect surrounding routes, but supported giving the scheme the opportunity to demonstrate its benefits.

He suggested that improvements to York's outer ring road could play a crucial role in preventing drivers from using city centre streets as through-routes, creating opportunities to further prioritise buses alongside walking, cycling and wheeling in future transport plans.

A trial before any permanent decision

The Rougier Route will operate as an 18-month pilot beginning in January 2027, during which the council will assess its impact on bus performance, traffic movement and city centre accessibility.

If successful, the project could form part of York's wider strategy to improve sustainable transport, enhance public transport reliability and reduce congestion across the city centre.