New bus lane to help cut cancellations and delays

Brighton & Hove City Council said about 250 buses travel along Marine Parade in each direction every day

A bus lane will be introduced on Brighton seafront to reduce service delays and cancellations, a council has said.

The westbound bus lane will be in Marine Parade, between Lower Rock Gardens and the Sea Life Centre.

A public consultation is underway until 28 June. Designers will consider the feedback in the final plans before the route opens in early 2025.

Councillor Trevor Muten said the new lane would mean "more reliable journey times into the heart of the city" and encouraged the public to share their views.

“Unpredictable congestion” means bus journey times are unreliable, causing buses to terminate routes early or start late, according to the council.

Brighton & Hove City Council said the road is wide enough that it would not need to reduce the number of traffic lanes already there.

The bus lane will operate 24 hours a day and can also be used by taxis and cyclists. There will be a further six-month consultation period after it is installed.

An experimental traffic regulation order will be in place, meaning the council has a year and a half to make any changes before deciding if the bus lane will become permanent.

People can also give feedback on the bus lane for six months after it is introduced.

The council will use part of a £28m grant it received from the Department for Transport in 2022 to fund the project.