Union Road 2021 – FAQ’s

A new Exeter Transport Strategy 2020-2030 was adopted in November 2020 and this focuses on improving travel choices, creating better places for people and taking advantage of technology opportunities to influence travel behaviour in a positive way.

The proposals aim to provide an ambitious, but realistic, transport strategy that is embodied in the following 3 key themes:

1. Greater Connectivity focuses on travel into the city from outside Exeter’s boundaries. A consistent standard of frequency of both rail and interurban bus routes and delivering strategic cycle trails between key settlements are proposed. To capture those from the rural hinterland with limited sustainable travel choices, there will be a Park and Ride on all key corridors into the city. This theme also includes protecting the reliability and resilience of the strategic road and rail connections with the rest of the country.
2. Greater Places for People is about travel within and quality of life in the city. This includes a target for 50% of trips to be made by walking and cycling. This will be achieved through enhancing pedestrian/cycling networks, reallocating road space for walking and cycling and creating more attractive public spaces. We will also work with bus operators to improve urban bus corridors and to provide a reliable low carbon network of buses.
3. Greater Innovation will see the Council looking to work with private sector partners to test and implement innovative technology solutions to make travel easier and help the city’s transport networks operate more flexibly and efficiently. A key aspiration will be to expand the electric vehicle car clubs, the on street electric cycle hire network and proposed low carbon bus services and develop a new zero emission transport subscription service.

Designing for the bus routes is an integral part of the scheme and traffic modelling and tracking movements have been carried out in the early design stages to confirm that large vehicles can manoeuvre through the proposed junction.

The give-take nature of the mini roundabouts and zebra crossings typically encourages lower speeds and more cautious driving, resulting in a comparatively safe junction layout. Collision data from other double mini roundabout junctions across the city supports this, with double mini roundabout typically having lower collision rates that roundabout or signalised junctions.

The proposals have had a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit and further safety audits will be required on the detailed design.

The proposed design shows the sections adjacent bus stops as being shared and on raised tables. This is proposed to encourage lower speeds for cyclist through an area where there maybe interactions with people waiting for and alighting buses.

There is scope to make further changes to the design following the consultation. Appropriate signs, markings and materials will be carefully considered to provide a safe layout for all users.

Co-bikes/electric bikes are allowed to use the cycleway. Mobility Scooters are not allowed to use cycle only areas and must use the footway or carriageway.

E-scooters and electric skateboards are not currently legal to be used on roads other than specifically designated areas. The following webpage provides more information When and where can I ride an e-scooter legally? – BBC News

The draft proposals show moving the westbound stop line on Union Road to the east of Devonshire Place, this puts the junction of Devonshire Place and Union Road within the traffic light-controlled area. The junction would need to be signalised or made one way southbound.

Incorporating Devonshire Place into the junction would add an extra stage into the junction, adding delay to all users, and could lead to traffic queuing at signals on Devonshire Place and increased potential for it to be used as an alternative route. It is therefore felt that making Devonshire Place one way southbound would be more appropriate. In addition, there is already traffic calming in place on Devonshire Road to manage the speed of traffic.

Yes additional traffic calming measures can be designed into the scheme if there is support from the consultation to include these.

There are approximately 90 car parking spaces along Union Road that are proposed to be removed to enable the proposed scheme.

Multiple parking surveys were carried out by Devon County Council in 2018 and also more recently in 2020 and 2021 (both during and after national lockdowns). The surveys showed approximately 75% utilisation of these spaces during term time and a 25% utilisation during non-term time.

Parking Data collected by DCC

Zone G is already heavily subscribed and the majority of Union Road addresses are already in Zone S4. If the existing Union Road residents within Zone G wish to remain in Zone G then this proposed change can be dropped. Please note however that a residents parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.

Loading/unloading outside of properties will still be permitted with either option, provided it is safe to do so.

The University of Exeter have a target of reducing carbon emissions by 60% by 2030 as part of a comprehensive Travel Plan. The University travel plan includes promoting active travel amongst students and university staff as well as steering students away from bringing their cars to their university accommodation.

Devon County Council provides guidance to students on our website about residents parking permits.

In addition, the Council has recently reviewed the policy on residents parking, led by Exeter County Councillors that sit on the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee. The revised policy includes a number of changes to encourage better management of permits and reduce car ownership. One change is the switch to virtual permits which should reduce the overlap of permits at addresses, predominantly at student properties, leading to a fairer allocation of parking permits in all zones across the city.

Revised charges are also being proposed to reduce the number of vehicles and encourage greener vehicles. This will be subject to further consultation before a final decision is made.

No. This would disadvantage all residents moving into the area. In addition, this would also require significant investment to check such information prior to permits are issued and would result in an increase in the cost of a residents parking permit.

No. This would disadvantage all residents moving into the area. In addition, this would also require significant investment to check such information prior to permits are issued and would result in an increase in the cost of a residents parking permit.

Local residents should understand where and where not it is appropriate to park. However additional restrictions could be considered at key locations on these roads.

Waiting restrictions indicated by yellow lines may allow delivery vehicles to stop to load or unload (unless there are also loading restrictions) or may allow vehicles to stop while passengers board or alight, provided it is safe to do so.

Disabled bays are provided as close to property as the restrictions allow when a bay is applied for. If all parking is removed, then this would be in the nearest side road.

If the resident wishes to make contact with us transportplanning@devon.gov.uk we can look at the circumstances in more detail.

Pennsylvania Close is covered by a prohibition of motor vehicles with an exception for access. A resident permit system cannot be offered for individual streets. However, residents have previously been consulted on the option of changing this and being included with the S4 zone however this was not supported.

Currently S4 parking restrictions are for weekdays only, allowing anyone including people attending the football grounds to park their cars in S4 at weekends. It would be good practice if the Exeter FC update their staff and visitor travel plan to encourage sustainable travel to the matches.

It’s anticipated that construction work will take a number of months, particularly Stoke Hill roundabout will require significant traffic management. Exact timing and details are dependent on the contractor.

It’s expected that Union Road will remain open during the works, although traffic light systems might be in operation.