Station traffic action

Coun Bryan Lodge, Sheffield Council cabinet member for transport

http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news/Station-traffic-action.3814603.jp

By Richard Marsden
ACTION is being taken to resolve the congested taxi rank and drop-off zone at Sheffield train station – including top-level talks aimed at reinstating free or reduced price short stay parking in the multi-storey car park, and employment of marshals to direct traffic.
Stagecoach's East Midlands Trains franchise, which has taken over management of the station from Midland Mainline, is currently recruiting two officials to limit delays.

The company is also considering changes to the layout of the forecourt – suggested by a Star reader – so traffic can pass through quicker.

This could include adding an extra in-bound lane for queuing taxis and altering the one-way system so traffic circulates the other way round, meaning motorists reach the drop-off point outside the entrance first.

Currently, they are often delayed behind cars waiting for the tiny number of free, open air short-stay spaces.

Meanwhile, Sheffield Council cabinet member for transport, Coun Bryan Lodge, is putting renewed pressure on Q-Parks, owner of the station's multi-storey car park, to reinstate free or cheap short stay parking as an alternative for people dropping-off passengers.

The firm currently charges £1.20 for the first hour.

Council officers spent the weekend ensuring road markings and yellow box markings on the approach road, which had become worn, were repainted to promote better traffic flow and reduce the likelihood of junctions being blocked.

Hafeas Rehman, of Sheffield Taxi Trade Association, said: "There are occasions where the jams have been so bad the queues have gone all the way back to the main road.

"There is an extra cost to the taxi drivers, who are burning up fuel, and passengers are unhappy because meters are sometimes clocking up £5 or £6 while taxis are just waiting to get out of the area.

"We need to get the traffic moving."

Coun Lodge said: "When the area was designed, there was free parking in the
multi-storey, so the
problems which have happened were not envisaged."

Claire Ansley, area business manager for East Midlands Trains, said: "We are appointing two staff who will be around daily between 4pm and 8pm to direct traffic, and we are
currently recruiting.

"Changes to the layout of the area are not being considered at present but are also something we could look at."

Another proposal to increase turnover of vehicles through the station forecourt is to put meters on the small number of short-stay spaces, where waiting is limited to 15 minutes but often abused by drivers staying much longer.

A nominal fee would be charged, to cover the costs, and the idea would allow station staff to monitor the time vehicles are parked.