Map of the m4 bus route extension into Brabazon. Images: West of England Combined Authority (WECA)
Metrobus will now serve the Brabazon community after the bus service announced an expansion of one of its routes.
Residents living in the new neighbourhood, which could be classified as a town as part of a recently announced government initiative, will now have the m4 bus service directly linking it to Bristol Parkway and the city centre.
It will also serve the new Brabazon train station, which is due to open this autumn.
The new route will see the m4 turn off Gipsy Patch Line, into Horizon 38 business park at Titan Road, before crossing over the A38 and into Brabazon.
The m4 will then stop at bus stops on the newly-opened Runway Avenue East, which has been built on the old Filton Airfield.
Runway Avenue East and Brabazon Park will be the new west-bound and east-bound stops. After Runway Avenue East the m4 will join Hayes Way at the Blenheim roundabout and continue to Cribbs Causeway.
The m4 will then return along the same route, in the east-bound direction before joining Gipsy Patch Lane at Titan Road and continuing to Bristol Parkway.
Local MP Claire Hazelgrove has welcomed the route expansion. She said: “With hundreds of local people now living at Brabazon, and lots of reasons for others to stop by — from Mokoko Bakery to great coworking spaces in the Spitfire Hangar — getting from A-to-B will be even easier now that Brabazon is on the m4 metrobus route.
“As a regular bus user myself, I know how challenging it can sometimes be to travel across our community. I’m pleased that this route expansion will help, as will the new ‘Bristol Brabazon’ train station opening this autumn.”
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said: “Following the exciting news about Brabazon’s potential new town status, it is great to see the growing community better connected to the metrobus network.
“Putting in more transport options as we continue to build new homes is crucial, just like the new schools planned for this area.”