News / Transport
Trams are ‘long-term answer’ to solve Bristol’s transport problems
The Tory metro mayor candidate says that trams are the long-term solution to solve Bristol’s transport woes.
Steve Smith was responding to a question on X about his opinion piece in Bristol24/7 supporting the expansion of Bristol Airport.
Answering how he would get people to the airport, Smith said: “Long term the answer is by tram.”
is needed now More than ever
Smith added: “The airport is a critical part of the long-delayed team (sic) system that’s grinding its way through the planning process. We need to dramatically speed that up.
“The airport’s proposal includes space for a station / interchange.”
The West of England Combined Authority has had a subtle rebrand in 2025 and is now referred to on its website as the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, a moniker that metro mayor Dan Norris has been calling it for several months.
Whatever its name is, the organisation remains as the regional transport authority.
Following elections in May, the new metro mayor will control much of the region’s transport purse strings and continue WECA’s – or WEMCA’s – ambition to improve transport including buses, trains, walking and cycling.
With former Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’ dreams for an underground network looking unlikely, transport bosses in the region are considering an overground mass transit system.
This could be trams or potentially an extension of the metrobus network.
The Greens, who now largely run Bristol City Council, are in favour of building a tram network. Its proponents include deputy council leader Heather Mack, who is the Green Party candidate to become the next mayor of the West of England.
However, whatever sort of mass transit is eventually chosen, nothing will get built until at least the 2030s.
That’s largely because of the arduous process that major infrastructure works have to go through to get government funding, meaning millions of pounds must be paid to engineering consultants to show any plans are “value for money”.
E-scooters are also part of the regional transport remit.
When current provider Dott increased the cost to rent a scooter by over a third, it prompted complaints to the combined authority previously known as WECA who were responsible for dropping Voi from the contract.
A review is currently being carried out by transport bosses at the combined authority, who will soon decide whether to extend the controversial contract with Dott, which is due to end in October.
They are now facing calls from increasing numbers of disgruntled riders to bring back Voi.
Main photo: Alstom
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