We warmly congratulate Paul Bristow on his election as the new Mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We especially welcome his plans to bring forward light rail to get the region moving. Paul stood on a clear platform to deliver light rail mass transit to Cambridge, and it is now time to turn a corner on the flawed busway schemes and bring forward a more enduring and integrated vision. This is the pivotal moment to shift gear in public transport delivery for the region – to an approach that is more positive, more sustainable and more attractive in the long-term.
We thank all of the Mayoral candidates for their constructive engagement on the issue of mass transit, transport and light rail in the lead up to election day. We were excited to see the level of cross-party support that emerged for the Cambridge Connect light rail scheme. We hope that support can be further built now that the election is over.
We do not underestimate scale of the challenge. There is no getting around it – light rail is more expensive than busways, and these are difficult economic times. Many will question whether we can afford it. Our response is: can we afford not to? The challenges we face are great and they are not just economic; they include the pressures of growth, the need for more housing, the bane of congestion, the threats of climate change, and the scale of environmental decline. Transport is a key factor that cuts across all of these issues, and it is right that it is given focus and investment.
But in these challenges also lie opportunities – to change things for the better. Cambridge is a phenomenal place, a proven titan on the world stage. It merits investment to build on that success, and continue to create an enduring legacy for generations to come. A practical light rail scheme can help address the challenges and deliver that change.
But we need to be pragmatic. We need to be realistic. But this should never prevent us from having ambition, from being creative, and striving to improve our quality of life. We believe we can be all of those things while remaining grounded and practical in how a light rail scheme can be delivered. In the first instance we need to do a lot more analysis: detailed feasibility work now needs to be undertaken, and solutions found to any obstacles. There is a need for continued close engagement with all stakeholders, and to listen to their suggestions and concerns. Yes, there will be concerns, there will be questions in need of solutions – and they should be given serious consideration. A perfect solution is an unattainable dream, and compromises are inevitable. But we should not let that diminish our aspirations or energy to improve.
Cambridge Connect has worked for almost a decade developing the concept of light rail mass transit for the region: doing the research, engaging with stakeholders, examining alternatives, testing our assumptions, making calculations, exploring avenues for finance, evaluating route options, honing a geospatial strategy, and creating a vision for delivery. We recognise that light rail is not a panacea, or perfect solution – it has limitations. We are conscious that innovations and new technologies are emerging all the time, and we should embrace these where practical and cost-effective. But let’s not fall into the trap of putting off implementation of something we know is both excellent and deliverable now, in pursuit of an unproven but perfect new technology that might emerge sometime in the future.
We hope very much that Paul’s election becomes that moment where the narrative shifts. Where leaders and the public of all political persuasions get behind a common purpose to deliver outcomes that are equal to the level of achievement that Cambridge can be so justly proud.
Bring it on. Let’s get moving!
