Highways bosses recommend trialling taxi use of bus lanes (From Watford Observer)

Highways bosses recommend trialling taxi use of Watford bus lanes

2:08pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Mike Wright

Highways bosses recommend trialling taxi use of bus lanes

Highways bosses have urged councillors to support plans for a pilot scheme enabling taxis to use certain bus lanes in Watford.

Proposals to let Hackney carriage taxis use lanes in Station Road, St Albans Road and the bus only area in Lower High Street are being debated by councillors at Hertfordshire County Council today.

Politicians on the highways and transport cabinet panel have been recommended to support the scheme on an "experimental" basis.

In a report to the committee, highways officers said the scheme should only be made permanent if it "shows no adverse effect to bus movements or other vehicle movements around Watford".

The move comes after the Watford Hackney Carriage Drivers Association requested to use bus lanes as it said disputes were breaking out between cabbies and passengers who were stuck in rush hour traffic.

The proposals received full-throated support from a cross-party selection of Watford councillors during a meeting of the highways joint members panel last month.

If councillors back the proposal today it will bring the experimental scheme a step closer.

However the final decision will still need to be taken by the county council’s ruling cabinet.