COMMENT: Solving a Minor (but important) Heathrow Problem
Over the next few weeks Heathrow Airport will be in the news for a variety of reasons. As the world”s busiest (and most successful) international airport the passenger numbers will build up as travellers, literally from all over the world, will pass through the present four terminals. To the UK, from the UK, and something in the order of 30% changing aircraft. The shopping malls will boom. Positive press releases will be issued and conversely the media will find bad news to report. And if rumours are to be believed on Thursday week (18 December) the government will issue its much delayed white paper ”the future development of air transport in the UK". In the meantime the lobbyists will continue their activities. ABTN predicts a fudge.
However the Department for Transport (or is it the department against transport) may have forgotten something. They have forgotten that Heathrow was built for passengers, people who just want to get in and out quickly and efficiently.
Is it now possible that since they have got the white paper out of the way they could spend just a little time considering Heathrow access, and in particular the spur road that comes from the M4 and finishes at the Bath Road? In this day and age of automation and clever electronics do we need to devote one lane to the rare (and often empty) bus? As ABTN reported in the 8 September issue, at Gatwick they have started on the first stage of Fastway, a high tech 21st century transport system where the coaches automatically report back their positions. The buses are linked into a computerised system that controls the traffic lights on the network. Surely it is within the realms of possibility for all coaches that use Terminals 1 to 3 to be equipped with some form of GPS which in turn would forward the information to a computer controlling the traffic on the bus lane. This piece of vital roadway would normally be open to all traffic but as soon as a coach was reported within a certain distance of the lights they would turn to red and a pathway emerge.
It does sound very simple and just could work. In many other parts of the world similar schemes allow public transport vehicles and private cars to co-habit valuable stretches of roadway, with priority for the vehicles carrying the masses. It is true that it was this government (as usual without thinking of the consequences) brought in the present bus lane scheme. The incumbent minister unveiled it. Perhaps the current holder of the office could give Heathrow motorists a real Christmas present by saying that the DoT”s next aviation project is to deal with the airport”s road access problems. And not fudge this time!