The Combined Authority have published an update notice, but it may not be until the new year before we find out what new sights the consultants recommend
See item 11 of the meeting papers here.
“Specialist consultants, WSP, have been commissioned to identify site-specific transport solutions needed to unlock and sustain future growth.A comprehensive long list of interventions, including Mass Rapid Transit options, is being developed, alongside a multi-criteria assessment framework to evaluate options objectively and transparently and guide further, more detailed consideration.”
It will be interesting to see if the current big infrastructure items such as the busways meet the criteria the consultants recommend. Talking of which on Thurs 20 Nov 2025 the final closing statements from objectors to the Cambourne-Cambridge busway will take place, including one from counsel for the Mayor of the Combined Authority.
The model of commissioning consultants needs critical analysis
Only the amount of money they seem to make from studies on things that never go ahead must have raised eyebrows somewhere.
The model of privatisation, outsourcing, and commissioning was set out in this document by the CPC / Tories in 1994, so some of you may want to explore their assumptions and whether their future predictions actually came about.
This model contrasts significantly with the practice of having in-house architects and planners to carry out the design work – especially on things like council houses and small public service buildings such as primary schools. They also worked on larger schemes such as the proposed Lion Yard by Cambridge City Council architect Gordon Logie in the 1960s here. Ultimately the reason why that fell through was because central government refused to sanction the borrowing needed in the face of the devaluation crisis.
Greater Cambridge Transport Strategy – any news on Light Rail?
I’m still waiting like the impatient thing that I am…
The next substantive report in the CPCA’s Forward Look list of decisions to be taken shows that the Transport Committee’s meeting in early January 2026 should have a major update – possibly a draft report that would then need later board approval for publication. Recall that getting a light rail for Cambridge is a manifesto commitment for the Mayor of the CPCA. The report states its updated objectives for the transport strategy for Cambridge are:
- Establishing a long-term, practical solutions to congestion in and around Cambridge.
- Supporting businesses and our priority economic sectors, including the research campuses and science parks.
- Enabling new development and homes, including the sites in the emerging local plan.
- Connecting homes, disadvantaged areas and the wider region to the economic opportunity of Cambridge.
Finally the paper says that a summary report will be published in February 2026
Active Travel in and around Cambridge
There are ten public questions (see item 4 here for their content) including my one which is about the new phenomenon of micro-e-cars / quadricycles.
Above: “It’s basically a lego brick with some wheels on it” Car Culture Club which makes the case for this new class of vehicles.
If cities are to make the shift away from petrol cars, then part of the solution has to involve providing cheaper and more convenient alternatives to existing cars, or being able to do what needs to be done without having to drive there – thinking about the rise of videoconferencing.
With so many new developments in the pipeline for Cambridge, designing in a series of pool-e-vehicle facilities for residents is one option. After all, with the majority of short journeys still made by car, is it necessary to use a motor vehicle with a really powerful engine and a top speed in 3 figures for such purposes?
“For journeys between one mile and five miles, 68% were by car”
Above – from the National Transport Survey 2024 in Highways Magazine
Very advanced notice – conference in Cambridge.
Above – Active [city/county] Cambridgeshire on 13/14 July 2026 has issued a call for papers here.
Will we see a city full of micro vehicles and a new generation of cycles, e-scooters, and e-bikes? Personally I can’t understand why ministers have not prioritised legalising and regulating private e-scooters. What’s the hold up? After all the current prohibition simply makes more work for police. Note there’s also an update in the meeting papers on the so-called trail of e-scooters (they’ve been trialing it for long enough!) at item 8. All that seems to be happening at the moment is the enfeebled local government institutions are letting VoITech get away with cluttering the pavement like this.
Above – Outside Lloyds/Fosters Bank 13 Nov 2025
I lost faith in reporting things – their set up requires vehicle-by-vehicle reporting.
Personally I’d like to see a municipalised system in Cambridge’s civic colours rather than the intrusive bright orange of these vehicles.
Above – in my more advanced years I quite like this one! A seated e-scooter limited to 15.5mph – at least it sort-of matches the Cambridge Blue colour scheme and is less visually intrusive than bridge orange!
With the county council’s highways committee coming up on 02 Dec 2025 someone out there may want to ask the county council what they think of such pooled micro-e-vehicles and quadricycles.
Next Future of Cambridge workshop
Roll up, roll up!
Click on the links above to sign up. (It helps with working out things like chairs and materials needed)
The one at Rock Road had twice as many people as I expected so can’t complain. See the comments from the Chair of the Queen Edith’s Community Forum, and the county councillor for Queen Edith’s Division below.
Turns out people find being sat around a table with large printed maps much easier to work with and talk about vs a powerpoint presentation on a big blurry screen. (Even though we had the facilities at Rock Road Library for this)
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The Cambridge Town Owl 