(29 Dec 2021, 3:36 pm)Michael wrote The proposals would create a bus priority route along Holmeside through to Vine Place by creating a gyratory system turning traffic from Holmeside onto Maritime Street.

Proposed improvements Waterloo Street and Athenaeum Street to the south of the railway station will remain one way in an anti clockwise direction joining the gyratory system at the junction of Athenaeum Street with Waterloo Place.
It is proposed to move the existing taxi rank from Athenaeum Street and Waterloo Street onto Brougham Street. This will align with the Sunderland Station redevelopment and place the taxi rank in a location that is easily accessible to customers exiting the new station.

The proposals will improve the public realm to the south and west of the new Sunderland Station which will create a more pedestrian focussed environment helping to link the station with the taxis ranks on Brougham Street, Blandford Street and the new multi storey car park that is proposed on Holmeside.



https://www.sunderland.gov.uk/holmeside

There's no real improvement here, other than the necessity of moving the taxi rank whilst the station front is redeveloped. 

Brougham Street is completely unsuitable for a taxi rank. It's the loading/service area for both Blandford Street and the Bridges. Pedestrians and vans/wagons don't mix, so it's daft pulling traffic through the pedestrianised Maritime Street and across the land vacated by that conveniently burnt down Peacocks store in the right place. 

It looks like the proposed bus gate will only be the short section between the Maritime Street junction and the pedestrian crossing lights on Vine Place:


I'd suggest that any 'improvement' to public transport will be undone by vans/wagons/taxis needing to use Holmeside and turning right on Maritime Street to get to Brougham Street, whereas currently that access is via Waterloo Place and the taxis use the Fawcett Street/John Street one way system on the way out at present. This is before you throw the traffic from a multi-story car park into the mix.