NEW traffic signals which will help pave the way for York's new FTR bus are to come before councillors next week.

Members will consider a shuttle signals scheme, which bus company First hopes will make life easier when the StreetCar is introduced on to the city's streets in January.

Councillors attending a City of York Council planning meeting on Thursday will be asked to give the green light to a project which will allow the StreetCar to travel along the Front Street and Green Lane junction in Acomb.

The scheme would incorporate a three-arm traffic signal with each arm operating on a shuttle system. In short, when one lane moves, the other lanes of traffic would not.

The footway on Green Lane would also be widened to two metres, with paths on Front Street also widened in between the new signal stop lines.

The zebra crossing would be removed, as the StreetCar would be too big and would impede across the crossing when waiting at a new signal stop line.

Peter Edwards, commercial director at First, said the main aim of the signal shuttle was to ensure that two large vehicles would not be crossing the junction at the same time.

Modelling from council officers has indicated that the new traffic signals would not generate any significant extra queues. They are recommending the scheme is approved.

Mr Edwards said: "We are not currently happy with the current arrangements where two large vehicles can pass each other at the moment. It is less than ideal because there isn't really the space to do it.

"The StreetCar has provided the impetus to sort out something that has been an issue for quite a while. We would expect these measures to enhance safety."

The StreetCar, also shown as FTR - short for future - will be serving the University of York to Acomb route, which is one of the city's fastest growing services. Ten of the buses will arrive in January.

Updated: 09:58 Friday, April 15, 2005