The Bristol Supertram project was launched in March 2001 with an announcement from the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, John Prescott.

[2][3] Opinion polls in Bristol have consistently shown that the issues of inadequate public transport and traffic congestion are two of the biggest local concerns.

[4] Public interest in a light rail system had been raised with a demonstration service by Bristol Electric Railbus Ltd (BER).

The line was intended to provide an affordable and efficient transport service that would improve the economic competitiveness of the North Bristol and South Gloucestershire corridor.

It was at this stage of the project that South Gloucestershire council put forward a plan for an extension to Line One that would terminate at The Mall shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway.

With the departure of South Gloucestershire, Bristol City Council submitted a modified route plan in late 2003 for a new Line One that would terminate at Parkway station.

[12] One idea that would enable a local council to raise the finances necessary for a light rail system is the introduction of a "tram tax".

[13] Tram taxes have been proposed unsuccessfully in a number of regions within the UK for the development of new light rail systems and to provide support for existing ones.

[14] In 2007, an initial BRT route was proposed that would run alongside the Bristol and Bath cycleway, causing a narrowing of the path and a loss of natural habitat in the process.

This led to a campaign against the plan by local cycling and environmental pressure groups which attracted considerable support from the Bristol public, and the scheme was soon frozen after a 9,500-strong petition was received.

[17] In November 2016, the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership began a consultation process on their Transport Vision Summary Document, outlining potential light rail/tram routes from the city centre to Bristol Airport, the eastern and north west fringes of the city, and a route along the A4 road to Bath.