Ambitious transport system plans unveiled

AN ambitious set of recommendations for Scotland’s future transport system have been unveiled – including a metro across Glasgow ‘city region’, giving buses even more priority on the country’s roads and ‘smart integrated pubic transport ticketing’.

It follows 28 recommendations being published – here – by the Scottish Government agency, Transport for Scotland.

The metro plan sees a combination of both ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ metro lines being operated in the wider Glasgow region, including to Newton Mearns and East Kilbride (see map, here).

Says Glasgow City Council, here, the metro, were it to go ahead, would represent a 30-year, multi-billion pound investment programme that “could better connect more than 1.5 million people to employment, education and health services in and around [the city]”.

Says Transport for Scotland, here: “[The] Strategic Transport Projects Review (2nd edition) recommends that Transport for Scotland continues to work with Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and other regional partners in the development of the Clyde Metro.”

Adds TfS, in a separate document, here: “Metro transport systems include one of, or a combination of, bus rapid transit, tram, light rail and metro rail. These options would complement the service provided by traditional railways and may include the conversion from existing railways to tram or heavy metro.”

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland