Mass transit systems in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen are proposed by the Scottish Government in its latest blueprint for future transport investment.
The second Strategic Transport Projects Review makes 45 recommendations under six key themes which aim to make transport in Scotland more sustainable and support people to make better, more informed choices on how they travel.
The report states that Clyde Metro represents a multi-billion investment which, when complete, could better connect over 1.5 million people to employment, education, and health services in and around the Glasgow city region. Plans for Edinburgh & South East Scotland Mass Transit and Aberdeen Rapid Transit will also be developed, according to the blueprint.
For rural transport and island communities the blueprint discusses continuing investment in ferry renewals, improving port infrastructure and connections from ferry terminals to other types of public transport to reduce car reliance, enhancing island connectivity and making safety improvements on rural trunk roads where collision rates and severities are typically higher.
The report also states the aim of improving active travel infrastructure: encouraging more people to walk, wheel and cycle more often; cutting carbon emissions. For freight travel there are proposals to develop a net zero freight and logistics network for the country to encourage the switch from road to rail or water.
“The STPR2 recommendations support the measures set out last week in our route map to reduce car kilometres by 20% by 2030 and represent a major piece of work by this Government to make Scotland – all of Scotland – more sustainable,” said Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, Michael Matheson.
“This review represents a repositioning of our transport investment priorities – the focus is firmly on how transport can help us protect our climate and improve lives.”
The blueprint is now out for consultation.
