This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Improvements to bus services
26/10/2006
Across Scotland - in Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh, Fife, Midlothian, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian - local bus services will benefit from £7.5 million funding.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said that a further eight projects will share the funding from the Executive's Bus Route Development Grant scheme which aims to improve access to public transport across the country.
Today's grants complete the third round of funding and will go towards providing more frequent services, greater capacity, and modernised buses.
Tavish Scott said:
"This devolved government is committed to ensuring everyone has access to public transport across Scotland. That is why by the end of 2006, 70 per cent of the £1.5 billion pounds we spend on transport will go towards improving public transport choices.
"We want to give people real travel alternatives to the car. That is why we are investing in these important new and enhanced routes. They will give people that choice, whilst reducing congestion and the damage that causes to our environment.
"We are now seeing increases in bus passenger numbers. Through grants such as this, our government will do all it can to keep these numbers rising."
The projects receiving funding:
- Aberdeenshire Council - Stagecoach Bluebird: Enhancement to Banchory - Aberdeen service The enhanced service will increase frequency between Banchory and Aberdeen to every 15 minutes in the peaks and 20 minutes in the off peak. The service will provide better integration and accessibility between town, cross country and feeder bus services at Banchory. It will link with the proposed Banchory Park & Ride scheme and link to new bus, coach and rail interchange in Aberdeen. Improved bus stop infrastructure will also be provided.
- Aberdeenshire Council - Stagecoach Bluebird: Enhancement to Westhill - Aberdeen service The enhanced low floor accessible service will increase the frequency of services 216/7 between Westhill and Aberdeen to every 10 minutes during the daytime. The service will improve accessibility from the housing developments of Westhill to Aberdeen, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and business and industrial parks in Westhill. Will provide interchange at Westhill, link with other bus and rail interchange infrastructure, support proposed Punctuality Improvement Partnership, and provide improved bus stop infrastructure and information.
- Fife Council - Stagecoach in Fife: Townhill to Dunfermline expansion of service D7 To enhance local services within Dunfermline eastern expansion to provide 10 minute frequency by low floor accessible buses. Will provide improved access to employment and educational opportunities and will make all local services in eastern Dunfermline accessible to older and disabled people. Will also provide improved links to Ferrytoll Park & Ride and Inverkeithing Rail station.
- Midlothian Council - Lothian Buses: Sheriffhall park & ride service To provide a new high quality, frequent, accessible, dedicated express service from the new Sheriffhall park & ride to Edinburgh city centre. Part of the policy of creating sustainable, high quality park & ride services on each major radial route into Edinburgh, and to maximise the benefits of the park & ride scheme. New service will provide 4 buses per hour and accessibility will be improved in a number of communities in Midlothian (Dalkeith, Newtongrange, Lasswade and Gorebridge) to the greater growth potential of the Edinburgh city region. Links will also be improved to healthcare facilities at ERI for Midlothian and Edinburgh residents.
- Midlothian Council - Lothian Buses: Mayfield to Edinburgh via Eskbank service 29 extension To provide a new fast, accessible direct service from the expanding settlement of Mayfield to Edinburgh via Eskbank and reduce congestion by providing an alternative to car. Service will provide 4 buses per hour and also provide link to Tesco at Hardengreen (with interchange for Western General hospital and other destinations), Cameron Toll shopping Centre and Edinburgh city centre.
- Midlothian Council/City of Edinburgh Council - Lothian Buses: Night Bus network To provide a new hourly service to assist the development of the night-time economy by developing network of accessible night bus services covering Dalkeith, Newtongrange and Mayfield running into Edinburgh (Lochend, Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh Airport) which will benefit evening workers and reinforce confidence in the use of night bus services. Improve access to Edinburgh Airport for early morning travellers.
- Strathclyde Partnership for Transport - Irvine's Coaches: Extension of East Kilbride to Eddlewood X5 service Enhanced service will provide increased frequency of the current service serving Hamilton Technology Park and East Kilbride from hourly to 2 journeys per hour. Additionally, it would provide a half-hourly service between Hamilton town centre and the new Torhead Park Estate that is currently not served by public transport. Accessibility will be enhanced by the provision of low floor DDA-compliant vehicles. Extension of route will give accessibility from a new estate to East Kilbride's retail and leisure resources.
- West Lothian - E & M Horsburgh: Enhancement to Livingston - Edinburgh Park/Stevenson College service Enhanced service will provide step change in service to Edinburgh Airport, Royal Bank HQ, Heriot Watt University and Oakbank industrial estate. The enhanced service will promote economic growth in West Lothian by improving access to employment, education, retail and leisure facilities. Hourly service will be provided by low-floor accessible vehicles supported by bus priority measures.
This announcement comes a week after the Transport Minister announced £7.4 million funding for improvements to public transport in Scotland's rural communities.
The Bus Route Development Scheme is aimed at providing financial support for up to three years to aid the development of new and existing registered local bus services which have the potential for growth. The purpose of the grant is to improve access to public transport, encourage modal shift and reduce congestion. The scheme implements the commitment in a partnership for a better Scotland to pilot new kick-start plans to create better value bus services. Bids must be identified by local authorities in conjunction with bus operators.
In this funding round a further £7.5 million over three years has been awarded to eight projects from six transport authorities. These awards comprise the third round of the scheme which has so far awarded £24.2 million to 46 projects from 19 transport authorities.
By 2007 the Executive will spend £1.5 billion per year on a safer, more efficient transport network, of which 70 per cent will be targeted on public transport.
Local bus passenger journeys have increased in six of the last seven years from an all-time low of 424 million in 1998-99 to 477 million in 2005-06.