GLASGOW City Council is taking the next steps towards progressing massive transport improvements recommended by the Connectivity Commission earlier this year.
A Transport Delivery Steering Group is to be set up “to deliver or facilitate work in connection with the capital investment projects” outlined in the commission’s phase two report issued in April and plus relevant initiatives arising from the Regional Transport Strategy produced by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.
The group, due to be approved at a meeting of the City Administration Committee this week, will also receive updates on efforts to address concerns over bus services in the city.
It will be made up of six councillors plus the council’s chief executive, the executive director of neighbourhoods and sustainability and the director of regional economic growth. It will also be able to co-opt three members.
The effort ties in with the council’s strategic aims to have more sustainable, integrated transport networks across the city and less congestion
The Connectivity Commission came up with a 20-year vision which included:
— A ‘metro’ network of tram or light rail lines to connect areas not served by trains.
— A tunnel linking Glasgow Central and Queen Street stations to increase capacity
— Extending Glasgow Central station south of the Clyde to prepare for HS2 (high speed) services
— Bus priority on the motorway network
The first metro route proposed would link Glasgow Airport to Paisley Gilmour Street Station and later be extended into the city centre via the airport’s manufacturing innovation district to Renfrew, Braehead shopping centre and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
The metro network would be established in several ways:
— Creating on-street tram routes along wide roads such as Great Western Road and Edinburgh Road.
— Using railway lines that were closed,for example,the former Central low level line via the Botanics to Maryhill and the London Road tunnel to Parkhead and Tollcross.
— Changing sections of the heavy rail network, such as the Cathcart Circle and Glasgow Central Low level, to light rail with more stations.
| Link to the full Connectivity Commission report
