Green light for £50m transport boost

Published on Saturday 27 September 2008 10:57

A £50 MILLION package of transport improvements needed to support plans to regenerate Edinburgh's waterfront has been given the green light by council chiefs.

City leaders have drawn up a transport action plan to help reduce the congestion created by the thousands of people expected to move into the north of the Capital over the next 30 years.

The plan would involve an investment of just under 50m, the majority of which would be provided by developer contributions, with Forth Ports providing most of that.

However, the money, as with the transport improvements, is likely to be drip-fed in as the area is developed over the coming decades.

Forth Ports has already committed to a 29m contribution for the city's tram line if its masterplan for Leith Docks gets the go-ahead.

The measures being proposed for North Edinburgh include:

&#149 A requirement that all new developments must be within 250 metres of a defined public transport service.

&#149 Introducing a controlled parking zone in the Leith Docks area.

&#149 Improving roads and the reorganisation of 52 key junctions in the area to give priority to public transport.

&#149 New cycle lanes, including a route to connect the Water of Leith and Ocean Terminal.

&#149 Improving bus services between Leith and Granton.