Russell Imrie: Edinburgh is a beautiful city despite traffic woes

Driving in Edinburgh can be an exhausting and frustrating experience – and the bad news is that the congestion is going to get worse.

Total road traffic in south-east Scotland is predicted to increase 34 per cent by 2032 and time lost due to congestion to increase by a factor of 2.5 over the same period. Much of this is commuter traffic into the capital. The south-east is also facing a 17 per cent rise in population by 2033. That's a lot more houses, more cars and more pressure on our crowded roads. Inevitably, many of these new arrivals will commute into Edinburgh to work.

The good news is that traffic congestion can be reduced, but it will take time, effort and investment. There's no simple solution, no magic bullet and Edinburgh cannot be treated in isolation. We need a comprehensive, sustainable transportation strategy for the whole region.

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SEStran exists to build a sustainable transportation system for south-east Scotland. Our regional transport strategy aims to improve the whole transport infrastructure – from footpaths and cycle-ways, to road, rail and air links over a 15-year period. The emphasis is upon making public transport the mode of choice for most travellers, encouraging walking, cycling and car-sharing and reducing the number of single-occupancy car journeys in and out of the capital. Our input into land allocations for housing is steering development towards areas well-served by public transport.

It's not going to be easy, but it's do-able and it's vital that it gets done. A short-term solution might give us a breather for a year or two, but only sustained, long-term development will solve the capital's long-term congestion problems.

But let's keep a sense of perspective. Yes, the city is experiencing traffic problems. Edinburgh is still a beautiful city, with a high quality of life. Let's work to safeguard its future as one of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe.

• Russell Imrie is chair of the South East Scotland Transport Partnership