£10m boost to speed up buses by easing bottlenecks

Edinburgh to bid for ‘rapid deployment’ cash to upgrade bus lanes.

Edinburgh City Council is keen to win some of the funding. Picture: Ian Rutherford.

A £10 million fund to improve bus lanes that would speed up services was announced today by transport secretary Michael Matheson.

It is aimed at tackling congestion troublespots with temporary measures such as bus lanes or bus-only “gates” to make journeys quicker and more reliable.

A further £9m is being provided so the engines of 500 buses can be retrofitted to cut their emissions.

Ministers want to ensure the one in three Scots without a car will see bus improvements.

But Labour condemned the bus lane funding as “derisory”.

Edinburgh City Council said it was keen to bid after devising improvements to commuter routes with neighbouring Fife, Borders and the Lothians.

Transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “This funding is extremely welcome and reflects the detailed work we have been doing over the last few months.

" Working closely with neighbouring local authorities, bus operators and [transport co-ordinating partnership] Sestran, we have developed improvements to prioritise public transport in and around the city region, which this funding will facilitate.

“There is no doubt the way we travel is set to change significantly in light of current circumstances and also long term, as we look to increase use of sustainable transport.”

Mr Matheson said: “The bus sector is responding to not only increased operating costs during Covid-19, but also increasing congestion as restrictions are eased which will negatively impact on bus journey times.

“By providing this support for bus priority infrastructure, we’re directly helping bus passengers who we know typically have fewer alternative travel options – helping to improve journey times on congested routes.

“With capacity on buses reduced due to physical distancing, it’s important we leave space for those that need it most.

"While this step will make bus journey times faster on pinch points, I would continue to ask people to work from home and stay local if they can.

"Walk, wheel or cycle where possible and plan ahead if using public transport to help manage demand.”

Paul White, director of the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK – Scotland, which represents bus operators, said: “Buses are a key element of the sustainable and active travel hierarchy, providing three quarters of all public transport trips.

“This work will assist in the provision of a reliable, green alternative to car use as people increasingly look to travel.

“Covid-19 travel restrictions demonstrated the potential journey time and reliability improvements possible if buses are freed from car traffic.

“It is critical we lock in these benefits and the resultant improvements in air quality.”

However, Scottish Labour transport spokesperson Colin Smyth said: “Across Scotland, we have seen bus operators axe bus routes and this derisory funding for bus lanes will do little to stop that.

"The [Scottish] Government needs to provide support to councils to save routes before we lose more of these lifeline services, and hand over to councils the powers Labour secured in the transport bill to let them run their own buses for the benefit of their communities.”

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