Date: 13th August 2008

13 August 2008   For Immediate Release

SEStran report recommends outbound bus lane for A90

Measures would increase speed and reliability of bus services, without disrupting traffic on one of Edinburgh’s busiest roads.

The SEStran board is to consider a report which recommends that bus priority on the outbound section of the A90 is improved.

The study, which was undertaken by transportation consultancy White Young Green, in partnership with JMP consultants, recommends a number of traffic management measures including:

·         Junction modification to the A90 at Blackhall, to allow outbound buses to bypass queuing traffic.

·         Extension of existing PM peak bus lane on Telford Road up to Groathill Road North Junction.

·         A PM peak hour bus lane on Quality Street for the approach to the A90.

·         An outbound bus lane from Quality Street junction through and beyond the exit of Clermiston Road North.

·         Minor improvements to Barnton and Drum Brae North junctions.

The total cost of the improvements is estimated at £700,000.

If the report is approved, SEStran will ask City of Edinburgh Council to take the proposed measures forward to detailed design stage and undertake a full consultation on the proposals.  

SEStran Chair, Cllr Russell Imrie said:

“SEStran commissioned the study after being approached by the bus operators, who have outlined serious problems they are having with congestion on that route”.

"This would not be a major project; it is essentially fine tuning existing facilities and tackling a number of traffic pinch-points where congestion is particularly poor”.

“ The disruption to traffic implementation of the project would cause should be minimal. The trick is to get the buses past the queues without adding too much to the delays."

ENDS S

EStran - South East of Scotland Transport Partnership - is one of seven new Statutory Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) created by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 and is a partnership of eight local councils covering the Borders, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire.

For further information, please contact:

Andrew Dougal,

SEStran Communications Officer

T: 0131-524-5161

M: 07889-010-291

E: Andrew.dougal@sestran.gov.uk

Notes 

A90 (Edinburgh - Outbound) Bus Priority Study  

1.    Background and Purpose of Report 

1.1.    In October last year SEStran commissioned Transportation consultancy White Young Green – in partnership with JMP consultants -  to undertake a study into providing improved bus priority on the outbound section of the A90 in Edinburgh. 

1.2.    The purpose of this report is to present the outcome of the study and to seek agreement from the Board how to take forward the recommendations from the study. 

1.3.    The executive summary from the report is attached and a copy of the full report will be displayed in the Member’s area and can also be accessed from the SEStran website.  

2.    Current Position 

2.1.      The study was undertaken in accordance with the Governments STAG process – the first part involving the assessments of a variety of options. This STAG1 process outlined several options including some radical options that would require significant land takes and major changes to junctions. 

2.2.      The option taken forward to a much more detailed analysis was based on a package of schemes largely involving improved Traffic Management measures. These included:- 

·           Changes to the layout and signalling of Blackhall junction with bus priority extended up to and through the junction. 

·           Bus Priority proposal for Quality Street at Quality Street junction – with relocation of on-street parking during p.m. peak period.  

·           An extra lane in the outbound direction between Quality Street and Clermiston Road junction which will act as a bus lane. This section of the A90 will act as a queue relocation scheme which will ensure buses will arrive at the critical Drum Brae North and Barnton junctions ahead of other traffic. 

2.3.    Total cost of the proposed improvements is estimated at around £700k. The Benefit over Cost Ratio (BCR) is estimated at 3.5 which is very high when compared with most other schemes. 

2.4.    The relevant Councils and Bus operators have been fully consulted during the period of this study.  

3.    Recommendation.  

3.1      It is recommended that the Board:- 

3.1.1        notes the content of the report, and 

3.1.2        agrees that the City of Edinburgh Council will be asked to take the proposed measures forward to detailed design stage and undertake a full consultation on the proposals so that relevant measures can be implemented as soon as practically possible   T

rond Haugen

Advisor to SEStran

29 July 2008 

Appendix: A90 (Edinburgh – Outbound) Bus Priority Study, Executive Summary  

Policy Implications	Will deliver towards SEStran RTS
Financial Implications	Will affect City of Edinburgh expenditure
Race Equalities Implications	None
Gender Equalities Implications	None
Disability Equalities Implications	None

 

      

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