Transport Scotland has published phase one of its latest Strategic Transport Projects Review, which – together with phase two to be unveiled this autumn – sets the Scottish Government’s investment priorities for the next 20 years.

Phase one details recommendations to be delivered over the next two to three years. These include schemes to support sustainable travel such as the deployment of so called ‘active freeways’ – segregated walking and cycling routes on major travel corridors – as well as expansion of 20mph zones.

On public transport, plans are set out for the reallocation of road space for buses and improved accessibility at train stations, while it is also recommended that a new ‘Metro’ system for Glasgow be taken forward to improve connectivity within the conurbation.

This could include one or more of bus rapid transit, tram, light rail and / or metro rail, with the network complementing and being integrated with the bus and heavy rail networks.
Proposals for a north-south Edinburgh mass transit system should also be further developed and appraised, the review says.

Improving resilience of the trunk road network at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful where a series of landslips have recently been seen is also a key priority.

Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure & Connectivity Michael Matheson said: “As we continue to navigate our way through an unprecedented global health emergency, the investment decisions we make have never been so important. We want to lock in the changes to the healthy, green travel options we’ve seen during the pandemic, while supporting interventions that will aid and help accelerate economic recovery.”