6.1 The quality of Glasgow’s transport infrastructure is critical to the economic health of the City and the wider Conurbation. Glasgow is fortunate in having a compact urban form, well served by a public transport system, comprising extensive bus services, an underground and the largest suburban rail network in the UK outside London. Although growing use of the private car in recent decades has led to increased dispersal of activities, the City remains at the centre of the West of Scotland’s road and rail networks.

Central Station

6.2 The road network has an important influence on industrial and business development. Over the last 6 years, 70% of land developed for industry/business uses was located adjacent or close to the strategic road network. Traffic in Glasgow grew steadily at around 2% per year to 1998 and national forecasts suggest that, without intervention, this is likely to continue (Figure 6.1). Access to a car by households in Glasgow is very low. In 1991, the average across the City was 33% and in some areas was as low as 10% (Figure 6.2). Although growth in car ownership is inevitable, what is of particular concern to the Council is the potential growth in car-borne commuting and its effect on congestion. Maintaining the emphasis on the use of public transport, particularly for trips to the City Centre, is a key concern for the Council.

Figure 6.1 : Traffic Growth in the Inner Glasgow Area

6.3 Despite a decline in bus usage by about 1.8% annually, between 1986 and 1996, buses still account for the majority of public transport trips in the Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) area. To counter this trend, First Bus, SPT and the Council have entered into a Quality Bus Partnership to encourage the use of buses by improving the quality of the fleet, providing bus priority, enhancing the frequency and reliability of services, providing pleasant secure waiting areas and offering passengers better information. Recent evidence indicates that the introduction of the Overground, a core network of routes with a ten minutes or less frequency during the day, has reversed the downward trend in bus patronage. In 1999/2000, bus usage on the Overground routes increased by 4%.

Figure 6.2 : % of Households without a Car

6.4 Rail usage in the SPT area remained stable between 1986 and 1996 and, following investment in infrastructure and services, increases of between 2% and 6% per annum were experienced in the 4 years to 2000 (Figure 6.3). Improvements, in 1992, to the Glasgow Underground, increased its capacity by 20% and in 1999/2000, 14.7 million passengers used this facility. Despite these improvements, the underground is once again close to capacity.