6.19 Where areas are not well served by sustainable transport modes, remedial action to integrate these areas into the public transport, cycling and walking networks is required. Opportunities exist to improve the rail network in Glasgow as part of wider proposals being considered by SPT. The Northern Suburban Extension would provide a new station at Dawsholm/Kelvindale. The Crossrail proposal would facilitate rail movement between the networks north and south of the Clyde, involve the creation of new stations at West Street, Gorbals, High Street (relocation) and Glasgow Cross and enhance the development potential of adjacent areas (Figure 6.7).

Central Station

The City Council supports the implementation of the following rail schemes:

National Strategic

City Strategic

6.20 SPT is examining other opportunities to extend and improve the heavy rail system along with the potential of light rapid transit technology, such as running light rail vehicles on heavy rail infrastructure and developing a guided bus network. A link between the Northern Electric and Cumbernauld Lines, using the Garngad Chord, and the reopening of the Carmyle to Newton Chord and the Strathbungo Link are under consideration. These would improve operational flexibility and relieve congestion on the West Coast Main Line. In addition to securing these route reservations, SPT is investigating improving catchments by establishing a number of new or relocated stations. These proposed stations generally lie within operational rail land.

The alignments and land requirements of the following will be safeguarded:

Rail Links:

Garngad Chord;
Carmyle to Newton Chord; and
Strathbungo Link.

Stations:

Figure 6.7: Proposed Rail Lines and Stations

6.21 Consideration is being given to the need for a new public transport corridor to serve the north Riverside from the City Centre, through the SECC and Glasgow Harbour, to Yoker and Clydebank. Consideration is also being given by SPT and Capital Shopping Centres, to the most appropriate means of improving public transport access to Braehead Shopping Centre and beyond to Renfrew. Conversion of the Deanside freight line is one option. The River section of the Plan recognises the potential importance of the River corridor within the City’s transport network and the need for a review of its role to be undertaken as a priority. This review will determine the appropriateness of safeguarding a dedicated reservation for either rail- or road-based provision.

6.22 With increasing demand and only limited new road building, road space will need to be reallocated to ensure that priority, in terms of access to, and use of, road space, will be given firstly to pedestrians, then cyclists, public transport and freight users. The Millennium Plan (1995), currently being implemented in the City Centre, is improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and giving priority to public transport while accommodating essential vehicle needs. The public realm element is programmed to be completed in 2002.

The City Council will continue to implement the Millennium Plan.

Glasgow to Loch Lomond Cyclepath

6.23 Cycling is an efficient, cost-effective and healthy means of travel that has declined in importance in recent years. Sales of bikes are, however, high and growing and the potential benefits of cycling, for the individual and for society, are being increasingly recognised. The Council acknowledges that concerns over safety restrict many bike owners to recreational cycling. To make cycling safer, and to encourage more owners to use their bikes for commuting or shopping for example, a 375 kilometres City Cycle Network, comprising both on-and off-road routes has been approved by the Council. The City Cycle Network is being developed in tandem with the City Centre Millennium Plan and the National Cycle Network. It is intended that at least 100 kms. will be developed by 2001 with the remainder in place by 2012.

The City Council will complete the City Cycle Network by 2012.

6.24 Increased road traffic is having an adverse affect on the quality of life and safety in many urban areas. While there is no intention to remove through-traffic from these areas, measures to ameliorate its impact, such as the introduction of 20 mph zones, will be put in place to reduce speed and create more people-friendly environments. The City’s traditional and post-war tenement areas would particularly benefit from such measures. The Council’s Land Services is currently implementing a programme of Environmental Areas, prioritising activity in the traditional tenement areas. Where appropriate, new residential developments are required to make provision for traffic calming to achieve maximum speeds of 20 mph. Consideration is also being given to the establishment of Home Zones where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over motorised vehicles and where the speed limit is reduced to 10 mph.

The City Council will implement the Environmental Areas programme according to agreed priorities.

Environmental Areas

6.25 To complement the positive action being taken to improve public transport quality and coverage across the City and encourage the use of non-car transport modes, action is needed to restrain the supply of car parking associated with certain types of development including retailing, leisure and commercial. Maximum restraint-based parking guidelines are related to public transport accessibility and set out in Part 2, (policy TRANS 4: Vehicle Parking Guidelines). The City Council’s Local Transport Strategy promotes the progressive extension of controlled parking beyond the City Centre and adjacent areas and the Hillhead zones into areas where demand exceeds supply. This supports the creation of high density development in areas well served by the public transport network, and the introduction of car free housing in appropriate locations.

The City Council will apply maximum restraint-based car parking guidelines and controlled parking will be progressively extended to areas adjacent to the City Centre and to other areas where demand exceeds supply.

6.26 Park-and-Ride facilities can encourage car users to transfer to high quality public transport services where none are located within easy walking or cycling distance. To be effective, some of these might need to be located outside the City boundary. SPT and Land Services are investigating potential locations for new Park-and-Ride facilities.

6.27 NPPG 17 and the Joint Structure Plan support the use of Green Transport Plans (see Supplementary Guide 5: Green Transport Plans) as a means of maximising sustainable mode share at new developments. They also support the concept of securing developer contributions to improved transport infrastructure that facilitates new development. There are a number of major development areas around the City where developer contributions to transport infrastructure are required to facilitate development. This infrastructure will assist in enhancing development value and accessibility.

The City Council will seek Contributions from developers involved in schemes that will benefit from the following:

Road

Bus

Rail

The City Council will seek developer contributions in the following circumstances:

Cycle network

Greenfield sites

North Riverside

City Centre

6.28 In general terms, the Plan’s development policies steer development, wherever possible, to locations that reduce the need to travel, have appropriate levels of public transport, are accessible by foot or bicycle and are not solely dependent on the car. The requirement for greenfield release, however, means that this is not always possible to achieve. In these circumstances, steps will be taken to ensure that improved accessibility to public transport, cycling and walking opportunities are incorporated into new developments and, where appropriate, developer contributions will be sought.

6.29 In order to encourage the greatest possible use of alternative modes of transport, the transport provision for Greenfield Release Sites, Strategic Industrial Sites, New Neighbourhoods and other major development areas should be put in place before, or in line with, development activity.

The City Council will specify the transport improvements required for Greenfield Release sites, Strategic Industrial sites, New Neighbourhoods and other major development areas. Implementation should be programmed to coincide with each completed phase of development.

6.30 Glasgow aspires to having a world class public transport system that is of consistently high quality, fully integrated between operators and modes, accessible to all users, with complete coverage of the urban area and capable of attracting users away from cars. The City’s suburban rail network, the Underground and the Overground bus network/Quality Bus Corridor programme constitute a solid public transport base. The environmental quality of some facilities, however, falls short of expected standards, for example the rail stations on the East End section of the Argyle Line and the entrance to Queen Street Station. Higher standards of public transport comfort, safety and accessibility will also be necessary, if Glasgow is to address the increasing culture of car dependency. More sustainable forms of public transport are being examined elsewhere in Europe. Cities such as Strasbourg and Manchester are adopting more radical approaches to the provision of quality public transport that Glasgow will have to match if it is to remain competitive.

6.31 There are opportunities to improve and extend existing networks and to examine the role that new technology can play in upgrading and filling gaps in these networks. Schemes such as Crossrail and the introduction of light rapid transit, such as light rail/joint running and guided buses, may have a role to play. If Glasgow is to secure its future as a modern dynamic European city, further major infrastructure investment is required in the medium- to long-term. Major investment is required in the heavy rail system to improve linkage, frequencies and quality and to serve new areas. Decisions are also required on a light rapid transit system to provide a flexible, fine grained and quality public transport system.

6.32 Regaining the momentum and securing Glasgow’s future as modern dynamic European city, will require Strathclyde Passenger Transport, with the Council, to resolve a number of key infrastructure issues and set out a new vision for public transport in Glasgow.

The City Council, in association with SPT, will undertake as a priority, a comprehensive review of the public transport infrastructure needs of the City with a view to securing a world class public transport system for Glasgow.