Councillors will make a final decision on whether or not to proceed with the Trams to Newhaven project in early 2019, it was announced yesterday.
Continue reading Trams to Newhaven: decision delayed until Spring
Councillors will make a final decision on whether or not to proceed with the Trams to Newhaven project in early 2019, it was announced yesterday.
Continue reading Trams to Newhaven: decision delayed until Spring
“refreshed designs and plans are truly community-led” – Transport convener
Continue reading Trams to Newhaven: updated plans to go on show
An exciting open innovation challenge has been launched to create a device to detect when a tram driver might be about to lose consciousness due to illness or fatigue and notify the control centre.
Continue reading Innovation challenge seeks tram driver safety invention
A series of workshops with residents, traders, active travel organisations and community representatives is under way to refine proposals for taking trams to Newhaven. Continue reading Community input helps shape Trams to Newhaven designs
The city council’s #TramsToNewhaven consultation closes TODAY!
Let them know what you think at https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/tramstonewhaven/ …
There’s another opportunity to examine the council’s proposals to extend the tram line to Newhaven this week. The event takes place on Thursday at Leith Community Education Centre from 3 – 9pm. Continue reading Tram consultation rolls on to Leith Community Centre
The next #TramsToNewhaven public information event takes place tomorrow (Tuesday 3 April) at McDonald Road Library from 10am – 4pm. Continue reading Trams to Newhaven? Have your say at McDonald Road Library tomorrow
Next stop Newhaven? Another key milestone towards completion of the Final Business Case for taking trams to Newhaven has been reached with the shortlisting of four bidders for the Infrastructure and Systems contract.
Continue reading All aboard: four bidders short-listed for Newhaven trams contract
‘Survey showed that a majority of residents think trams will make a positive difference to Leith’
Starting later this month, a major local consultation exercise will seek feedback on (a) traffic management and business support plans for the construction period and (b) the outline road layout for Leith Walk and the rest of the route.
The consultation comes as the results of an independent survey carried out in Leith are published, showing that the majority of respondents believe Leith would benefit from the introduction of a tram.
However the vast majority of those interviewed – 91% – said they are satisfied with current transport provision on Leith Walk.
From 19 March, six weeks of public consultation and engagement will provide the public, businesses and wider stakeholders with general information on the project, an opportunity to meet the team and specific details around traffic management during construction, support for business proposals and the outline road layout, ahead of final plans being drawn up.
Views will be sought on traffic management and phasing currently proposed, including proposals for the closure of Leith Walk northbound and a single lane open southbound, along with the closure of sections of Constitution Street, for approximately 18 months during construction.
The traffic management proposals have been drawn up following in-depth traffic modelling and discussions with key partners and stakeholders, including bus companies, local community groups, businesses and elected members.
The plans include support for businesses who will be most affected by the works, including provision for parking and loading between worksites, an Open for Business campaign, on-street customer service staff, logistics hubs and financial support.
Views will also be sought on the plans for the permanent design of the street along the route, including a dedicated public transport-only lane on Leith Walk for tram and bus during morning and evening rush hour.
This is the first stage in a consultation process that is scheduled to continue through to the end of 2018.
Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “When the Outline Business Case was approved by Council in September we pledged to dedicate the following year or so (ahead of the final decision) to establishing mutually beneficial relationships with local residents and businesses who would be most affected by construction works.
“We’ve been working very closely with the local community and our partners ever since to model traffic management plans and look at options for supporting businesses as much as possible if the project goes ahead.
“These plans have been developed taking on board lessons learned from the first phase of tramworks and the current traffic management arrangements in place around Leith Street.
“The recent Leith survey showed that a majority of residents think trams will make a positive difference to Leith.
“However, there are clearly some very real concerns about disruption and congestion during construction. This consultation gives people the chance to help shape how we manage things if and when work gets under way. We hope as many people as possible will have their say, either at one of our four information events or via the Consultation Hub, which will host the consultation from 19 March.”
The consultation will include:
28,000 letters delivered to residential addresses in the area surrounding the planned tram route
4 public information events*
4 local business forums
– 4 community council briefings
LEITH SURVEY
In November 2017, the project team commissioned an independent survey to understand local behaviours and attitudes towards Tram to Newhaven. Research done by Progressive Partnership – 368 ten-minute on-street interviews carried out on three different stretches of Leith Walk.
*Public information events
Thursday 22 March: Leith Theatre, 11am – 6pm
Tuesday 3 April: McDonald Road Library, 10am – 4pm
Thursday 12 April: Leith Community Education Centre, 3pm – 9pm
Saturday 21 April: Ocean Terminal, 12 noon – 5pm
This article by city council Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes was published in the Edinburgh Evening News last week:
Last week Edinburgh’s councillors approved the Outline Business Case for taking the tram to Newhaven, signalling a desire to move towards a transformed vision for transport in the Capital. Continue reading Making the case for trams to Newhaven