Christmas Newsletter 2010
22/12/2010
Christmas Message from the Chair | Areas of Progress in 2010 | Areas of Priority for 2011 | Getabout Campaign
Christmas Message from the Chair
2010 has been a mixed year of outstanding success and, at times, frustration for Nestrans and its partner organisations.
Significant rail service improvements, major developments at Aberdeen Airport, new sustainable travel initiatives: all these, and more, have formed part of the success story of transport in the north-east over the past 12 months.
At the same time, ongoing delays to road projects such as the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route have made it hard to maintain the momentum on complementary schemes on which this key piece of infrastructure hangs.
Nestrans has continued to press Aberdeen City and Shire's case over the year on a range of national transport issues, focusing on highlighting the need for strong air and rail links to London and the south if the north-east is to safeguard its own economic future and remain a key contributor to the wider UK economy.
Transport doesn't exist for its own sake - it is about providing access to jobs and public services, enabling goods to get to market and enhancing the links that promote social inclusion and our quality of life
We are delighted with the progress to date but Nestrans will continue to play its role of setting the strategic backdrop for transport enhancements and promoting the development and delivery of a sustainable transport network that benefits all.
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a great festive period and best wishes for 2011.
Councillor Kevin Stewart
Chair, Nestrans
Areas of Progress in 2010
There were many developments during 2010 - most of them welcome, some of them not - but whatever the cost in terms of time and resources our focus and drive remains the creation of a modern, integrated network for Aberdeen City and Shire across all transport modes.
Disappointingly, development of the AWPR was further delayed by a legal challenge to the decision taken by Scottish Government ministers to approve the project earlier this year. The case will be heard at the Court of Session in February. Our position all along has been to promote the completion of the project at the earliest practicable opportunity: we've reached a critical stage of progress and it is vital that the momentum is not lost by any delays as the AWPR is central to our vision for the region.
The Minister for Transport announced a preferred option for the Haudagain junction which will now allow preparation works to proceed.
After years of detailed planning, the £10 million extension of Aberdeen Airport's main runway was given the green light in November. Work on the 124 metre extension to the north end of the runway will start in March 2011 and it is set to be complete in summer 2012. Major improvements to the terminal, car park and public transport access were completed.
Other ongoing investment at the airport helped Nestrans continue to make the case for sustaining and enhancing links with Heathrow. Travellers can also look forward to new services to London Gatwick and Dublin with onward flights to the United States from Spring 2011 following commitments from carriers EasyJet, Aer Arann and Aer Lingus.
Major improvements were completed or near complete at our major ports in Aberdeen and Peterhead.
The case for more scope to develop north-east rail facilities was strengthened by the publication of the first annual passenger figures for Laurencekirk station which re-opened in May 2009. A total number of 64,000 passengers used the facility in its first full year back in operation, almost double the expected number. ScotRail's move to increase the number of trains running through to Inverurie meanwhile resulted in a 42% increase in the number of passengers using the service.
There were a series of further improvements to local rail services including confirmation of a feasibility study to be carried out at Dyce railway station whilst bus travel took a major step forward in providing accurate, up to the minute timetable information with the creation of http://www.realtimebus.com/, thanks to a partnership between Nestrans and First in Aberdeen.
Progress was also made on a series of sustainable transport projects, including a new footbridge providing improved continuity along Aberdeen's historic Deeside Way which opened in March, the expansion of the Westhill Cycleway and the approval by councillors of a new Park & Ride site at Dyce.
Jointly working with the Strategic Development Planning Authority and the two Local Authorities a cumulative impact assessment has been made of the transport impacts of the emerging Local Development Plans - the first time the available technology has permitted such an assessment.
Jointly with the two Local Authorities and the major bus operators and in a first for Scotland a region wide Bus Punctuality Improvement Partnership agreement was signed with the Buchan/ King Street corridor the first to be examined.
The construction of a segregated left turn slip lane from King George VI Bridge to West Tullos Road in October resulting in much reduced queueing.
Waterproofing and drainage improvements to Queen Elizabeth Bridge in July.
The reconstruction and surfacing of Westhill roundabout and improvements to the A93 in Aboyne.
Work was carried out to improve the road network with projects including the resurfacing of Wellington Road and Ellon Road in Aberdeen.
Areas of Priority for 2011
Our priorities for the coming 12 months are, by definition, set by the delivery plan that was agreed in principle by Nestrans and by Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils, which encompasses all projects, initiatives and developments committed or proposed for the region over the next decade and beyond.
Nestrans will be looking to progress a number of initiatives over the course of 2011 including:
Progression of the AWPR to the tender phase.
The creation of a peak time bus lane at King Street/Castle Street; this proposal seeks to introduce a peak time south bound bus lane from south of the King Street/East North Street junction.
A decision on the commencement of construction of the dual carriageway between Balmedie and Tipperty.
The upgrading of the A90/A96 Haudagain Junction.
To campaign for a higher priority to be given to the rail network in the north east following the disappointing contents of the revised Scotland Route Utilisation Strategy (RUS) announced in October.
Planning Approval for the expansion of the Park & Ride provision to the south side of Aberdeen linked to the development of the AWPR.
Progress on improvements to the Aberdeen - Inverness rail link including the establishment of a station at Kintore and improvements to Inveramsay Bridge.
Progress towards the eventual establishment of a flyover on the A90 at Laurencekirk.
Further investigation into the potential long term options that could be introduced in terms of creating additional vehicular capacity over the River Dee for access to and from the south of Aberdeen.
Getabout Campaign
Getabout has continued to build momentum in 2010 delivering a wide range of events geared towards increasing awareness of sustainable transport options, opening up avenues of information and encouraging more of us to leave the car behind where possible.
Highlights from this year's calendar included the launch of a new local rail guide for Aberdeen City and Shire, a special visit by round the world cyclist Mark Beaumont.
The popular In Town Without My Car campaign was mapped out to Insch and Bridge of Don where Getabout co-ordinator Donald Kent and hundreds of local schoolchildren helped Scotland set a new Guinness World Record for playing the Blue Danube on bicycle bells.
Support from Getabout has also allowed Grampian Police to increase the number of officers on bicycle patrol in communities across Aberdeenshire after a funding boost allowed them to secure new specialist bikes and support equipment.
The event was launched by the Transport and Climate Change Minister at Grampian Police's Aberdeenshire Division headquarters in Inverurie in March.
The partnership plans to continue its work throughout 2011.