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Scottish Executive M74 Northern Extension photo opportunity: How will new motorways reduce traffic in Glasgow? Commenting on today's Scottish Executive photo opportunity being organised in Glasgow this morning to promote the £250 million M74 Northern Extension elevated motorway (1), Britain's largest urban motorway project, TRANSform Scotland are asking how a new elevated motorway will help the Scottish Executive meet its stated target to stabilise road traffic. Colin Howden, Campaign Manager of TRANSform Scotland, said: "The Scottish Executive has made promise after promise about improving public transport. Yet the largest transport project the Executive promotes is an elevated motorway ploughed into the heart of Scotland's largest city. It has been known for years that building more road capcity in congested urban areas will just generate more traffic yet the Scottish Executive persists with this misguided project." "In March, Wendy Alexander's Transport Delivery Report set as its objective to stabilise traffic levels. (2) Why then this monstrous motorway project - which will massively increase traffic levels in Glasgow - takes priority in the Scottish Executive's transport spending plans is beyond us. This is a project which has never been properly evaluated against more cost-effective and sustainable alternatives. The inflated job claims made by the proponents of this project must be asked serious questions about these claims." See http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/info/docs/HeadingWrongDirection.pdf for briefing on the alternatives to the N74 Northern Extension. ENDS Notes to Editors: (1) See http://www.scotland.gov.uk/news2/current.asp (2) The Transport Delivery Report target is to stabilise road traffic levels at 2001 levels by 2021. Traffic levels are a good proxy for the environmental impact of traffic, however TRANSform Scotland views this target as too weak if Scotland is to make an equitable contribution to the UK Climate Change Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. END OF NEWS RELEASE |