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Edinburgh tram announcement: Congestion charge needed to complete city transport package Commenting on today's Scottish Executive announcement that the City of Edinburgh Council will receive £375 million for two tram lines, Colin Howden, TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager, said: "This major investment in Edinburgh's public transport network is long-overdue. It is only unfortunate that the Scottish Executive has taken so long to make serious levels of investment available for improving Edinburgh's transport. Modern tram networks are key components in the best transport networks around the world, combining the frequent stops and on-street accessibility of buses with the speed of train travel." But TRANSform Scotland also emphasise the need for congestion charging to be delivered if Edinburgh is to have a truly sustainable transport strategy. Colin Howden said: "Experience from around the world demonstrates that successful city transport strategies need improvements in public transport to be accompanied by road traffic demand management measures, such as congestion charging, parking controls and access restrictions, in order to lock in the benefits. Public transport investment alone cannot tackle the problem of too much road traffic." "The success of London's congestion charge demonstrates how congestion and pollution can be reduced by implementing a charge. While tram lines will provide new high-quality sustainable transport alternatives for some car trips, Edinburgh urgently needs to implement its own congestion charge if the city's damaging air pollution and congestion problems are to be tackled. Investment in public transport is only part of the solution - London shows that successful city transport strategies need 'stick' as well as 'carrot'." END OF NEWS RELEASE |