Glasgow is a growing city, and that is creating new challenges which were recognised when the Connectivity Commission published its second report on improvements to the city’s transport system.
Appointed by City Council Leader Susan Aitken and chaired by Professor David Begg, the Commission made some bold recommendations. I had the privilege of being a Commission member and was especially struck by the evidence on rapidly increasing motorway congestion and capacity constraints at our main railway stations, which are bursting at the seams.
It’s clear if we don’t build new capacity into our public transport network, congestion on our trunk roads can only get worse and the city’s productivity will take a costly hit.
Perhaps the rate of Glasgow’s growth is unexpected. When the current Glasgow and Clyde Valley development plan was published it drew on an economic assessment which suggested Glasgow’s city region would not fully recover jobs lost from the 2007/8 financial crash before 2038.
In fact, the region had already recovered those losses in the 10 years to 2017, 20 years ahead of forecast, and train passenger numbers at Central Station grew by 10 million in the same decade.
It’s time to set out a fresh growth plan for investment. The Commission has put forward a package of proposals including a Metro, a new tunnel connecting Central and Queen Street stations and an expansion plan for HS2 to go into Central Station. Together these proposals will increase the system’s capacity, offering better options for passengers to switch from the car.
Crucially a Glasgow Metro would also increase the transport choices for residents in some of our most economically disconnected neighbourhoods and could use rail lines that were closed two generations ago.
But from the Chamber’s perspective there is an especially welcome recognition of the economic importance of the freshly-named South Clyde Growth Corridor. The report recommended the first Metro line should run from Paisley Gilmour Street via Glasgow Airport, the new National Manufacturing Institute, the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Pacific Quay and into the city centre.
This may not be the direct connection we have supported for over 15 years but if it breaks the deadlock to reduce the Airport’s dependence on motorway access it is worth supporting.
The proposals have been made and the initiative passes back to Councillor Aitken. She will have the Chamber’s support in bringing the Scottish and UK Governments to the table.
Stuart Patrick is chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
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