This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Edinburgh tram line on track
29/07/2002
Development of the proposed West Edinburgh Tram Line received a cash boost of £5 million today.
Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Iain Grayannounced the grant for City of Edinburgh Council to develop the proposed line, and a borrowing conset of £0.5 million for the West Edinburgh Busways project (WEBS).
The funding announced today is in addition to £6.5 million already identified for the North Edinburgh tram line, and will allow the West Edinburgh scheme to develop to the same timetable and to complement, the North Edinburgh proposals.
WEBS will introduce guided busways and priority measures to improve access to Edinburgh Park and South Gyle and this further funding of £500,000 will allow WEBS tracks to be easily adapted for use by West Edinburgh Tram line. The project is due to be operational by 2005.
Speaking at an event at Haymarket Station where the future West and North Edinburgh tram lines will meet, to confirm the grant to City of Edinburgh Council, Mr Gray said:
"Many Scots are increasingly commuting further and longer to work, therefore it is vital that all our cities across Scotland get 21 st Century public transport systems to support a modern, dynamic economy.
"We made it clear in our recently published Transport Delivery Report that tackling congestion is our number one priority, and our top ten priority projects across Scotland will tackle urban congestion over the next ten years, and provide more convenient travel choices.
"By providing new targeted investment for a tramline in West Edinburgh, where congestion is greatest, we are putting in place further key transport improvements needed to let Edinburgh flourish.
"Further congestion reducing projects are being developed to tackle movement around the city - and will contribute to ensuring there is a network of public transport improvements across the capital. By working in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council, and other stakeholders we will able to deliver much needed improvements and to contribute to combating congestion."
Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd (TIE Ltd) is a public private partnership set up by City of Edinburgh Council and is charged with ensuring transport improvements are developed. It is a City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) owned, off-balance-sheet company with private sector personnel, and has a majority of private sector Board members and has Ewan Brown as Chair.
Ewan Brown is Chairman of Lloyds TSB, non Executive director of Lloyds Group and an executive director of Noble Grossart Ltd. Mr Brown was closely involved in the preparation of the report 'Pathfinders to the Parliament', March 1999.
CEC was invited to approach the Executive for funds for a West Edinburgh tram line at a meeting on 5 March 2002, which involved Ministers, Councillors and key figures from the private sector. This announcement is confirmation that CEC's bid has been accepted.
The £5m award is less than the £6.5m awarded previously for development of the North Edinburgh line. This reflects the fact that some of the work for that line can be used in development of the West Edinburgh line.