Attended the Friends of Magdalen Green committee meeting last night. The Friends have organised a coffee morning to raise funds on Saturday 27th October in St Peter's Church Hall Dundee from 10am - 12 noon - click on the headline to read about it on their blog.
I'm representing TACTRAN (the Tayside & Central Scotland Transport Partnership) at the official launch of the Kinross Park and Ride facility later today.
The facility was funded by TACTRAN using Scottish Executive Capital Grant which was provided to the Regional Transport Partnership to support the delivery of strategic transport improvements which support emerging Regional Transport Strategy aims and objectives. The project complements TACTRAN’s Regional Transport objectives of reducing congestion, improving accessibility and promoting use of more sustainable options for commuter and other demands.
Anyway, here's the news release :
The new Kinross Park & Ride facility will be officially launched on Wednesday 17th October by Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson.
Councillor Fraser Macpherson, Chair of TACTRAN (Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership), Councillor John Kellas, Convener of Perth & Kinross Council’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee and Robert Andrew, Regional Director of Stagecoach Scotland, will also be in attendance reflecting the partnership which worked to create the new facility.
The Park & Ride opened on 28 May this year, and provides improved public transport links for car drivers, local bus users and cyclists. Located on the western outskirts of Kinross a short distance from Junction 6 of the M90, the site is ideally situated to offer a convenient alternative for motorists using the M90 to travel to either Edinburgh or Perth, helping to relieve congestion on one of the busiest commuter routes in east Scotland.
Mr Stevenson said: “Situated on one of the busiest commuter routes in east Scotland, this new facility is absolutely vital. I want to see more Park & Ride schemes like this one right across the country.
“If we are to win the battle to tackle congestion, we must offer the commuter real alternatives to the car. We must encourage a change in the mode of transport used by the public to protect our environment and ensure our economy can develop without being constricted by an increasingly congested roads network.
“The new Scottish Government will build new rail lines, improve the bus network, encourage the use of park and ride facilities, and continue to promote cycling and walking as healthier and greener ways to travel.
“Well planned initiatives like this one in Kinross give people a real alternative to the car, helping them to avoid the jams, whilst relieving congestion on our roads network.”
Councillor Macpherson said: “I am delighted that TACTRAN has been able to provide the funding required to deliver the Kinross Park & Ride facility. Development of Park & Ride is one key element of the TACTRAN Regional Transport Strategy.
“Over the next few months we will be working on development of a regional Park & Ride strategy, which will build on and complement existing Park & Rides to deliver a regional network of edge-of-city and urban sites, particularly focused on our main urban centres of Dundee, Perth and Stirling. In taking this strategy forward we will continue to work in partnership with Scottish Government, our Councils and transport operators to deliver effective public transport options which will reduce congestion, improve accessibility and promote the use of more sustainable options for modern travel demands.”
Councillor Kellas said: “Through our Local Transport Strategy Perth & Kinross Council is committed to maintaining and improving public transport services and offering new and innovative alternatives to the car. By providing enhanced public transport links from Kinross to Perth and Edinburgh this facility will be beneficial to commuters and also those visiting the area. It will also take some pressure off our local and strategic roads by reducing car use.
“Certain local bus services in Kinross have also been re-routed via the Park and Ride to allow local residents access to the inter city coach system. With Stagecoach Fife routing Services 23 and 36B to specifically serve the Kinross Park & Ride site, and Service 201 operating to the adjacent supermarket, we hope that local residents will also be encouraged to leave their car at home and make their whole journey by public transport. Travellers can enjoy a more pleasant journey by coach and arrive relaxed without the need to a find parking space”.
Robert Andrew added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with TACTRAN and the Council to provide a local bus option between parts of rural Kinross-shire and the Kinross Park & Ride site. Hopefully many residents will use the bus to reach the interchange point with Scottish Citylink and megabus.com express coach services, from which two coaches operate every hour to Edinburgh during the majority of the day.
“We are continually monitoring public reaction and feedback to the service and this has led to the recent decision to provide links with Stagecoach Fife Service 747 at Ferrytoll Park+Ride, with through ticketing to/from Edinburgh Airport. We look forward to working in conjunction with the Council and TACTRAN to identify further opportunities to develop the role of the Kinross site and also other Park & Ride opportunities in the TACTRAN region."
Councillor Fraser Macpherson, Chair of TACTRAN (Tayside and Central Scotland Transport Partnership), Councillor John Kellas, Convener of Perth & Kinross Council’s Environment and Infrastructure Committee and Robert Andrew, Regional Director of Stagecoach Scotland, will also be in attendance reflecting the partnership which worked to create the new facility.
The Park & Ride opened on 28 May this year, and provides improved public transport links for car drivers, local bus users and cyclists. Located on the western outskirts of Kinross a short distance from Junction 6 of the M90, the site is ideally situated to offer a convenient alternative for motorists using the M90 to travel to either Edinburgh or Perth, helping to relieve congestion on one of the busiest commuter routes in east Scotland.
Mr Stevenson said: “Situated on one of the busiest commuter routes in east Scotland, this new facility is absolutely vital. I want to see more Park & Ride schemes like this one right across the country.
“If we are to win the battle to tackle congestion, we must offer the commuter real alternatives to the car. We must encourage a change in the mode of transport used by the public to protect our environment and ensure our economy can develop without being constricted by an increasingly congested roads network.
“The new Scottish Government will build new rail lines, improve the bus network, encourage the use of park and ride facilities, and continue to promote cycling and walking as healthier and greener ways to travel.
“Well planned initiatives like this one in Kinross give people a real alternative to the car, helping them to avoid the jams, whilst relieving congestion on our roads network.”
Councillor Macpherson said: “I am delighted that TACTRAN has been able to provide the funding required to deliver the Kinross Park & Ride facility. Development of Park & Ride is one key element of the TACTRAN Regional Transport Strategy.
“Over the next few months we will be working on development of a regional Park & Ride strategy, which will build on and complement existing Park & Rides to deliver a regional network of edge-of-city and urban sites, particularly focused on our main urban centres of Dundee, Perth and Stirling. In taking this strategy forward we will continue to work in partnership with Scottish Government, our Councils and transport operators to deliver effective public transport options which will reduce congestion, improve accessibility and promote the use of more sustainable options for modern travel demands.”
Councillor Kellas said: “Through our Local Transport Strategy Perth & Kinross Council is committed to maintaining and improving public transport services and offering new and innovative alternatives to the car. By providing enhanced public transport links from Kinross to Perth and Edinburgh this facility will be beneficial to commuters and also those visiting the area. It will also take some pressure off our local and strategic roads by reducing car use.
“Certain local bus services in Kinross have also been re-routed via the Park and Ride to allow local residents access to the inter city coach system. With Stagecoach Fife routing Services 23 and 36B to specifically serve the Kinross Park & Ride site, and Service 201 operating to the adjacent supermarket, we hope that local residents will also be encouraged to leave their car at home and make their whole journey by public transport. Travellers can enjoy a more pleasant journey by coach and arrive relaxed without the need to a find parking space”.
Robert Andrew added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with TACTRAN and the Council to provide a local bus option between parts of rural Kinross-shire and the Kinross Park & Ride site. Hopefully many residents will use the bus to reach the interchange point with Scottish Citylink and megabus.com express coach services, from which two coaches operate every hour to Edinburgh during the majority of the day.
“We are continually monitoring public reaction and feedback to the service and this has led to the recent decision to provide links with Stagecoach Fife Service 747 at Ferrytoll Park+Ride, with through ticketing to/from Edinburgh Airport. We look forward to working in conjunction with the Council and TACTRAN to identify further opportunities to develop the role of the Kinross site and also other Park & Ride opportunities in the TACTRAN region."