Wednesday, May 13 2009
Transport planner JMP has urged that work should begin at the earliest possible opportunity on a park and ride/choose site on the southern side of the Tay Road Bridge to discourage car traffic into Dundee.
The consultant has recommended expanding the existing car park on the Landfall Site at the southern bridgehead onto adjoining land alongside the A92 and promotion of bus use, car sharing, cycling and walking.
Failing that – because there might be land ownership or planning policy issues - then the Forgan Roundabout site two miles further south should be considered as the next best alternative.
There is relatively little congestion on the bridge at present but this will most likely increase, particularly with the regeneration of the Dundee City Centre through the large Waterfront development.
JMP was commissioned by two statutory transport partnerships covering a wide area north and south of the Tay, SESTRAN and TACTRAN, to identify a package of sustainable measures that would reduce single occupancy car trips across the Bridge. This included the location and feasibility of a park and ride/choose site on the A92 corridor.
The provision of such a facility in north east Fife has been listed by both partnerships as a high priority and approved by the Scottish Transport Minister as a project of strategic importance.
JMP has recommended that detailed designs and negotiations with all stakeholders, including bus operators, Tay Road Bridge Joint Board and other landowners should be progressed as soon as possible. Both sites have existing bus services that access the key traffic and people attractions in Dundee, the Landfall Site offering the best frequency and catchment areas.
It is suggested that the design should encourage park and choose with a small number of spaces set aside for car sharers and those who wish to park and cycle or walk into Dundee. Adequate parking should be provided for cycles and the possibility of buses providing ‘bad weather’ transport for cyclists and pedestrians should be explored by bus operators.