Roads/Transport – Addressing the transport infrastructure and encouraging sustainable travel

Roads/Transport – Addressing the transport infrastructure and encouraging sustainable travel

Priority number 8
Roads/Transport – Addressing the transport infrastructure and encouraging sustainable travel

Outcomes: 1

Indicators:

% of journeys to work made by public or active transport

Evidence
Transportation infrastructure and economic development are priority areas. The evidence shows that:
The relative remoteness of the areas (i.e. distance from large markets) and the poor standard of accessibility by trunk road (A96 and A95) and by rail are barriers to economic development
Journey times to the dual carriageway road networks south of Aberdeen and Perth, are excessive and are a disincentive to invest in business in Moray
The single track rail service provides little competition to road haulage and is poorly used for freight and passenger traffic, putting extra congestion pressure on the roads
There is a high dependence on car usage and a need to reduce congestion, and encourage alternatives to road transport
In addition to improving the transport infrastructure, there is a shorter term need to make the existing roads safer for users. We will do this by striving to reduce the number of collisions and persons killed or seriously injured on our roads. To increase the diversification within the economy the area will also benefit from improvements to technological connectivity.
Relevance to National Outcome 1
The most significant improvements which can be made to make Moray and Scotland a more attractive place to do business is to improve the roads/transport infrastructure, to increase the use of sustainable travel to make movement in and out of Moray as easy, convenient and cost effective as possible for business, residents and tourists and to increase the number of businesses established as a result.
Progress & Achievements in 2008-9
HIE have completed 3,000 and 4,000 square foot, high specification speculative units and commenced construction of a 10,000 square foot speculative science building at the Enterprise Park Forres. Confirmation of a start date on the Fochabers/Mosstodloch bypass has been received. Construction has started on a replacement of Reikit Lane Bridge Elgin and some minor improvements have taken place on the A95.
Focus on these priorities will also support Moray’s contribution to addressing climate change and environmental impact (national outcomes 14) and the safety of the area through driver behaviours (national outcome 9).

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