Solutions to Traffic Problems - Glasgow
SOLUTION / DESCRIPTION / EXPLANATION / EXAMPLE / SUCCESSFUL?Construct new roads / Crossing the Clyde / Bridge and tunnel built to increase options for crossing river. / Previously people had to go over the Kingston Bridge but now could choose. / Clyde tunnel and Erskine Bridge / Choice of appropriate bridge to cross Clyde and has taken traffic away from Kingston Bridge
Inner City ring road / 1960s there was a desire to build an inner ring road connecting motorways. M8 was built though Glasgow skirting around the city centre / To cope with increasing car numbers, larger roads were needed to cope / M8 motorway
Areas demolished include Woodlands, Garnethill and Anderson / More and more cars use the motorway especially at rush hour.
Large areas were demolished for construction
Expressways / Roads expanded to 2 lane width / Roads can cope with greater volume of traffic and allow traffic to flow better / Clydeside expressway and Springburn expressway. / Initially successful but road traffic has continued to increase. Has allowed for bus lanes to be created in many areas.
M74 expansion / Expanded the M74 which previously stopped 8km south of Glasgow / Aim was to link up remove congestion from busy M8 and improve access to Glasgow Airport. / Link M74 at Carmyle with M8 at the Kingston Bridge.
Cost £692m (3 times over budget). / Takes 20,000 vehicles a day.
Causes noise pollution and some homes/businesses were destroyed to build. Haven’t dealt with car problem just delayed it.
Improve public transport / Bus / “Statutory Quality Partnership Scheme” – made bus lanes and buying low-emission buses / Makes buses more attract to use, takes people off the roads. Low emission buses reduce pollution levels / 14 routes including all of the city centre / Bus services are more efficient
Park and Ride / Schemes introduced. Commuters can park their car for free next to a station in the suburbs and complete their journey in the city centre by train. / Reducing vehicle numbers on the road / Shields Road P&R / Use is variable. Has taken some traffic away from roads
Rail / Busiest stations modernised / Attract more people to use trains / Central Station.
Glasgow already has over 70 stations (a high number in comparison to other cities in the UK).
Platforms extended. / Copes with longer trains with higher capacity reducing crowding at peak times. / Queen’s Street north side.
Reopen train routes / Increase distribution of routes around Glasgow / Larkhall to Milngavie (pronounced Mill-guy) / In first year 325,000 journeys were many on this line.
Create new rail link, connecting different transport types / Makes using different public transport types easier and therefore more likely to be used. / Glasgow Airport to Paisley / Been highly successful
Improve Traffic Flow / Introducing one-way systems / More space on roads so traffic can flow easier / Around George Square
Traffic wardens, parking meters and yellow lines / prevent parking on kerbside ensuring traffic flows better / Many streets, St Vincent Place
Building more multi-storey car parks, especially near shopping centres. / So fewer people park on streets / Buchanan Galleries Car Park
Bus lanes have been created / Allow public transport to move more quickly / Killermont Street (next to bus station)
Pedestrianisation of major shopping streets / to improve safety for shoppers and for road users in nearby streets / Sauchiehall St, Buchanan St and Argyle St