Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is recognised worldwide for its culture, history, and unique townscape. The city is a major tourism destination and enjoys an excellent quality of life. The bustling city centre has a rich mix of residential, commercial, tourism, and retail uses, which are complemented by a stunning and unique setting. Central to Edinburgh’s success is the variety of uses in the central Old and New Town area, which was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995. Residential, retail, academic and visiting occupants successfully co-exist alongside the city’s large and growing service sector, where financial services, tourism and, more recently, information technology industries are all key players.

Transportation is probably one of the highest profile issues in Edinburgh at present. It has an impact on the city’s economy, society, environment and quality of life and on the health, safety and prosperity of all those who live, visit and work in and around the city.

Over the past 20 years, growth in car ownership and car use has caused traffic levels on some of the main city roads to increase by up to 60%. In Edinburgh and the central belt of Scotland, over a 10-year period, car ownership levels have risen by 57%, compared with a national growth rate of only 29%. This increase has, in turn, caused significant increases in traffic congestion, parking problems and air pollution at key city locations.

Transport routes, particularly roads, radiate in towards the city centre, which acts as a transport hub. An outer by-pass circles the east, south and western boundaries of the city, but there is neither a northern by-pass nor a recognised inner ring road for vehicular traffic. In turn the central area is coming under considerable pressure from cars, lorries and buses, many of which are entering the central area unnecessarily as part of through journeys.

City residents, businesses, and visitors suffer as a consequence and, if not brought under control, the recent economic success and the physical attractiveness of the city could be compromised. There is simply not enough space, in Edinburgh, for everyone who wants to travel by car and park at their desired destination. It is essential that the limited space available is prioritised and that everyone who lives, visits, or works in Edinburgh is able to travel within, as well as to and from the city, quickly, cheaply, and safely.

The resolution of the many issues relating to transport and traffic in the city is probably the biggest challenge facing the City of Edinburgh Council. It is essential that all that is best in the city’s heritage, townscape, and setting is conserved for the benefit of this and future generations. The challenge is for the city to adapt to ensure that it remains successful. Change can be introduced in a way that is consistent with and sensitive to the city’s heritage, and in a way that will enhance the quality of the city’s environment. The Local Transport Strategy, adopted by the Council in October 2000, recognises those challenges and proposes a plan that could instigate the necessary change.

The Local Transport Strategy, known as "On Route", sets out an overall vision for the next 20 years, and details the Council’s policies and proposals for Edinburgh’s transport system between 2001 and 2004. Through this Strategy, the Council is committed to delivering an efficient, affordable and reliable transport system to serve the city, its residents and its visitors through the 21st Century. In doing so, the Council will work to:

Improve safety for all road users

Reduce the environmental impacts of travel

Support the local and national economy

The potential for improvements to the existing transport system and network are considerable, but the introduction of improvements is dependent on the identification and allocation of appropriate levels of funding. The Strategy considers two financial scenarios.

The first scenario assumes that the level of financial support for transportation improvements would be similar to that currently available. This would allow the Council to continue to use the transportation funding set aside in its budget, along with that collected from parking charges, for transport infrastructure enhancement work. It also assumes that the Council continues to receive government funding for transport investment at existing levels. Unfortunately, this level of funding would be insufficient to achieve the Councils objectives.

The second scenario proposes making a considerably higher level of funding available through the introduction of congestion charging. If this solution were to be adopted, it is estimated that the Council could raise an additional £450 million over 10 years, all of which would be spent on transport and traffic infrastructure improvements, in addition to the current levels of funding. Through this additional funding, it would be possible to introduce a substantial number of the measures described in the Strategy. It then becomes realistic to introduce:

A three-line tram network serving north, west, and south east Edinburgh, with scope for extension beyond the city boundary

A full outer ring of 5 or 6 Park & Ride sites around Edinburgh

Significant rail service improvements, for example better services to Fife, East and West Lothian, enhancement of railway stations and other passenger interfaces and the reopening of some former passenger service routes

Edinburgh's activities in PRoGR€SS

The PRoGR€SS project is assisting the Council to demonstrate that congestion charging could be introduced in Edinburgh. It is helping to evolve ideas regarding the technology and methods available for collecting the charges, enforcing payment, detecting any non-payment, and developing the many associated management and operational systems that will be required for the scheme.

Throughout the project there has and will continue to be extensive consultation and public participation to ensure that residents and businesses are supportive of the concept. Those exercises are being targeted at those who live, visit, and work in and around the city, and are helping in the iterative process to define a scheme that will be of most benefit to the city and the maximum number of stakeholders. This consultation work is also investigating the impact that congestion charging could have on social inclusion, economic development, and the long-term vitality of Edinburgh and surrounding areas. The Council has also given to city residents the commitment that a referendum will be held prior to taking any final decision on the introduction of congestion charging.

As part of PRoGR€SS, many charging configurations and scenarios have been tested. Different charging area boundaries, times and days of operation, different financial charges dependent on either type of vehicle or time of day, etc. were modelled during 2002, to assist in the development of the optimum solution. From this work, a favoured charging scheme configuration has evolved and, during 2003, it is intended that work should continue to develop this further.

Through a technology and user trial, which took place between October 2002 and February 2003, technological options for charging/recording charges and monitoring/enforcing non-payment have been explored, and the performance monitored to enable the development of a realistic and achievable performance specification to be used in the eventual procurement of an operating system for a congestion charging scheme for Edinburgh.

The PRoGR€SS project is also giving the city the opportunity to identify and investigate the organisational, administrative, legal, evaluation, and procurement procedures and mechanisms that will be most appropriate to adopt to ensure the smooth introduction and operation of a congestion charging scheme. Through the PRoGR€SS project, the Council is also able to share and disseminate knowledge that it has gained with its partners and share that gained through the work being carried out elsewhere in Europe.

The City of Edinburgh Council is one of the principal contractors in the PRoGR€SS project and the work is being co-ordinated for the Council’s City Development Department by a Council agency: Transport Initiatives Edinburgh. The City Development Department is responsible for all issues in Edinburgh relating to city planning, economic development, property and transport. The Department gives an integrated approach when dealing with all matters relating to land use, transport planning and economic development with the aim of achieving a "sustainable Edinburgh".

The Transport Studies Group at the University of Westminster has a major role in developing and implementing the programme of consultation with the public and stakeholders. This work is addressing public, political and social acceptability issues.

The Transport Research Institute (TRI) at Napier University has responsibility for the provision of expertise and assistance in relation to social accessibility issues and for the elements of the project relating to evaluation.

The Centre for Transport Policy at Robert Gordon University are also involved in consultation with stakeholders and will assist with dissemination of information relating to the project.

The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) has developed an evaluation plan for the project.

Edinburgh has been a significant player in the sustainable transport debate since the early 1990s. A major strategic transport study was undertaken during 1992 that indicated significant reductions in traffic levels could not be achieved without the adoption of some form of congestion charging measures. During 1994, the Council adopted an innovative transport strategy that had defined targets for stabilising and then reducing both car dependency and use within the city. Since that time, the Council has introduced car-free housing and the "City Car Club" to Edinburgh. As a result of these policies and initiatives, the level of public awareness about travel and transport issues was raised.

During 1999, as part of the consultation exercise relating to the development of the "On Route" Local Transport Strategy, all Edinburgh households and businesses were asked through a questionnaire for their views as to how the Transport Strategy for Edinburgh should develop. Along with a range of other transportation related questions they were asked to indicate which of three particular scenarios they favoured. The scenarios allowed for:

A high level of spending on transportation projects, using funding raised from congestion charging

A lower level of spending on a lower number of transportation projects, but higher than at present, using funding raised from charging for a workplace parking scheme

Spending at similar levels as present on a minimal list of new transportation projects

The results were very encouraging with a majority of the replies, both from households and the business respondents, favouring the first scenario, that which would rely on the introduction of congestion charging.

The City of Edinburgh Council has since been examining how some of the barriers to the implementation of congestion charging can be overcome, with particular attention being paid to mechanisms that will allow the provision of improved alternatives to car use prior to introducing any charging scheme. This includes participation in a strategic transport planning framework with neighbouring local authorities, to ensure a sustainable and equitable distribution of benefits throughout both the city and surrounding region. This strategic transport planning group have developed, and adopted, a Regional Transport Strategy, which will enable the different authorities to co-operate in the development of their transport initiatives, and harmonise future bidding for central Government transportation funding.

Other European projects

The City of Edinburgh Council is and has recently been involved in many different projects that have received support from the European Community.