Public engagement positive at Spectrum Centre event as Highland Council presents studies carried out to improve bus travel in Inverness
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THREE ongoing studies to improve bus travel in Inverness were presented to the public at a drop-in event.
The public consultation at the Spectrum Centre saw Highland Council representatives as well as teams carrying out the studies present a series of proposals in a bid to encourage the use of public transport.
Feedback was sought on new park-and-ride facilities in different areas of Inverness as well as transport opportunities on Millburn Road and key issues on the B9006 corridor between Raigmore Hospital and Birchwood Road.
These are part of 7 projects in the Inner Moray Firth funded by the Bus Partnership Fund.
The chairman of the council’s economy and infrastructure committee, Ken Gowans, said: “We had really a great turnout and great cross section of people attending the event as businesses in town.
“We are trying to find ways that would ultimately make it more sensible for people to use public transport or active travel, and that can be in the form of park and ride, but we are also talking about bus corridors and smart traffic lights. In order to do that, we need to make the bus service more reliable, quicker and basically enhance the experience of travelling into town.”
Around 6- people attended the event.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: "We would like to thank everyone who came along. The event was very positive with lots of interaction. Our officers and consultants captured the questions and feedback people provided. All this information will now be collated and fed into the STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) process.
"If anyone was unable to attend, we would like to remind them that the Millburn Corridor Public Online survey is currently live and will run until January 22 so it is not too late to have your say."
More details on the survey are available on the Highland Council's website.
Representatives from Stagecoach Highland were also in attendance to discuss issues with the public as well as presenting new timetables which will be active from January 4 and which it hopes to have available on its website from next week.
The bus company, together with Highland Council and HiTrans, is part of a recently-formed partnership which will aim to improve bus travel in the Highlands. The group is currently working on seven projects in the Inner Moray Firth and has so far secured £2.9 million from the Scottish Government’s Bus Partnership Fund.
