Evening Times
TRANSPORT chiefs have put up £450,000 to look at expanding
futuristic buses along the banks of the Clyde - even though the
planned service is running a year late.
Government ministers are also months away from deciding whether
to give the green light to Glasgow's ambitious Clyde Fastlink
scheme.
But Strathclyde Partnership for Transport wants a study into
running the tram-style buses from the city to Braehead shopping
centre and Clydebank.
SPT has agreed to give £450,000 to Glasgow City Council to help
pay for a feasibility report into extending the Clyde Fastlink
service beyond the city's boundary.
The decision comes even though the planned introduction of the
high-speed service is a year behind schedule and no government
approval has been given.
Phase one of the scheme, to link the city centre with Glasgow
Harbour, was due to be completed by late this year - at a cost of
£42million - but it will now be the end of 2008.
Glasgow council chiefs will manage the "trams on tyres" system,
with dedicated lanes along the riverfront.
Ruth Simpson, roads spokeswoman for the city council, said:
"Fastlink would make a major contribution to the regeneration of
the Clyde corridor.
"We are pleased SPT has agreed funding to support the project's
development. We are in talks with the Executive over its initial
approval."
Under phase two, the high-speed buses would service the new
media village at Pacific Quay and the Southern General Hospital,
with stops at Braehead and Renfrew.
Phase three would then see the system stretching beyond Rothesay
Dock to Clydebank College and the Golden Jubilee Hospital.
It's believed the entire scheme would cost £110m.
Government money is needed to get the project off the drawing
board and ministers need to give approval.
The Executive was asked at the start of the year for the
go-ahead but it could be next year before the SNP-led
administration makes its decision.
An Executive spokeswoman said talks were continuing.
SPT chairman Alistair Watson said: "We would like to get the
go-ahead as quickly as possible.
"We are very keen to see it progress, which is why SPT is
putting £450,000 into a pot for phases two and three, while
awaiting approval for phase one."
Reproduced with the permission of the Evening
Times (Glasgow) © Newsquest (Herald & Times) Ltd.