A MAJOR Scottish city is to become the first in the country to trial a free public transport scheme.
Glasgow councillors have approved a £225,000 budget offering concessionary travel to 1,000 residents.
Glasgow will be the first to trial a free public transport scheme[/caption]
The initiative aims to explore the “social, economic, and environmental benefits of universal free travel”, reports the Glasgow Times.
The pilot will see participants given a smart card ticket for the bus, train and subway.
People aged between 22 and 59 years could be included in the trial but exact details have not yet been confirmed.
The cost of the scheme is estimated to be around £95.7million for this age group and duration, excluding admin costs.
The initiative follows a study by transport firm Stantec Limited, which found such a scheme to be possible.
The study said: “The intention of the pilot is to provide a mechanism through which benefits and costs of free public transport can be captured and assessed, to inform future decision making and policy setting for potential wider roll-out of the scheme across the city on a more permanent basis.”
The council has a target to reduce car travel by 30% and reach net zero emissions by 2030.
We told how Glasgow’s Buchanan Bus Station is set to be transformed into a “world-class” transport hub as part of a major revamp.
It is owned and run by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), but the redesign will be carried out by AtkinsRéalis.
The engineering company revealed that they have been appointed to work on the station, located in the city centre, as well as the surrounding site.
According to Glasgow Times, the firm revealed it will create a “new vision” for the station in a bid to improve user experience.
They are also aiming to improve transport links and develop a “future-focused masterplan” for the bus station.
