Fastlink
What is Fastlink/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)?
SPT's project is a qualitative 'step-change' for public transport in west of Scotland. Fastlink is essentially a high quality, attractive and affordable public transport system and a credible alternative to the car. BRT systems operate in a number of countries. The Zuidtangent in Amsterdam and the Transmilenio in Bogota, Columbia are two best practice examples of BRT systems.
What's the difference between a tram system and the BRT system?
Fastlink is able to use existing roads or bus lanes therefore easy to integrate into existing transport infrastructure. The infrastructure costs are significantly less for the Fastlink system and unlike a tram system allows the network to be extended or adapted if necessary.
Fastlink offers a more efficient, faster journey on modern vehicles and decreased pollution.
What is SPT's role in delivering it?
SPT is project sponsor with Glasgow City Council acting as Project Manager. The project is being developed in partnership with Renfrewshire Council, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and West Dunbartonshire Council.
What has changed from the original scheme?
This revised Fastlink builds on what was previously proposed by SPT in conjunction with Glasgow City Council.
The route still focuses on running along the Clydeside via the International Financial Services District, the SECC, Govan and the new Southern General Hospital but will now also utilise the city centre's main bus corridors to improve journey times and options further. Connections to the new hospital are crucial. It is estimated that there will be huge numbers of patients and visitors every year along with 10,000 staff.
It will also link in with the city's key interchanges at Central Station, Queen Street Station and Buchanan Bus Station.
Key investment will be targeted on Glasgow's Union Street - a congestion 'hot spot' - with a six-stance bus hub to be installed along with signalling upgrades and lane improvements to give buses priority access.
Other improvements will see real time passenger information installed at bus stops and stances and number plate recognition CCTV brought in to deter drivers of other vehicles taking advantage of bus-only routes.
How much will Fastlink cost?
SPT has always said that a core Fastlink scheme could be delivered for £40million. The Scottish Government announced in Oct 2011 that it will provide this level of funding.
When will Fastlink be delivered?
Fastlink will be in place to deliver passengers to the SECC for the Commonwealth Games in 2014 and ready to serve the new Southern General Hospital on the south side of the city when it opens in 2015. Wider improvements to bring existing quality bus corridors up to 'Fastlink Standard' could be complete by 2020.
Who will run the Fastlink service?
The infrastructure will be implemented by SPT and GCC but the running of services will be given over to commercial operators who will have to sign up to a Statutory Quality Bus Partnership before they will be allowed to run on the Fastlink routes. This will ensure that they adopt recommended vehicles which will comply with the latest standards in terms of low floor accessibility and carbon emissions. These will also feature the dedicated "Fastlink" branding to ensure a uniform and recognisable look to Fastlink services. SPT and GCC bus wardens will also monitor services on these routes to ensure they remain within agreed standards. Any violations would be reported as normal to the traffic commissioner and could result in operators being removed from routes.
What are the benefits?
City centre bottlenecks like Union Street will become a thing of the past. Fastlink buses will be segregated from normal traffic where road space allows and given priority running through signalling where it doesn't. Bus journeys will be quicker and easier than ever before, making public transport a far more attractive and faster option than the car.
Fastlink buses will also have smartcard technology as standard with the intention of linking up with the planned Glasgow Subway smartcard technology, bringing seamless multi-modal travel one step closer for passengers.
