Designing Integrated Low Carbon Transport Hubs Across Scotland

The projects include a landmark green transport and active travel hub at the heart of Dundee’s £1 billion waterfront development, an EV charging and hydrogen filling station at a new £207 million conference centre in Aberdeen and infrastructure for electric buses and cycling in Inverness.

In total, Urban Foresight secured six competitively awarded contracts as part of Transport Scotland’s £13.9 million Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund. This will see our expert team provide technical and commercial support to: Aberdeen City Council, Angus Council, Dundee City Council, Perth and Kinross Council, The Highland Council and University of Strathclyde

Feasibility studies will be developed for each of these contracts to address the specific needs of the projects. This encompasses site identification, scheme design and technical specifications of the hubs, as well as community engagement, demand forecasts, operating models, and wider links to existing travel and transport infrastructure.

The studies will also support applications to the Low Carbon Travel and Transport fund, which has committed to deliver three operations:

• Active Travel Hubs – providing focal points for cycling and walking routes, including bike library initiatives/bike hire, safe and secure facilities for personal bikes, bike repair/maintenance facilities, improved links to public transport, local path networks, travel information and associated outreach activity.
• Low carbon Transport hubs providing refuelling facilities for a range of alternative fuels and transport modes. Of which, locations and composition are determined by local circumstances and demand but typically likely to include a mixture of low carbon vehicle refuelling infrastructure, such as electric vehicle charging points, hydrogen refuelling stations and gas refuelling facilities.
• National Smart Integrated Ticketing Scheme – the aim is to create a strategic and holistic approach to a National Smart Transport Card system acting as a catalyst for increased public transport use, reducing emissions and congestion from road transport as a result.

“We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to work on these projects” said Urban Foresight’s Head of UK Projects, Andrew Willis. “These projects exemplify the leading role that Scotland is taking in deploying innovative infrastructure for low carbon transport. It is also pleasing to work with organisations committed to delivery of sustainable projects in Scotland and to support ambitions to deliver projects that will increase accessibility to low carbon transport and active modes.”

The feasibility studies will be completed by the end of 2016, with funding from Transport Scotland set to be awarded in early 2017.