29.06.2018
Improving bus services, combatting pavement and double parking, and delivering smart ticketing are all issues that people from across Scotland are being urged to give their view on to the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee.
New laws on these issues are proposed in a new Transport Bill that the Committee is currently examining, to find out if these will make a difference to transport provision across Scotland. The Bill also allows for further low emission zones to be created and looks to improve connectivity between different modes of transport across Scotland.
Convener of the Committee, Edward Mountain MSP said:
“Issues such as low emission zones for vehicles, pavement and double parking, and smart ticketing, have the potential to impact on how people travel around Scotland, and we want to find out whether these proposals are the right ones for local communities.
“We know that transport and connectivity are of utmost importance to people across Scotland, and the Committee wants to hear the views of the public and stakeholder organisations to help shape how the Committee and the Parliament responds to the Scottish Government’s proposals.”
The Committee has today issued a survey to ask people a number of questions, ranging from how your local authority could use the new powers proposed in the Bill to improve local bus services, and whether they support proposals on smart ticketing and prohibitions on pavement and double parking.
There are six parts to this Bill which the committee are looking for views on. These are:
Part 1 – enforcing low emission zones in Scotland to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This would restrict driving in certain areas by road vehicles which fail to meet emission standards.
Part 2 – improving bus services by giving local transport authorities more options. This could include partnership working with operators, local franchising or running their own buses.
Part 3 – introducing smart ticketing to create a national technological standard across public transport in Scotland.
Part 4 – encouraging responsible parking, by prohibiting double parking and pavement parking to improve safety for roads users and pedestrians.
Part 5 – strengthening the role of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner (SRWC) and improving the regulation of road works.
Part 6 – Giving Regional Transport Partnerships (Transport Partnerships) more financial flexibility, allowing Scottish ministers to vary the membership and structure of the Scottish Canals Board.
Background
The Transport (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Constitution, Derek Mackay MSP, on 8 June 2018.
All interested individuals and organisations are now invited to submit written views on Bill, by participating in a short anonymous online survey.
Detailed written responses can also be submitted. The deadline for such responses is Friday 28 September 2018 and we welcome written views in English, Gaelic, Scots or any other language. Written responses should be sent electronically to Transport.Bill.RECCommittee@Parliament.scot