Glasgow Airport launches surface transport strategy

2.3.2009   (Transport Briefing)

A five-year plan to improve public transport access and reduce private vehicle
use at Glasgow Airport has been launched by airport operator BAA.

The measures have been outlined in the new Surface Access Strategy which sets
out a series of targets and actions to be delivered by 2013, when the Glasgow
Airport Rail Link is due to become operational. At present, 11% of people travelling
to and from the airport use public transport. BAA aims to increase that number
to 15% or 1.2m by 2012. The plan has been prepared in partnership with Strathclyde
Partnership for Transport, bus operators and Renfrewshire Council.

SPT has welcomed publication of the strategy. Policy and strategy manager, Carol
Gilbert, said: “We’ve been working closely with BAA to identify and develop attractive,
reliable alternatives to private car use for journeys to Glasgow Airport. We’re
helping them develop ways of encouraging more use of other modes, in particular
bus. We’ll continue to ensure that travel information is readily available at
the airport and believe there’s also scope to increase the number of cycling and
walking journeys staff make to work.”

The blueprint also includes plans to promote the JourneyShare scheme, recently
launched on the SPT website, to reduce the number of single car journeys made
by the airport’s 5,000 strong workforce.

Airport managing director Amanda McMillan added: “We have made real progress
since the publication of the last strategy, increasing the percentage of passengers
using public transport, supporting new bus routes and prioritising terminal forecourt
access for buses.”

The launch of the surface access policy document coincides with a milestone achievement
for Glasgow Airport’s main public transport provider. Bus route 500 operated by
Arriva from the city centre to the airport 24 hours a day has now carried more
than one million passengers since it began in July 2007.

 

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