Council chief to meet transport boss in future of Glasgow transport

Ms Aitken revealed she would meet the Scottish Government cabinet secretary this week as councillors threw their support behind the Connectivity Commission report.

Funding for the estimated £10bn scheme, which suggests a citywide Metro and a tunnel linking Queen Street and Central Station, will be on the agenda, the council leader confirmed.

The commission, set up by Ms Aitken, proposed a number of significant infrastructure projects when it was released at the end of April.

This included the proposed new rail link connecting Glasgow Airport to Paisley Gilmour Street station extending along the south bank of the River Clyde, connecting the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Braehead to the city centre.

During questions from opposition councillors, Ms Aitken said: “The city government is fully behind the Connectivity Commission vision, and the range of proposals, and we will be actively seeking the support of the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to enable us to bring this forward.

“The details of those proposals will be subject to full business case analysis however we are confident and have had assurances that Transport Scotland has already looked into and agreed both the initial feasibility study and economic case for these options.

“I’m hopeful that there is a very good opportunity, perhaps the best we’ve had in the city for a long time, for achieving the step change in public transport connectivity that has been so lacking for many decades.”

She said she had contacted Mr Matheson to outline the report’s key findings and arrange a meeting.

Labour councillor Jane Morgan asked whether funding proposals would be part of the discussion.

“Connectivity Commission did not make any proposals as to how their vision should be funded,” Ms Aitken said, adding it listed potential options used in other parts of Europe.

She added: “I would say that land value capture is something that does deserve consideration in Scotland.

“I do think it’s a big conversation to be had.”

An amended motion, originally put forward by Bailie Dr Martin Bartos, which showed support for the commission’s plans was agreed by councillors at a full council meeting on Thursday.

Dr Bartos said: “Transport is vitally important for all of the people of Glasgow and across the whole of the west of Scotland. We need to get it right and it isn’t working at the moment.

“What the Connectivity Commission report raises are a number of interesting, ambitious bold projects and certainly a case for substantial investment.”

Ms Aitken added: “A lack of transport connectivity is an enormously significant factor in perpetuating economic and social inequality in Glasgow.

“I believe the proposals have the potential to deliver the inclusive and sustainable economic growth that’s needed to give the Glasgow metropolitan region the competitive edge it needs and to provide the transport network the citizens of Glasgow and beyond deserve.

“We can’t spend another 40 years playing catch up, boldness and ambition is not just an aspiration at this point, it’s necessary.”

Other routes in the Metro plan would include trams to the east end and west end, running along the centre of main thoroughfares like Great Western Road and Edinburgh Road.

A Subway Eastern Circle is also proposed by the Commission.