https://twitter.com/lauraalderman_/status/1562809830003187715
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I will see you there on the 1st of March 2023!
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https://twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1562823554441232384?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
Scott Arthur Latest
(1432 posts)- Started 2 years ago by chdot
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Posted 2 years ago #
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Fife ferry
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I have huge hopes that this will work, and it has nothing to do with the fact that my dad lives in Kirkcaldy.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1563064225399840768?
Posted 2 years ago # -
@SRD: "The south sub as it is is a waste of space - for Edinburgh residents at least. either resume passenger travel or scrap it and create a really excellent cycle and walking route."
As others have pointed out, it is useful freight route which avoids the busy passenger routes to and through Waverley - in fact that's what its original primary purpose was. One of the barriers to reinstating circular passenger services on the South Sub similar to the original 1891 service would be finding paths for those trains (or tram-trains) in amongst the existing traffic on the already more or less at-capacity approaches from the West. Which in turn means that keeping the South Sub as a freight-only route (and a diversion route for passenger services in exceptional circumstances) does benefit Edinburghers, but rather than doing so directly by supporting a passenger service itself, it does so by helping to maintain the robustness and reliability of passenger services from Edinburgh to points west and north (and indeed south, for passenger services which head directly towards the West Coast Main Line at Carstairs, like Trans Pennine Express and the Caledonian Seeper).
Given that the South Sub already does a useful job, which would be compromised if it had to support passenger services of anything like a useful frequency as well, and that there could be other ways to provide both public transport and active travel infrastructure to support 'circular' travel routes if the will existed, I'm of the opinion that the South Sub should be left as it is (apart for being electrified).
Posted 2 years ago # -
An extra pair of tracks could be run into the old 'Sub' platforms at Waverley (South of the 'Klondyke' wall) by reclaiming the trackbed from Slateford yard to whare it has been 'appropriated' by the under used 4-lane West Approach Road plus the broad space of the original railway approach to the CR Princes Street Station
Options then can be
- continue on the alignment with a tunnel under Lothian Road and through the lower level of Kings Stables Car Park to run to the South of the existing lines through Princes Street Gardens, with a new bore through the made-up ground (easier digging than rock) of The Mound. The new tunnel would be roughly parallel to the existing Haymarket Tunnels and could possibly include a link to these existing lines
- complete the plans of the Caledonian Railway and extenmd tunnels under Princes Street (easy digging, and a way perhaps to resolve the sinking pavements and tram track slab cracking, as Princes Street is a layer of glacial deposits over fractured shale with a flow of ground water through it - so bad that it caused problems for those building the Scotland Street Tunnel up to Edinburgh Canal Street Station that used to sit at 90° to the current Waverley platforms. The new lines could then cut through under Waverley Bridge approach and run in to Platforms 1 -2 and 19. A project of this scale would also include provision to take the tram tracks below Princes Street, and relocate the stops at 'sensible' places - from Shandwick Place to the West End of Princes Street (Lothian Road) and from St Andrew Square to Waverley Market (access to rail station via Market, and St Andrew Square Bus Station via Scotland Street Tunnel). This also resolves the 'junction issues' for Lothian Road/Queensferry Street, North Bridge/Waterloo Place/Leith Street (replacing the messy detail at Picardy Place, with all tram tracks emerging in the CENTRE of the carriageways - where trams used to run in the original systems and also resolving many of the current compromises for road junctions, and cycling)Posted 2 years ago # -
Anything is POSSIBLE.
But #ThisIsEdinburgh
Posted 2 years ago # -
I accept the possibility of all that Tulyar but the cost in monetary and political capital would be immense. Think it would only be worth doing that for a new high speed line. Even then, WAR is probably more appropriate for trams (or of course the cheapest and best option, a world class wildlife corridor.)
Posted 2 years ago # -
tram tracks emerging in the CENTRE of the carriageways
Ah yes, the old Kingsway/Aldwych tram tunnel idea. Over on the SABRE forum, the Sabristi are very fond of playing Traffic Engineer, designing freeflow junctions and bypasses and laying down more tarmac to connect A and B and C to put right what once was wrong. More car! More speeds!
Everything is possible, but in Edinburgh, very little is feasible.
Posted 2 years ago # -
“Everything is possible, but in Edinburgh, very little is feasible.“
That’s a good way of putting it!
I blame the politicians…
Posted 2 years ago # -
He crowbarred cycling into his Bin strike piece on Radio 4 this morning Twice
Posted 2 years ago # -
eh? in a good way or bad way? what time was he on?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Good way Early before 730am
Posted 2 years ago # -
I thought he was fine this am on R4.
Posted 2 years ago # -
7.15
Posted 2 years ago # -
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Today was a fresh start for a new Committee. We were able to have a constructive debate about one of the most divisive transport issues Edinburgh has faced for a decade or more.
By putting Edinburgh first, we also found consensus on issues where I thought none was possible.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/CllrScottArthur/status/1565416782587904000
Posted 2 years ago # -
There wasn't really a debate though. It was just SA saying this is how it's going to be...
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hmmm. How do you reach a political consensus, especially when it was considered impossible?
Compromise, quid-pro-quo, back scratching, deal making, bungs...
The Tories mysteriously abstain on the SfP (Travelling Safely) vote. Yeah, they are getting something in return - possibly not remotely transport related. Some vote will go their way in the next few months, some post will be quietly filled, budget allocated to a pet project, or some other project quietly quashed.
Posted 2 years ago # -
amendment was dropped after the first two rounds of voting, up until then they’d been voting for their own amendment to drop everything. For the final two rounds of voting there only two options were to abstain or vote in favour of the Labour or Green amendment.
Posted 2 years ago # -
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Since May we have establish that in Edinburgh:
1. Street Cleansing is underfunded.
2. Road & Footpath maintenance is underfunded.We'll publish costed plans to deal with both before the end of the year.
We face £70m of cuts next year, but the decline of Edinburgh has to end.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1565959949640933377
Posted 2 years ago # -
Underfunded or undertaxed?
From rest of Scotland pont of view making money here is pretty easy (not comment on LB but 24/7 tourism means that city is earning every day of the year).
Posted 2 years ago # -
I mean that's what it comes down to isn't it, the money has to come from somewhere. We're not an independent state so we can't just take on debt or issue bonds in the amounts required, nor can we adequately capitalise a national investment bank or a sovereign wealth fund; Scott never says what he would cut from the block grant to pay for extra local spending so I'll be charitable and presume he wouldn't want that option; Westminster aren't going to give us more of our money back no matter who's in charge, so what's left? Raise more revenue. The Scottish Government could, technically speaking, but any more than they already have done and they're falling into the trap that was set them, since if they keep ramping up income tax without the other taxes, incentives, and restrictions which are still reserved people with the means will just domicile in England, not only probably leaving us no better off than before revenue-wise but also further skewing the UK's wonky accounting practices that see large amounts of Scotland's economic activity credited to other parts of the island.
So that leaves you, Mr Professor, and local taxation. It may not be an ideal situation, but the council *could* choose to spend some of its political capital to raise additional revenue locally if they had the stones to push back against the Leafy Suburbs, Rugby Club Goers, and tourist-focused business owners.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Every penny of surplus income from a workplace parking levy and road user charge could be invested in road and footpath maintenance. On-street parking charges could be set at a full market rate. Bus lane enforcement cameras could be rolled out across the city...or you could blame the Scottish Government again.
Posted 2 years ago # -
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I am delivering my pledges on SfP, but was blocked from working with communities more at Committee this week.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1566331075974103040
Curious
Posted 2 years ago # -
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Portobello is an area which has huge potential, but is held back by a number of issues related to selfish and dangerous vehicle use by a minority of drivers. I’m committed to working with local residents on a plan to transform the area.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1567231460574117893
Posted 2 years ago # -
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"The city's largest car park costs £26 for the day which might be more expensive than a train ticket in some cases."
Meanwhile the bus is £1.80 each way.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/CllrScottArthur/status/1567399896608563200
Posted 2 years ago # -
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This could a great induced demand case study.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1566897769909993479
Posted 2 years ago # -
A lovely example of why you need the "stick" of road space reallocation to walking, cycling and buses to reduce driving, as well as the "carrot" of decent, affordable public transport. Simply making buses a bit cheaper or slightly better will not encourage people out of their cars - when many drivers already choose to ignore such obvious price signals.
Posted 2 years ago # -
The city's largest car park costs...
Infomercial for a car leasing company. Was all over the commercial radio this morning too.
Posted 2 years ago # -
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1. For me, it isn't "more convenient" to drive into the city centre than take the bus, cycle or walk.
2. We also have to consider that what may be "convenient" for us as individuals, may have a negative impact on others.
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https://mobile.twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1567469560810405888?s=21&t=ByFaYvlNMM-Ex6r6n21u1w
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm not quite sure why Scott Arthur's so intent on cutting Midlothian's grass at Straiton while his own council continues supporting the Sheriffhall white elephant.
Posted 2 years ago #
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