A world-class tram system for the capital

Everyone who lives in Edinburgh knows that summers in the city are exceptionally busy.

Each year in August the streets are full of tourists, workers, residents and Fringe Festival performers. By the time October comes, thousands of students from all over the world will have moved into the city for the start of term.

This year though, a brand new buzz started in Edinburgh and it’s going to change Scotland forever – trams are coming!

INTEGRATION WITH BUSES

By the end of 2010, trams with a capacity for at least 230 people will be safely and quietly connecting Leith, the city centre and the airport, with full integration and partnership with the Lothian Buses network.

Scotland’s capital city deserves a world-class tram system. Building trams in Edinburgh is an ambitious, exciting project and no time can be wasted. At the end of June, the Scottish Parliament approved the first phase of the project – carefully planned work to divert public utilities away from the path of the trams started immediately.

For the past two years tie limited, a company set up by the Council to deliver a range of transport projects, has been working on plans to deliver Trams for Edinburgh in the best way possible.

DISRUPTION TO A MINIMUM

The priority is to keep disruption to an absolute minimum so that Edinburgh remains open for business throughout construction.

To do this, a unique contract has been put in place which means for the first time in the history of UK construction projects, all public utilities – water, sewers, gas, electricity and communications – will be moved at the same time.

What this means is that instead of roads and pavements being opened up several times over a period of months, short sections of the tram route will be excavated only once and ALL utilities will be moved at the same time.

No more work will be necessary on that section until the tram tracks are laid much later.

KEEPING INFORMED

Keeping in touch with the residents and businesses along the tram route as construction progresses is a key priority.

Since the end of June, almost 1,000 letters giving details of upcoming work have been delivered to residents and businesses near work sites.

To support this effort, the stakeholder liaison team has been out on the streets every day talking with residents and businesses.

This is to make sure that the community has all the information they need about the project.

People need to understand how construction work might affect them and, very importantly, are aware of the Open for Business initiative, which includes a package to support businesses during the tram construction.

Two full-time tram helpers, Eddie Reid and Tom Reid, are on hand every day to answer questions from members of the public and address any immediate issues on site.

As well as informing people about Trams for Edinburgh and construction works, the stakeholder liaison team is leading the consultation process that will lead to the final design of the tram route.

Community feedback has been extremely useful and comments received at public meetings have been considered in the tram design.

Over the coming months, we will be sending letters to residents and businesses along the route, inviting them to attend meetings to see the final designs of the tram route, which will be completed by the end of the year.

Details of public meetings will be available on the Trams for Edinburgh website and in local libraries.

• If you would like to know more about the Trams for Edinburgh project you can get up-to-date information on the website at: www.tramsforedinburgh.com
  
  Call the tram information line on 0131 623 8726 or e-mail: info@tramsforedinburgh.com