Edinburgh Fastlink

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Edinburgh Fastlink
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Edinburgh Fastlink

• Constructed under the project name West Edinburgh
  BuswayS (WEBS)
• Comprises
• 1.5km two lane guided busway
• 3.45km of on-street bus priority measures
• Overall corridor length is 8km from City Centre
  to Edinburgh Park

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Edinburgh Fastlink Route
West Approach and Fountain Park Development to
City Centre
The Gyle Shopping Centre
Balgreen/ Stevenson Residential Area
Stenhouse Residential Area
Edinburgh Business Park
Guided Busway
Edinburgh Park Railway Station and Interchange
Sighthill and Broomhouse Residential
Sighthill Industrial Estate
Hermiston Gait Retail Park
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The Fastlink Route
Location Mode of bus Priority Max saving in Seconds
South Gyle Bus lane Dual Carriageway Converted 58
Fastlink Guided Busway 540
Stenhouse / Stevenson Drive Road widening for new Bus lane 305
Balgreen / Stevenson Road Realignment to allow Bus Lane 62
West Approach Road Bus lane Dual Carriageway Converted 114
Links in with Car Free Princes Street and
Greenways on Leith Walk
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Guideway

• 1st in Scotland
• Longest continuous in the UK
• Owned by City Council
• Procured and managed by tie
• Constructed on time and within budget
• Operated as open access by agreement at present
  single operator Lothian Buses
• Quality Standards written into agreement

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Powers

• Guideway
• Private Bill lodged in 1995
• City of Edinburgh (Guided Busway) Confirmation
  Act 1998
• Guided Busway by Definition
• On Street
• Traffic Regulation Orders

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Features

• Guideway
• Level boarding
• CCTV
• Real time Information
• New Shelters

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Features

• On Street
• Level boarding
• New Shelters
• Bus Lane Priority

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Features

• Bus Operation
• Frequent Service
• Euro 3 Emissions standard or better
• Kneeling buses
• On bus CCTV

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Implementation

• Technical support contract
• General Technical advice
• Contract Project Managers
• On street design
• Support to TRO process on street
• Guided Busway Contract
• On Street Bus Priority Measures Contract

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Partnerships

• Bus Operators
• Design and Build Contractor
• Maintenance and Operation
• Consultation and Community Liaison

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Construction Method

• slipformed
• Continuously Reinforced concrete Pavement (CRCP)
• Designed to crack naturally

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Operation

• Access by agreement
• Frequency 4 minutes
• 30 buses original fleet
• Additional 5 buses purchased
• 7 rise in patronage in 1st Year
• Improved Reliability

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Guideway PerformanceWestbound Journey Times
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Guideway PerformanceEastbound Journey Times
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Guideway PerformanceWestbound Reliability
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Guideway PerformanceEastbound Reliability
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Public Perception

• Sample of 182 users
• 12 of existing users used the route more
  because of Fastlink
• 14 had increased their use or started using
  Fastlink because of its facilities
• The Guideway offers benefits over bus lanes 76
  Agree
• The guided busway should be extended 73 Agree

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Public Perception

• Importance Ranked Benefits
• Reliability
• Journey Time
• Frequent Services
• Affordability
• Clear priority to buses
• Environmental benefits
• Safe and easy boarding

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Public Perception

• Importance Ranked Facilities
• Real Time Information
• CCTV
• On street Bus Lanes
• Accessible Bus stops
• Guided busway track
• High Tech Appearance

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ConclusionBRT is a success for Edinburgh !

• Scottish Transport Awards 2005 Most Innovative
  Transport Project of the Year Winner
• Measurable Journey Time savings off street
• Measurable Journey Time savings on street
• Improved Reliability
• Patronage Increases
• High Perception by passengers
• Partnership Delivery and Operation
• Significant non user benefits