By Stefan Morkis

CONGESTION IN Dundee could soon be eased by the introduction of a park-and-ride system over the Tay.

The park-and-ride system would see commuters leave their cars on the Fife side, then travel over the Tay by bus, train or car sharing.

A similar system has already proved successful for Fife commuters to Edinburgh, while more recent schemes introduced in between commuter towns such as Kinross and Stirling have also proved popular.

Transport planners and engineers JMP Consulting have been commissioned to do a cross-Tay study by SEStran, the statutory transport partnership of eight councils—Fife, Clackmannanshire, East Lothian, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Midlothian, Borders and West Lothian. TACTRAN, the Tayside and Central Regional Transport Partnership, has also contributed to the study’s cost.

JMP will identify potential locations for a park-and-ride site and also examine the potential for increasing car sharing and introducing special lanes for high-occupancy vehicles as they approach the Tay Road Bridge.

The study, which will take into account Dundee City Council’s plans for redesigning the waterfront and northern end of the bridge, is expected to be completed by mid-April and JMP will then give their report to SEStran and TACTRAN.

Councillor Fraser Macpherson, Dundee City Council’s planning and transport convener and chairman of TACTRAN, said he thought the introduction of a park-and-ride system would be good news for people living on both sides of the Tay.

“TACTRAN have part-funded this study because we can see obvious benefits, not just for people living in north-east Fife, but also in terms of improving traffic flow and removing congestion in Dundee,” he said.

“I am well aware, as a ward councillor in the west end, of the significant problems caused by vehicles parking in residential areas and a number of local employers, particularly Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee, have a lot of staff coming over from Fife.

“Clearly, having a park-and-ride system is something we would greatly welcome.

“It is a very positive development for Fife and for Dundee.

“TACTRAN has been involved in opening up the park and ride systems in Kinross and Stirling and they have been very successful,” he added.