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The Outline Business Case (OBC) for taking trams to Newhaven was approved yesterday by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The OBC has been closely scrutinised by members of all political groups on the Council over recent weeks and gained approval from the Transport and Environment Committee earlier this month.

A comprehensive tendering process will now get under way to secure a potential contractor partner for the project.

However, councillors will not make a final decision on taking the tram to Newhaven until autumn 2018.

The intervening period – or Stage 2 in the process – will enable the project team to:

(a) Allow affordability to be tested based on tender prices
(b) Provide a further 12 months of evidence of tram patronage build up; and
(c) Allow the project to consider any lessons learned from the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry currently under way

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Given the rate of growth forecast for Edinburgh over the coming years, we simply cannot stand still. And yet we can’t proceed with work to take trams down to Newhaven unless we’re 100% certain we’ve rigorously scrutinised the business case and taken on board crucial lessons from the first phase.

“Having pored over the Outline Business Case in microscopic detail these past few weeks, including obtaining independent advice on it, I’m confident our project team – which retains key personnel from the team who got the first phase back on track – is now well placed to move on to the next stage and start the procurement process for a contractor.

“We will only make our final decision next autumn once the tendering process has completed and once we’ve consulted an independent assessor on the viability of the proposed construction contracts. We’ll also of course consider any lessons learned from Lord Hardie’s ongoing tram inquiry as we move forward.”

Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes said: “For the people of Leith, having a direct tram link to the city centre and other key employment and travel hubs would be hugely beneficial. That said, we are acutely aware of how challenging the construction period would be, which is why we’re developing a compensation scheme to help those who would be most affected.

“We’ll take the time while the tender process is ongoing to build and maintain useful two-way relationships with local residents and businesses so we can understand and ideally pre-empt issues which might arise.
“Stage 2 will also enable us to work with all our partners and stakeholders, including bus companies, the emergency services, residents, businesses and elected members, to properly test and model traffic management plans for the works.

“Over the next 12 months we will be able to develop an even fuller picture of the project, building further detail into the business case and drawing on another year of patronage, which will allow us to make a fully informed final decision next autumn.”
Key points included in the OBC:

Rapid population and economic growth
• Over the next decade, Edinburgh and surrounding area expected to be home to faster growing population than anywhere else in Scotland. National Records of Scotland projections published in 2016 suggest city should be planning for an additional 47,000 people by 2024 and additional 102,000 by 2039 (20% increase)
• Number of households forecast to increase by over 38,000 (16%) by 2032. A quarter (25%) of this growth is forecast to occur in Leith Docks and Western Harbour area
• Employment levels in Edinburgh are projected to grow by 7.6% between 2013 and 2022

Costs & benefits
• Capital Cost estimated at £165.2m, including risk and inflation
• Patronage forecast to almost double in opening year to 14m, reflecting high population densities along the route
• For every £1 spent the economic return to the city is £1.64
• OBC includes wider economic benefits, including social inclusion, and completing the line will provide access to jobs and support business and opportunities in the area

Construction work to take three years
• Estimated three-year construction period, including 18 months on Leith Walk, followed by approx four months of testing and commissioning on new line.
• Significant proportion of major utility works have already been carried out – remainder carried out in conjunction with main infrastructure works, meaning no ‘double dig’

Carefully planned traffic management
• Diversions, road closures, access and crossing points thoroughly planned and modelled
• All key stakeholders, including residents, businesses, emergency services and Lothian Buses will be consulted on the traffic proposals set out in the OBC

Support for businesses
• Customer and service access to local businesses maintained at all times
• Compensation and support scheme for affected businesses along the route put in place
• Logistic centres and dedicated crossing points provided at 150-200m centres on Leith Walk
• Logistics officers deployed throughout the day to help businesses with deliveries

Lessons learned
• OBC recommends industry-standard contract with rigorous project governance
• Traffic management would give contractor expanded sites and provide flexibility if problems encountered
• Project would benefit from industry networking with other cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin) to ensure best practice
• Consultation with the market and incorporating input from Tram Inquiry

The Outline Business Case (OBC) for taking Edinburgh’s tram service down to Leith and Newhaven has been published on the Council’s website today.

The comprehensive document sets out the findings and recommendations resulting from a 20-month programme of very detailed work assessing the benefits, impact and likely timescales and cost of completing the remaining 4.6km of tramline 1A.

The OBC has been available for councillors to scrutinise in a specially set up Data Room at the City Chambers, with officers and an independent advisor on hand to provide further information or clarify points.

A report accompanying the OBC will now be considered at a special meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee on 4 September, before going to Full Council on 21 September.

The report seeks authority to commence a procurement exercise to identify a potential contractor for the project, with a final decision on whether to go ahead with taking the tram to Newhaven, and with which contractor, to follow in autumn 2018.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: “Edinburgh is growing faster than any other city in Scotland and our current road network and public transport provision simply aren’t sustainable given the number of new residents we’re expecting to welcome here over the next two decades.

“Rather than exacerbating traffic problems on our already congested roads, trams allow far greater numbers of people to travel, while creating employment during construction, boosting development along the route and connecting people to centres of employment, leisure and retail.”

Transport Convener Councillor Lesley Macinnes added: “Given the experience of the last tram project, we’re acutely aware of the need to scrutinise this business case as rigorously as we possibly can – residents deserve nothing less. We won’t take any decision on completing the line to Newhaven until we are 100% confident that the project can be delivered, financed and managed effectively.

“Councillors from all parties have been taking up the opportunity to fully examine the business case over the past weeks and will use this special meeting of the Transport and Environment Committee to quiz officers further on the detail and make a recommendation on whether to progress to the next stage.”

Key points included in OBC:

To celebrate their 3rd Year Anniversary of operations, Edinburgh Trams have just released a video titled ‘A Journey to Success’ which has been produced by Edinburgh based production company Heehaw.

The video showcases the success of the trams, highlighting how this public transport operator has gone from strength to strength and is now playing a crucial role at the heart of the city’s transport network.

Heehaw has been working with Transport for Edinburgh for a number of years and in the last 12 months has started working on various projects for Edinburgh Trams. A Journey to Success was filmed over the last 6 months and features a combination of footage, timelapes, motion graphics and interviews with Edinburgh’s transport, education, tourism and business leaders.

Mally Graveson, Heehaw’s Managing Director said:
“Everyone at Edinburgh Trams is brilliant to work with, from the guys at the depot to the Executive and Management teams. Their enthusiasm and dedication to providing a brilliant service is infectious and this, as well as other video projects, is a joy to work on. Edinburgh Trams have gone from strength to strength and it’s been a real privilege to tell their story of success. They are now an integral part of the transport fabric of our city! Happy #tramiversary!”

Lea Harrison, Managing Director of Edinburgh Trams said:
“Working with a talented and local team such as heehaw was the obvious choice in creating a unique way to celebrate the success of the last 3 years. Our staff had great fun getting involved and I’m sure our customers will enjoy watching the short film.”

To view the video you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6E3AUYDezk

For more information about Edinburgh Trams and the 3rd year Anniversary: http://edinburghtrams.com/news/anniversary-film-showcases-tram-success

For more information about Heehaw: www.heehaw.co.uk

Drivers heading for the West End from the south of the City and Lothian Road could soon find their journey simplified if the City of Edinburgh Council approves changes to current traffic arrangements.

A review of traffic management in the city centre has been completed following the start of tram passenger services.

Among the recommendations in a report to the Transport and Environment Committee on 26 August 2014 is a proposal to allow all traffic to travel westbound from Hope Street to Queensferry Street, rather than buses only as at present.

Traders from the West End called for this in a deputation to the committee on 18 March 2014.

They noted that with the removal of the left turn from Lothian Road into Shandwick Place to facilitate trams, it had become difficult for private vehicles, cycles and taxis in particular to access properties and businesses in the West End.

The report also asks members to give the go-ahead for further investigation into the option of introducing a right turn from Queen Street westbound into Queen Street Gardens East.

Another recommendation, which follows on from the start of the new Experimental Traffic Regulation Order in George Street, is to change the priority of Young Street from an eastbound to a westbound direction.

Residents and businesses here have expressed concerns about a perceived increased volume of traffic and in particular, more vans and heavy good vehicles, since the George Street scheme was first implemented earlier this summer.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said: “Now that trams have been running for a couple of months or so, it’s a good time to make any appropriate alterations to surrounding traffic management so that we can make it as straightforward as possible to get from A to B in the city centre.

“We know that West End traders have had concerns about access to their businesses so the proposal to open up Hope Street for all westbound traffic into Queensferry Street should make things much better.

“I was pleased to meet recently with residents and businesses in Young Street to hear how their street has been adversely affected by increased traffic since we started the ETRO in George Street. This narrow cobbled street is simply not fit for the volume and nature of traffic it’s been experiencing of late. Changing the one-way direction will help divert traffic away from Young Street and on to Queen Street, which can accommodate commercial and through-traffic far more comfortably.”

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