Aberdeen Cross City Transport Connecons Engagement Informaon Pack Overview Your Feedback

This document provides an overview of the Aberdeen We sought your views on the inial phase of the study in November 2016. Cross City Transport Connecons Study. The study is At this stage a range of public transport and acve travel opons had been being undertaken on behalf of Aberdeen City Council, developed and a high level inial appraisal of the opons undertaken. Aberdeenshire Council and Nestrans, by Peter Bre Associates (now part of Stantec). The study has progressed further and we are now seeking your views on the final set of opons which are in the process of being appraised in The overall purpose of the study is to: detail. Examine transport connecons between new areas of development on the periphery of Aberdeen, and To ensure the transport connecons have been developed appropriately, in areas of Aberdeenshire close to the Aberdeen City we would like to hear your views and feedback on the work undertaken boundary with the aim of providing viable, for the study and whether or not you agree or disagree with the opons. aracve and direct linkages, as an alternave to To capture your feedback we invite you to: the private car.

An image showing the development sites is provided ♦ Review the material within this pack within this pack. ♦ Record your views through a short on-line quesonnaire available here: hps://consultaon.aberdeencity.gov.uk/planning/aberdeen- While the study is focussing on developing transport cross-city-transport-connecons connecons between new areas of development, many of the connecons developed provide We recommend you have this engagement pack close at hand for reference improved accessibility to exisng communies within when compleng the survey. Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and we are therefore seeking input from exisng communies who may The survey will be open unl Wednesday 31st October 2018. benefit.

If you have any further quesons or comments, a dedicated email address

is available: crosscitytransport@peterbre.com Study Background

The study considers the provision of appropriate public transport and acve travel (walking and cycling) connecons:

♦ Between planned residenal and employment developments

♦ Between planned residenal areas and key employment centres

♦ Between the different modes of sustainable transport at key interchange points The study considers a future posion , when the development sites are built out. The sites are predominantly greenfield sites which are yet to be developed, or are only starng to be developed. This study is about opportunity , and the chance to migate against the potenal transport impacts associated with the developments. Scosh Transport Appraisal Guidance

The study is being undertaken in line with the Scosh Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) and has covered the Pre-Appraisal , Part 1 Appraisal and Part 2 Appraisal stages. STAG provides a mechanism by which potenal opons to address evidence-based transport problems or opportunies are idenfied and appraised in a consistent manner and is evidence-led, not soluon-led, proporonal and robust.

The Pre-Appraisal stage covers the idenficaon of transport problems and opportunies, objecve seng, opon generaon and siing and subsequent recommendaon of opons for appraisal at Part 1.

Part 1 Appraisal covers a high level appraisal of the opons progressing from Pre-Appraisal against a range of criteria with final recommendaons for opons worthy of further detailed appraisal at STAG Part 2.

Part 2 Appraisal covers a detailed appraisal of the opons progressing from the Part 1 Appraisal stage against a range of criteria with final recommendaons for opons worthy of being considered further.

Further details on STAG can be found at: hp://www.transport.gov.scot/stag Transport Problems & Opportunies Problems

The idenficaon of Problems and Opportunies within the If no provision is made for sustainable transport access then transport and land-use system forms the starng point for any future problems may include: STAG study. ♦ A heavy reliance on the private car with associated The study is considering a future posion in 2030 when all the addional road congeson, environmental impacts development sites are potenally built out. It is therefore (increased emissions, noise and vibraon) and an important to consider the future transport network and idenfy increased safety risk for all road users future problems and opportunies. ♦ Community severance A key part of the Pre-Appraisal work was a series of baselining acvies which included review of: ♦ Reduced access to employment, services, and retail and leisure facilies ♦ Overarching policy

♦ The exisng transport network Opportunies

♦ The current accessibility of the development sites The key opportunity for the study is to migate against the ♦ Exisng travel paerns above idenfied future problems by providing appropriate sustainable transport connecons. The study also provides an ♦ Commied and planned future transport schemes opportunity to: ♦ Current and historical economic trends ♦ Capitalise on the Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan which ♦ Key environmental designaons and constraints. envisages a high level of public transport priority in the city centre ♦ Recognise key infrastructure and land which needs to be safeguarded

♦ Recognise key infrastructure which developers could integrate into their proposals. Transport Planning Objecves Opon Development Process

Based on the idenfied key problems and opportunies, Opon development followed a number of key steps: and overarching policy context, eight Transport Planning Objecves (TPOs) have been set for the study. ♦ Step 1: Review of exisng public transport and acve travel network in the study area

♦ Step 2: Review of the potenal future public transport and acve travel network in the study area

♦ Step 3: Establishment of key interchange points and key exisng and future employment areas to ensure:

◊ Connecvity between exisng radial routes and new orbital routes ◊ Good integraon between public transport and acve travel routes ◊ Good access to employment opportunies

♦ Step 4: Establishment of the key constraints

♦ Step 5: The generaon of opons , undertaken separately for public transport and acve travel due to the different nature of travel

Engagement with key stakeholders was undertaken during Step 5 and included engagement with the council(s), bus operators, local economic and business groups and local acve travel organisaons. A number of opons were ‘sied out’ through stakeholder discussions. Key Constraints Public Transport Opons

Key constraints idenfied that were crical in the opon Public transport opons were developed considering: development process included: ♦ Adapng exisng bus services i.e. increasing current service ♦ The route of the River Don acng as an east-west barrier frequency and/or extending exisng bus routes

with limited exisng river crossings. ♦ New bus routes ulising exisng infrastructure

♦ The route of the River Dee acng as a north-south ♦ New routes (bus / tram / light rail) ulising new infrastructure barrier with limited exisng river crossings. In total 22 public transport routes were taken forward for appraisal ♦ The geography of the development sites making a single at STAG Part 1. Of these, 8 were subsequently recommended for strategic route linking all sites difficult without being detailed appraisal at STAG Part 2. A further ‘circular loop’ opon was highly circuitous. also included at this stage. ♦ The rural nature of many of the sites south of Dyce All opons taken forward relate to new bus services. It is assumed requiring new infrastructure to provide connecons. that all services operate with a 30 minute bus frequency.

♦ The implementaon of the Aberdeen Western Each opon is considered in the following slides where the key Peripheral Route (AWPR ), making it challenging to advantages and disadvantages of each opon are presented. Note provide public transport journey mes that can compete that the route of each opon through the development sites is with the private car. purely inducve and ♦ The lack of footway and/or cycleway along the AWPR; would be subject to discussion with each ♦ Compeon between bus and rail travel modes , relevant developer. parcularly between Chapelton of Elsick and Dyce.

♦ Difficulty in providing acve travel links suitable for commuter funcons in the rural areas differing uses, surfacing requirements and lighng. Public Transport Opons

Opon A1

New orbital service linking Blackdog, Dyce Rail Staon, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Craibstone Park & Ride, Kingswells Park & Ride and Westhill with:

♦ New bridge over the River Don. New public transport / The route follows A90 (Ellon Road), The Parkway, Scotstown Road, Jesmond acve travel only bridge over River Don Drive, new route through development at Grandhome and over the River Don, Stoneywood Road and Dyce Drive, Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road and the A944 to Westhill.

Advantages Disadvantages ♦ Connects the large planned residenal areas at Grandhome and ♦ Unlikely to be aracve for longer trips between Blackdog and Dyce, Newhills directly with the employment opportunies at Bridge of Don, Kingswells and Westhill due to the distance and routeing via Dyce Murcar, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill Railway Staon

♦ Connects directly with Dyce Railway Staon ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for longer journeys (e.g. between Blackdog Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) ♦ Serves exisng communies in Bridge of Don, Middleton Park, Bucksburn and Kingswells ♦ Requires considerable subsidy to operate ♦ Improves access to exisng local schools and health centres ♦ Cost of a new bridge over the River Don is high (over £2 million) and has environmental impacts (with compensatory storage required on ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites flood plain to provide flooding resilience) ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a private car Public Transport Opons

Opon A2

As Opon A1 but without routeing via Dyce Railway Staon with:

♦ New bridge over the River Don. New public transport / The route follows A90 (Ellon Road), The Parkway, Scotstown Road, Jesmond acve travel only link Drive, new route through development at Grandhome and over the River over River Don Don, Stoneywood Road, A96 (Inverurie Road), Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road and the A944 to Westhill.

Advantages Disadvantages ♦ Connects the large planned residenal areas at Grandhome and ♦ More likely to be aracve for longer trips between Blackdog and Newhills directly with the employment opportunies at Bridge of Don, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill than Opon A1 Murcar, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for ♦ Provides quicker connecons between Grandhome and Kingswells and longer journeys (e.g. between Blackdog, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) Westhill than Opon A1 (due to more direct routeing via A96) ♦ ‘Dog-leg’ to serve Craibstone Park & Ride unlikely to appeal to ♦ Serves exisng communies in Middleton Park, Bucksburn and passengers not using the Park & Ride site Kingswells ♦ Requires considerable subsidy to operate ♦ Improves access to exisng local schools and health centres ♦ Cost of a new bridge over the River Don is high (over £2 million) and ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites has environmental impacts (with compensatory storage required on flood plain to provide flooding resilience) ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a car Public Transport Opons

New public transport / Opon B1 acve travel only link

As Opon A1 but with direct route between Dubford and Grandhome sites with:

♦ New bridge over the River Don.

♦ New public transport only link connecng Grandhome and Dubford New public transport / The route follows A90, B999, new link between Dubford and Grandhome, acve travel only link over the River Don new bridge over River Don, Stoneywood Road, Dyce Drive, Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road and the A944 to Westhill.

Advantages Disadvantages ♦ Public transport only link connecng Dubford and Grandhome sites ♦ Unlikely to be aracve for longer trips between Blackdog and Dyce, reduces journey mes between Blackdog and Dyce compared to Kingswells and Westhill due to the distance and routeing via Dyce Opons A1 and A2 Railway Staon

♦ Connects directly with Dyce Railway Staon ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for longer journeys (e.g. between Blackdog Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) ♦ Serves exisng communies in Bucksburn and Kingswells ♦ Requires considerable subsidy to operate ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites ♦ Does not serve exisng communies in Bridge of Don or Middelton ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a Park, reducing potenal patronage private car ♦ Cost of new infrastructure (bridge and public transport only link) is high (over £3 million) Public Transport Opons

New public transport / Opon B2 acve travel only link

As Opon A2 but without routeing via Dyce Railway Staon with:

♦ New bridge over the River Don.

♦ New public transport only link connecng Grandhome and Dubford New public transport / The route follows A90, B999, new link between Dubford and Grandhome, acve travel only link over the River Don new bridge over River Don, Stoneywood Road, A96 (Inverurie Road), Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road and the A944 to Westhill.

Advantages Disadvantages ♦ Public transport only link connecng Dubford and Grandhome sites ♦ More likely to be aracve for longer trips between Blackdog and reduces journey mes between Blackdog and Dyce compared to Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill than Opon B1— although ‘dog-leg’ to Opons A1 and A2 serve Craibstone Park & Ride unlikely to appeal to passengers not using the Park & Ride site ♦ Provides quicker connecons between Grandhome and Kingswells and Westhill than Opon B1 ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll quicker for longer journeys (e.g. between Blackdog, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites ♦ Requires considerable subsidy to operate ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a ♦ Does not serve exisng communies in Bridge of Don or Middelton private car Park or provide access to local facilies in this area ♦ Cost of new infrastructure (bridge and public transport only link) is high (over £3 million) Public Transport Opons

Opon D1

Similar to Opon A1 but ulising exisng roads without any new infrastructure.

The route follows A90 (Ellon Road), The Parkway, Persley Bridge, Muggiemoss Road, Stoneywood Road, Dyce Drive, Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road and the A944 to Westhill.

Advantages Disadvantages ♦ Connects the large planned residenal areas at Grandhome and ♦ Very unlikely to be aracve for longer trips between Blackdog and Newhills directly with the employment opportunies at Bridge of Don, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill due to the distance and circular routeing Murcar, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill in Grandhome site and routeing via Dyce Railway Staon

♦ Connects directly with Dyce Railway Staon ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for longer journeys (e.g. between Blackdog Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) ♦ Serves exisng communies in Bridge of Don, Middleton Park, Bucksburn and Kingswells ♦ Requires considerable subsidy to operate ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites ♦ Limited construcon cost and environmental impact of implementaon as opon ulises exisng public transport infrastructure — lower cost than Opons A1, A2, B1 and B2. Public Transport Opons

Opon D2

As Opon D1 but without routeing via Dyce Railway Staon with:

The route follows A90 (Ellon Road), The Parkway, Persley Bridge, Muggiemoss Road, Stoneywood Road, A96 (Inverurie Road), Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road and the A944 to Westhill.

Advantages ♦ More likely to be aracve for longer trips between Blackdog and Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill than opon D1 ♦ Connects the large planned residenal areas at Grandhome and Newhills directly with the employment opportunies at Bridge of Don, ♦ ‘Dog-leg’ to serve Craibstone Park & Ride unlikely to appeal to Murcar, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill passengers not using the Park & Ride site

♦ Serves exisng communies in Bridge of Don, Middleton Park, ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for Bucksburn and Kingswells longer journeys (e.g. between Blackdog Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites ♦ Requires considerable subsidy to operate ♦ Limited construcon cost and environmental impact of implementaon as opon ulises exisng public transport infrastructure — lower cost than Opons A1, A2, B1 and B2. Public Transport Opons New orbital service linking Craibstone Park & Ride, Kingswells Park & Ride and Countesswells with potenal extension to Portlethen Park & Opon C1 Ride and Chapelton of Elsick The route follows A96 (Inverurie Road), Sclae Park, Kepplehills Road, Fairley Road, Kingswood Drive, Fairley Road and connecng to the Countesswells development, with potenal to extend route south via the AWPR to Chapelton of Elsick.

Advantages ♦ Connects the large planned residenal development at Countesswells with employment opportunies at Kingswells and Dyce ♦ Serves exisng communies in Bucksburn, Kingswells, Bieldside and Millmber

♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a private car

Disadvantages ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for longer journeys (e.g. between Dyce / Kingswells and Chapelton of Elsick ♦ Routeing on the AWPR between Countesswells and Chapelton of Elsick does not serve exisng communies and reduces potenal patronage ♦ Compeon with rail travel between Chapelton of Elsick and Dyce (given staon at Portlethen) Public Transport Opons As Opon C1 but with direct route between Craibstone Park & Ride and Kingswells Park & Ride via AWPR. Opon C2 The route follows the AWPR and A944, connecng to the Countesswells development, with potenal to extend route south via AWPR to Chapelton of Elsick.

Advantages ♦ Connects the large planned residenal development at Countesswells directly with employment opportunies at Kingswells and Dyce ♦ Serves exisng communies in Bieldside and Millmber

♦ Quicker journey me than Opon C1 between Countesswellls and Dyce (given routeing on AWPR) ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a private car

Disadvantages ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for longer journeys (e.g. between Dyce and Chapelton of Elsick ♦ Does not serve exisng communies in Kingswells or Bucksburn or the planned residenal development at Newhills, reducing potenal patronage ♦ Routeing on the AWPR between Countesswells and Chapelton of Elsick does not serve exisng communies and reduces potenal patronage ♦ Compeon with rail travel between Chapelton of Elsick and Dyce (given staon at Portlethen) New public transport / Public Transport Opons acve travel only link

Opon E1

New circular service (operang both clockwise and an- clockwise) linking development sites north of the A93 New public transport / with Dyce railway staon, Craibstone Park & Ride, acve travel only link over the River Don Kingswells Park & Ride and city centre with:

♦ New infrastructure over the River Don. ♦ New public transport only link connecng Grandhome and Dubford

Advantages Disadvantages ♦ Connects the large planned residenal areas at Grandhome, Newhills ♦ Unlikely to be aracve for longer trips between Murcar and and Countesswells directly with the employment opportunies at Kingswells where roueng via city centre will sll be quicker Bridge of Don, Murcar, Kirkhill Industrial Estate, Dyce, Kingswells and ♦ Journey me by private car on AWPR sll significantly quicker for the city centre longer journeys (e.g. between Dyce, Kingswells and Westhill) ♦ Serves exisng communies in Bridge of Don, Dyce, Bucksburn, ♦ Does not serve exisng communies in Bridge of Don or Middelton Kingswells, Cults and Bridge of Dee. Park or provide access to local facilies in this area ♦ Improves access to exisng local schools and health centres ♦ Cost of new infrastructure (bridge and public transport only link) is high ♦ Provides interchange opportunies at Park & Ride sites (over £3 million) ♦ Increases employment opportunies for those without access to a car Public Transport Opon Appraisal: Key Points

♦ There is a clear ‘trade-off’ between route directness and accessibility: ◊ The less direct public transport routes (those serving a greater number of exisng communies) increase the potenal patronage and the accessibility benefits of a service, but increase overall service journey me

♦ All opons would require some level of subsidy to operate

♦ It is difficult for any orbital public transport route to compete with journey mes by private car on the AWPR : ◊ Many of the opons reduce the difference between car and public transport journey mes but for longer trips the journey me by public transport is sll significantly longer

♦ A new bridge over the River Don (as in Opons A1, A2, B1, B2 and E1) is key to enabling a significant reducon in journey me by

public transport between new development areas to the north of Aberdeen.

Acve Travel Opons

Acve travel opon development focussed on creang a network for commung use and, given the distances involved, primarily focused on cycling connecons.

Consideraon was given to providing links:

♦ Between each pair of adjacent development sites

♦ To the established interchange points

♦ To nearby key employment areas (parcularly in the south)

In developing the connecons, consideraon was given to the provision of: on road cycle routes; shared use footways / footpaths; signage; crossing facilies; lighng; and surfacing, with the majority of connecons made up of a combinaon of the above. In many instances, where road width allows, off-road segregated cycle/walk routes and appropriate crossing facilies were considered. Other route users, such as horse-riders, were also considered throughout the opon development process. The key acve travel transport planning objecves are based around modal shi, safety, directness and access to employment and the routes have been developed with this in mind. Acve Travel Opons

Individual opons within the developed acve travel network are shown in green (and numbered) in the maps in the following pages with brief descripons of each connecon provided in the adjoining table. Note that the opon numbering does not always follow-on sequenally due to prior ‘siing-out’ of some opons at the study’s Pre-Appraisal and Part 1 Appraisal stages.

Exisng, planned and commied acve travel links between the sites are shown in the maps in purple and represent routes which are either currently in place or ancipated to be developed over the study period (and therefore do not form part of the opons list).

Each opon was considered individually in the appraisal considering the STAG criteria and Transport Planning Objecves.

However, as the opons all together form a network of paths connecng the sites, the overall network benefits were considered by dividing the network into two secons:

♦ Orbital secon: all opons connecng Blackdog to the Deeside Way

♦ Radial Secon : connecng Chapelton of Elsick to the city centre A range of benefits of the acve travel opons were considered including:

♦ Safety

♦ Directness

♦ Health benefits

♦ Journey quality

♦ Accident reducon

♦ Reduced Environmental costs If you would like further informaon on any specific acve travel opon please email: crosscitytransport@peterbre.com Acve Travel Network

No Descripon 3 Upgrade exisng paths between Grandhome and Dubford 4 Connecon between Dubford and Murcar ulising a number of exisng off- road paths and Greenbrae Drive

5 Connecon between Murcar and Grandhome using Dubford Road, the exisng shared use facility on Jesmond Road and Whitestripes Avenue

7 New pedestrian / cycle bridge over the River Don to connect the Grandhome and Stoneywood sites 8 Connecon between new pedestrian / cycle bridge over River Don, Stoneywood site and Wellheads Drive 9 Upgrade exisng path between Stoneywood and Dyce Drive 11 On-road route and upgrade of secons of exisng paths and a number of off-road paths to provide a connecon between Newhills Expansion Area and Kingswells Park & Ride.

13 Upgrade exisng path to provide a connecon between Newhills Expansion Area / Bucksburn and Greenferns

15 Connecon alongside Sheddocksley Playing Fields and upgrade of exisng paths to connect Greenferns and Maidencraig. Please note only one of the two parallel routes alongside the playing fields would be provided.

19 New path and upgrade of exisng path to connect Countesswells and Friarsfield sites.

20 Upgrade secons of exisng paths to provide a connecon between Friarsfield and the Deeside Way Acve Travel Network No Descripon 23 Mainly on-road cycling connecon between Countesswells and Deeside Way 24 On-road cycling connecon on Binghill Road and upgrade secon of exisng route on the A93 to link Oldfold Farm and the Deeside Way

26 New path between Loirston and Cove Bay with appropriate crossing facilies 27 Connecon from the Deeside Way to proposed Bridge of Dee Improvements. This will include provision of a new link to Garthdee Road, upgrade of exisng paths.

28 On-road cycle connecon on Redmoss Road

34 Upgrade Causey Mounth route between Chapelton site and Badentory Road 35 Signage on Badentoy Road, Badentoy Avenue and Badentoy Crescent

39 Upgrade northern secon of Causey Mounth route between Badentoy and exisng shared use footway on Cookston Road

40 Connecon along Old Stonehaven Road and Wellington Road. Both on- road and off-road route being considered.

41 On-road cycling connecon between Maidencraig and Kingswells

45 Upgrade of exisng dual use facility on the A944 between Prime 4 development site and B9119, including provision of appropriate crossing facilies where the AWPR crosses the A944. Acve Travel Network: Key Points

Orbital secon ♦ The Orbital Network provides a range of benefits that outweigh the implementaon costs even under a range of sensivity tests considering lower walking and cycling scenarios

♦ The Radial Network benefits do not outweigh the implementaon costs under the basic scenario or any of the sensivity tests considering lower walking and cycling scenarios. This is due to the distance of the routes meaning implementaon costs are high and the more disparate nature of the communies between Aberdeen city centre and Chapelton of Elsick.

Orbital Benefits

Radial secon Next Steps Tell us what you think

The feedback received during this public consultaon will be used Your feedback will be used to help idenfy which opons should to inform the selecon or rejecon of opons at the STAG Part 2 be considered further. Appraisal stage. Please record your views on the study through the short on-line A report detailing the outcomes of this process and the quesonnaire available here: recommendaons on which opon would be worthy of hps://consultaon.aberdeencity.gov.uk/planning/aberdeen- progressing further will be available in early 2019. cross-city-transport-connecons

The survey will be open unl 31 st October 2018.

If you have any further quesons or comments, a dedicated email address is available: crosscitytransport@peterbre.com

Thank you in advance for your input.