The consultation is part of the Ellon P&R – Garthdee Transport Corridor study which has a particular focus on active travel and public transport connections and is taking a holistic approach by examining both northbound and southbound movements on the corridor to identify interventions with demonstrable benefits.

The study will recognise development aspirations and pressures in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and will capitalise on several pieces of work undertaken by the council and partners in this area in recent years. The study is also looking at options to introduce new infrastructure to promote active travel along the study corridor.

Detailed appraisal where work has been progressing on the options recommended during the previous stage of the study in 2020 and 2021 is now underway and the public are being consulted as part of this stage.

The findings from the work will be reported in Summer 2023 to Council Committee which will consider the next steps to progress a preferred option.

Throughout the study, cognisance is being taken of the revised Roads Hierarchy for Aberdeen, which was agreed by Aberdeen City Council in 2019. Consideration will be given to options for better aligning the study corridor with its role in the revised hierarchy. In taking forward the above tasks, the project team, with support from the city council, and key study partners Aberdeenshire Council, Nestrans and Transport Scotland has worked closely with the North East Bus Alliance to determine public transport opportunities on the study corridor – the Alliance identifies the Ellon P&R to Garthdee corridor as a priority corridor for improvement.

The study, which is being funded through the Scottish Government’s Bus Partnership Fund, is closely aligned with the ongoing work to progress the development of a potential Aberdeen Rapid Transit (ART) system. This study has helped to identify opportunities for transport improvements on the corridor, including options to introduce bus priority, which would facilitate the effective operation of ART services as well as benefitting existing bus travel. More information from the ART project is available at Aberdeen Rapid Transit | NESTRANS.

The online consultation is available from today and it closes on Monday 10 April 2023.

The public exhibitions will take place at Ruthrieston Community Centre on Thursday 23 March from 4pm to 8pm, and King’s Church, Bridge of Don, on Thursday 30 March from 4pm to 8pm.