| Care in the Community | Sustainable Communities | A Clean Environment |
| A Planned Culture of Enterprise and Growth | A Skilled and Confident Highlands |
| Arts, Heritage, Culture and Sport | Gaelic Language | Improved Transport and Connectivity |
| Children and Young People | Corporate Objectives for The Highland Council |
Improving Highland Transport
The Council will seek to a tackle the historic lack of investment in transport infrastructure in the Highlands, where there is a high dependence on car use.
The Council is a member of HITRANS, the strategic transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands and aims to secure the upgrading of the A9, A96 and A82 trunk roads as well as seeking funding for the Inverness Trunk Link Road. Working with Highlands and Islands Airports, HITRANS, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise we will seek to attract new and enhanced air services in the Highlands and continue to work to safeguard Inverness to Gatwick and Heathrow flights
Public Transport
We will continue to enhance, develop and promote the bus network in both rural and urban areas, improving the quality and frequency and access for the disabled.
In Inverness, £6 million is being spent on traffic management and streetscape improvement measures to reduce traffic congestion and improve the quality of the environment.
We will also accelerate the focus on safe school transport for all pupils, encouraging more healthy and environmental options.
Transport Master Plan for Inverness
We have agreed to press the Scottish Government for an Inverness Trunk Link road, the central plank of the transport master plan for the city.
The major project has been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Strategic Transport Projects Review, which considers transport projects to be funded by the Scottish Government.
The trunk link road will feature a new link to the east of the city, which is timetabled to be built between 2010 and 2012, and a new link to the west of the city, which is earmarked for construction between 2012-2015.
The favoured route for the western link is a fixed link involving construction of a bridge over the River Ness and a tunnel/aqueduct passing under the Caledonian Canal. The cost of completing the entire project is estimated at £118 million.
Investment in Roads and Bridges
The regional road network extends to 4,778 miles and the Council has responsibility for maintaining 1,400 bridges. From our own resources, we will invest £72 million over the next four years to maintain and improve the quality of Highland roads and invest more than £6 million over the next four years in lifeline roads and bridge improvements.
How Do We Perform?
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We subsidise fares for 126 bus routes, 16 community transport schemes and 3 ferry services at a cost of £2.75m per annum.
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Surveys tell us that road repairs and potholes, along with winter road maintenance, are still in the top 5 services which are most important to you.
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The investment in safe cycling and walking routes has nearly doubled from 2004 to £432,000 in 2006-7.
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20mph speed restrictions are now in place at 47 primary and secondary schools.
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95 schools have green travel plans.
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Survey data shows that 39.9% of our road network needs maintenance. This is lower than many other parts of Scotland, but is still significant given the length of our road network.
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Of those Highland bridges which have been assessed, 31% fail to meet the European standard of 40 tonnes; although only 0.6% have a weight or width restriction placed on them. |