Edinburgh's tram line will be extended north and south from the city centre if the SNP are re-elected to run the council.
The announcement comes as the party prepares to unveil its 2022 local election manifesto, which will also include a pledge to tax tourists visiting the capital.
A major new phase of the trams project would see a new line from the city centre to Granton, where 3,500 new houses are being built as part of a £1 billion regeneration of the area.
Another would take passengers towards the Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter research district, with the party saying it could be "potentially" be extended even further south-eastward.
Currently under construction, the line through Leith and Newhaven is due to open in spring next year, adding add eight new tram stops to the network.
However, the SNP note that even when this is completed, the entire 18-kilometre track "will still be shorter than similar systems in Dublin and Manchester, as well as those of many cities across continental Europe".
Although no timescale has been included in the pledge to extend the city's trams, the party says short-term work would involve "planning the routes and designs in detail".
Cllr Adam McVey, leader of the SNP on City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We will take the time to plan this properly, just as we did for the Newhaven extension, to minimise disruption as far as possible and ensure the new routes are deliverable.
“To tackle climate change, we have to provide people with low carbon alternatives for getting about the city. Trams are a proven way of doing that. Linking up parts of the city with fast, efficient transport supports residents to switch from car to public transport for those journeys.
“When the trams started running they carried millions of passengers – and bus passenger numbers also increased. The tram line is now an important part of the transport network, linking in and working with our fantastic publicly-owned bus service.
"Our city continues to grow so we need to invest in these rapid transport options to effectively tackle congestion, as so many other cities across Europe already do."
Furthermore, Cllr McVey announced that if re-elected to the administration, SNP councillors would vote through a 'tourist tax' in the next term.
He said this is a "simple, fair and accepted way of raising money to help deal with the pressure that comes with being a popular destination".
Under the scheme, tourists staying in Edinburgh's hotels, Airbnbs and bed and breakfasts would be charged at least £2 extra per room per night, with the tax capped at £14.
The revenue raised, which would likely be tens of millions annually, would be used by the council to maintain public spaces and infrastructure key to city's tourism industry.
Funds could also go towards supporting people into tourism jobs to help businesses struggling with staffing.
A 2018 council consultation with Edinburgh's residents saw 90 per cent of respondents say they'd support the introduction of a visitor levy.
And although local authorities do not currently have powers to introduce such a scheme, the Scottish Government is expected to pass legislation before the next Scottish election in 2026.
Ministers said in February that work had resumed on a draft tourist tax bill, which halted when the pandemic struck two years ago.
Cllr McVey said: “Edinburgh is a world-class destination for tourists. The festivals are the largest of their kind anywhere in the world and, in most years, Edinburgh Castle is the most visited attraction in the UK outside London. The sector employs tens of thousands of people.
“But we all know that this footfall also strains the city’s capacity. The capital has to work hard to maintain the infrastructure that supports being a tourism hotspot – from keeping the streets clean to providing the transport links essential to getting around.
"And we also have to find ways to keep investing in our cities’ parks, museums, facilities like public toilets, and culture if we’re going to stay in the premier league of holiday destinations.
“While the Conservatives would just see city residents keep footing the bill, SNP councillors will introduce a fairer alternative.
“Anyone who has been on a city break in Europe knows that per-night charges to tourists are normal. Cities around the continent have realised that this is a simple, fair and accepted way of raising money to help deal with the pressure that comes with being a popular destination.”
