Plans are to be unveiled before the end of the year for "the biggest expansion in public transport our capital has seen this century," Edinburgh City Council 's transport convener has announced.
Councillor Scott Arthur said the council's minority Labour administration plans to work with residents and the Scottish Government to "transform and de-carbonise" Edinburgh's transport system and invest in active transport.
But Councillor Arthur - who took up the role on an interim basis last month - gave scant detail on which forms of transport will benefit from the expansion – and would not confirm whether an extension to the city's tram line will form part of the proposals.
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And he added lessons will be learnt from the Trams to Newhaven active travel scheme "which has been the subject of international media attention."
The transport and environment convener was responding to a question from his SNP predecessor Lesley Macinnes, which was submitted ahead of a full council meeting on Thursday (June 30).
She noted the previously-agreed City Mobility Plan includes proposals for further development of the city's tram network to the north and south, and that extensions to Granton and the Edinburgh bioQuarter were also backed in a recent sustainable transport study.
Councillor Macinnes said: "The development of a full business case and the legislative framework to allow this North-South tram line development will be complex, thorough and likely to take much of this administrative term to complete."
And she asked: "Will the Transport Convener commit to bringing this process in front of the Transport and Environment Committee at the earliest possible date to ensure that no time is wasted in taking the Council to an appropriate decision-making point?"
In response Councillor Arthur said: "Before the end of 2022 the administration will present plans for the biggest expansion in public transport our capital has seen this century. We will listen to residents on this issue, and work with them to transform and de-carbonise the transportation system in our capital.
"This will also be an opportunity to invest in active transport, so we will learn any lessons from the Trams to Newhaven active travel scheme which has been the subject of international media attention."
The transport chief was making reference to a recent article published by American gaming news site Kotaku, in which the "zig-zag" bike path constructed along Leith Walk as part of the Trams to Newhaven project was compared to the 1984 computer game 'Paperboy.'
Councillor Arthur added: "This investment in public transport is of national importance, so we hope to work in partnership with the Scottish Government to both develop the full business case, and fund the project. It is not our intention to deliver this scheme via PFI as has been suggested for the Glasgow Metro, but to respect Edinburgh’s culture of retaining public transport in public ownership."
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