Options

Introduction

This section provides an overview of Full Dualling and each of the options (‘packages’) that are being considered as part of the A96 Corridor Review.

In line with the detailed appraisal stage, the transport options have been grouped into six packages. The following sections provide an overview of the current plan to dual the A96, followed by a description of the alternative transport packages.

A96 Full Dualling

The A96 Full Dualling Hardmuir to Craibstone, hereafter referred to as the A96 Full Dualling option, is the current Scottish Government commitment and focuses on improving the trunk road network in the north-east of Scotland to address road safety concerns and provide resilience and reliability improvements for a key connection between Inverness and Aberdeen.

For communities and businesses on the corridor, the dualling will provide greater connectivity between Inverness and Aberdeen and, in combination with the dualling of the A9, improve connectivity to the Central Belt.

A full package description and summary of appraisal is available in the A96 Corridor Review, Strategic Business Case - Transport Appraisal Report (Draft) ( A96 Corridor Review, Strategic Business Case – Transport Appraisal Report (Draft). ) .

A96 Corridor Review Transport Packages

Transport packages one to five, and the Refined Package, contain a variety of interventions which aim to deliver network, safety, journey time, and reliability improvements (see Table 7‑1 ). These options have been assessed collectively under ‘Transport Packages Assessment’ in Section 8.3 of this Partial BRIA Assessment.

With active travel interventions, the packages aim to deliver high-quality networks of active travel and facilitate placemaking improvements within settlements through creating active communities and active connections.

The packages also include a number of public transport options targeted at delivering faster and more reliable journey times, as well as improving the overall passenger experience. This includes measures such as bus priority measures, rail improvements, bus and rail station improvements, and the use of flexible services such as Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), Community Transport (CT), and Mobility as a Service (MaaS).

The introduction of rail freight terminals and gauge enhancements to encourage freight to be transported by rail also forms a component of some of these transport packages.

Some packages aim to improve the safety, resilience, and reliability of the A96 through the provision of bypasses, which would address real and perceived severance within communities by removing through trips.

Further options within the packages encourage a shift away from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, with the development of the A96 Electric Corridor and alternative refuelling infrastructure along the A96 corridor and interfacing local roads. In addition, there are improvements to road safety through improved overtaking opportunities, junction improvements and improvements to the alignment of the carriageway at targeted locations along the route.

Full package descriptions and summaries of appraisal are available in the A96 Corridor Review, Strategic Business Case - Transport Appraisal Report (Draft) ( A96 Corridor Review, Strategic Business Case – Transport Appraisal Report (Draft). ) .

 

Table 7‑1: Options contained in each package

Package 1 contains the following interventions: Active Communities (in Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Keith and Inverurie); Bus Priority Measures; Improved Public Transport Passenger Interchange Facilities; Investment in DRT and MaaS; Linespeed, Passenger and Freight Capacity Improvements on the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line; Elgin Bypass; Keith Bypass; Inverurie Bypass; Forres Bypass; and A96 Electric Corridor. Package 2 contains the following interventions: Active Communities (in Lhanbryde, Mosstodloch, Fochabers, Huntly, Kintore and Blackburn); Bus Priority Measures; Improved Public Transport Passenger Interchange Facilities; Investment in DRT and MaaS; Linespeed, Passenger and Freight Capacity Improvements on the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line; Targeted Road Safety Improvements; and A96 Electric Corridor. Package 3 contains the following interventions: Active Connections; Bus Priority Measures; Investment in DRT and MaaS; Linespeed, Passenger and Freight Capacity Improvements on the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line; Targeted Road Safety Improvements; and A96 Electric Corridor. Package 4 contains the following interventions: Active Communities (in Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Lhanbryde, Mosstodloch, Fochabers, Keith, Huntly, Inverurie, Kintore and Blackburn); Active Connections; Improved Public Transport Passenger Interchange Facilities; Introduce Rail Freight Terminals; Linespeed, Passenger and Freight Capacity Improvements on the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line; Targeted Road Safety Improvements; and A96 Electric Corridor. Package 5 contains the following interventions: Active Communities (in Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Lhanbryde, Mosstodloch, Fochabers, Keith, Huntly, Inverurie, Kintore and Blackburn); Active Connections; Bus Priority Measures; Improved Public Transport Passenger Interchange Facilities; Investment in DRT and MaaS; Introduce Rail Freight Terminals; Linespeed, Passenger and Freight Capacity Improvements on the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line; Targeted Road Safety Improvements; and Elgin Bypass; Keith Bypass; Inverurie Bypass; Forres Bypass; and A96 Electric Corridor. The Refined Package contains the following interventions: Active Communities (in Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Lhanbryde, Mosstodloch, Fochabers, Keith, Huntly, Inverurie, Kintore and Blackburn); Improved Public Transport Passenger Interchange Facilities; Investment in DRT and MaaS; Linespeed, Passenger and Freight Capacity Improvements on the Aberdeen to Inverness Rail Line; Targeted Road Safety Improvements; Elgin Bypass; Keith Bypass; and A96 Electric Corridor.