P & J Article 12:00 - 27 October 2007
Heavy lorries, people who share lifts to work and taxis without passengers could all be allowed to use bus lanes in the future.
City bosses are considering opening up some of the lanes in a bid to get congested traffic moving.
The news comes after the Evening Express revealed this week that Aberdeen City Council could soon take over the fining of drivers for using bus lanes illegally.
The plans will be presented to the council's policy and strategy committee on Tuesday.
The strategy sets out the council's blueprint for 2008 to 2012.
Projects which are on the list are more likely to attract funding from the Scottish Government.
Under the plans:
Heavy goods vehicles travelling to the two industrial estates at Altens and Tullos could be allowed to use their own lane on Wellington Road
Private hire cars could use city bus lanes, a move which cab drivers have been campaigning for several years
A new lane for cars carrying two passengers or more could be set up on the A90 Aberdeen to Stonehaven road to ease commuters journeys in to Aberdeen.
Incentives could be introduced for drivers who car share, such as preferential parking.
The city council would also urge bus operators to improve bus fleets and expand the network.
The Third Don Crossing, which an independent review suggested removing from the council's plans, is still included, as part of its proposals for access from the north. Proposals are also included for bus routes linked to industrial estates or possibly schools.
The controversial plans for Union Street pedestrianisation are included, but the report notes the scheme would only be introduced once the council has worked out alternative routes for traffic.
There will also be improved links between the Northern Isles Ferry Terminal and bus and rail stations.
The council is still committed to major projects already in the pipeline, including the bypass, improvements to the Haudagain roundabout, work to improve access from the south into the city and reopening a train station at Laurencekirk. There are plans to lobby for shorter train journey times between Aberdeen and Glasgow, Edinburgh and England as well as better information for rail passengers.
Supporting the opening up of bus lanes, Haulage firm ARR Craib boss Eddie Anderson said: "There is a lot of congestion on Wellington Road and letting large goods vehicles use the lanes would ease this.
"It costs businesses a lot of money if there drivers are sitting in traffic."
There are currently six miles of bus lanes across the city, although they would not necessarily all be used as part of these pilot schemes, which could be introduced over the next few years.
The plans for the council taking over responsibility for bus lane enforcement would see a potential of more than £500,000 in fines in the first year.
But this is estimated to drop to less than £150,000 by the third year as people see the council taking action.
Council leader Kate Dean said: "I think bus lanes are successful but they need work. That is why we are looking at whether there is a business case for enforcement.
"It is not a money-making exercise though. The predicted figures show the council would lose money from the scheme as time goes on.
"When the western peripheral route is built, there will be less traffic on the roads and we do not want to see more cars just simply filling in the gap, we want to encourage people to use public transport."
