National award for Hitrans

This award recognised the partnership’s "Public Transport Initiative", a programme of improvements to public transport infrastructure in the Region.

Since 2003, HITRANS has spent £10.5 million on a progamme of work which has four strategic themes, namely access; information; protection and connection.

The Highlands and Islands had fallen behind the rest of Scotland in respect of accessible public transport but over the past three years. HITRANS has spent £2.5 million on grant aiding 45 low floor buses and improving access for the elderly and disabled at bus stops, ferry terminal and rail stations.

Good information is crucial to attract people from cars to public transport. HITRANS has spent £750,000  on wayside information at bus stops and electronic signs for advance roadside ferry information. Real time information, electronic panels at bus stops telling passengers how long before the bus arrives, is to be provided in Inverness city centre and Campbeltown. The latter is the first in Scotland to test real time information on a long distance, low frequency coach route.

Personal safety is vital to raise confidence in public transport. HITRANS has spent £350,000 on CCTV and better lighting at bus and rail stations and has assisted operators with on board security cameras.

Most funding from HITRANS - £6.9 million - has been devoted to improving infrastructure, including 300 bus shelters on the main bus corridors and terminals and  modernising transport interchanges in some of the main regional centres (Dunoon, Fort William, Stromness, Stornoway, Kirkwall, Lochmaddy, Portree, Aviemore, Leverburgh). Funding has helped to fund the Invernet rail commuter service extension from Inverness to Lairg, and the Inverness airport bus route.

Councillor Charlie King, Chairman of  HITRANS, said:" I am delighted that our work over the past three years has been recognised by this award. Our intention is to keep up the good work in the future.”