City planners have urged new backing for full pedestrianisation of Union Street – on the eve of the long-awaited return of buses to the Granite Mile.
Councillors have been recommended to support the permanent closure of the Market Street to Bridge Street stretch as the council’s preferred option moving forward.
Only four months ago, the SNP and Liberal Democrats – now in power but then in opposition – voted down pedestrianisation.
But now officers are urging them to reverse that decision, citing calls from local businesses and traffic modelling.
It’s part of a £150 million revamp of the city centre and beach areas.
Official plans for the city’s main thoroughfare would widen pavements, create a new central cyclist-priority zone, and allow service vehicle access at restricted times.
Other options on the shortlist include returning Union Street to its pre-2020 layout or bus, bike and taxi access.
Buses back on Union Street… but are they there to stay?
Before the temporary two-year pedestrianisation of the central part of Union Street, it contained the city’s seven busiest bus stops.
On Thursday, a new bus gate – guarded by a camera at each end – will open allowing renewed access for public transport and taxis.
The initial closure was brought in as part of Aberdeen’s Covid response but was later seized upon as an opportunity for longer-term change.
Planning for a transformation of the city centre continues – but the future of Union Street pedestrianisation is up in the air.
New council leadership pledged Union Street bus access until ‘accessible’ plans drawn up
Both the SNP and Liberal Democrats – now in joint leadership of the council – have championed bus routes along the Granite Mile.
Disability campaigners hit out at plans to fully pedestrianise the stretch last November, slamming the lack of consultation.
In agreeing their co-leadership, the SNP and Liberal Democrats pledged to ensure central Union Street remained “accessible to people with disabilities and limited mobility”.
Until then, they agreed, bus and taxi access should be maintained.
Only yesterday, the council’s top financial officers warned of delays and the potential mothballing of local authority services in the face of rising costs of big construction projects.
What are planners recommending for Union Street?
Despite this, council officials have now recommended full pedestrianisation as the preferred option.
Pavements would be widened to 4m, while the central bike-priority zone would be 5.5m wide.
Emergency service vehicles would maintain access, while service vehicles would be granted time-restricted access along the central strip.
The rest of the road would be used for greenery, extra seating and activities, as well as laybys for service vehicles.
It could all be removed quickly though to allow emergency use for buses if there are road troubles elsewhere in the city centre.
Importantly, given concerns aired about the bus-priority pedestrianised Broad Street, kerbs will be maintained between the pavements and side of the road activity space.
Planning chief David Dunne said the removal of traffic would be to the benefit of those with mobility or visual impairments, while additional seating would help too.
In a report prepared for councillors, he said the loss of bus or taxi access to Union Street central would be mitigated by extra bus stops elsewhere in the city centre, more blue badge parking spaces and taxi ranks.
However, he also admitted the move would come at a cost, adding: “This option removes the ability to access central Union Street by bus or taxi.
“Albeit walking distances to some destinations on Central Union Street will increase which may have negative impacts on any mobility-impaired individuals looking to access a service in the pedestrianised area,” he conceded.
City centre road changes on the horizon – whatever becomes of Union Street
Whatever the outcome of Wednesday’s vote, new traffic restrictions in the city could be only months away.
By late summer roads planners want Bridge Street, Guild Street to the east of Wapping Street, and Market Street to the north of Guild Street to be made bus and taxi only.
Extra bus stops would be added there too “as close to Union Street Central as possible”.
Right turns for all but buses, taxis and bikes would also be banned from Union Terrace onto Rosemount Viaduct.
Schoolhill between Harriet Street and Flourmill Lane would be pedestrianised in tandem with Union Street to discourage rat-running.
You can view the full council documents here
Conversation