SIGNS which tell drivers how much time it will take them to reach key destinations in Edinburgh would be installed on the city's main roads, under plans being considered by council chiefs.
The city's new head of transport Marshall Poulton wants to see the real-time journey time signs installed as part of a wider push to improve communication for all transport users in Edinburgh.
Mr Poulton masterminded a similar project in Glasgow,
where the signs were installed on the M8 informing drivers how long it would take them to reach destinations such as Glasgow Airport and the city centre.
Other initiatives, including personalised text and internet updates for journeys to and from work, will also be explored by the city's transport chief.
Mr Poulton, who comes to the council after a stint at Transport for London, said he was determined to change travel behaviour but not punish people for using their cars. His approach was today backed by opposition politicians.
Mr Poulton said: "If we can build on our success with park-and-rides, develop the trams and encourage people to think seriously about bus and cycling options then I think we can make a real dent in our congestion problems.
"It is about getting people to use their cars sensibly and increasing car occupancy rates. Getting better information to all transport users will be something of a priority for me. We need to do this for everyone, be it cyclist or drivers, and we need to do it well.
"Communicating journey time information is a big part of that, whether that is through variable message signs or pre-journey through website or text alerts."
He added: "The journey times signs have been a success in Glasgow and it is something we can develop here.
"There is scope for telling people journey times in conjunction with information about the nearest park-and-ride services."
City leaders have already invested heavily in traffic signs with ten electronic boards installed on key routes on the outskirts of the city carrying messages such as warnings of roadworks.
And a further tens signs have been put in city centre locations to inform motorists about availability of parking spaces.
Mark McInnes, the city's Tory transport spokesman, said: "I would be in favour of the council going down this path, anything that can be done to inform drivers and encourage them into the city.
"For too long drivers have been put off coming into the city and something like this would give them the information they need to make decisions and hopefully ease congestion."
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www.edinburgh.gov.ukThe full article contains 441 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
