The line, which would form the first section of a city-wide network, was first proposed by the from Glasgow City Council’s Glasgow Connectivity Commission in May 2019. The project received further support in September with the publication of the Programme for Government for 2019-20, which committed the Scottish government to working with partners to consider the Commission’s recommendations and pledged to consider the potential for a Glasgow Metro.

Funding for the project has been made available through an existing City Deal commitment, although the project cost has not yet been revealed, and the scheme still needs to be approved by the Glasgow City Region Deals Cabinet.

The Glasgow Connectivity Commission proposed a route that would run past the airport, before turning towards Glasgow city centre.

Speaking at the State of the City Economy Conference 2020 on January 10, Glasgow City Council leader, Ms Susan Aitken, said the next step is to plan to connect the first spur into a wider southwest corridor to reach key destinations such as the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Braehead, and Renfrew, the largest town in Scotland without a rail connection.

A strategic group has been established to allow the local authorities to engage with Transport Scotland during the feasibility period and receive advice on key issues. A feasibility study is expected to conclude this year to allow the project to be considered in the government’s second Strategic Transport Projects Review, which is due to be published in early 2021 and will identify nationally significant projects which Transport Scotland and the government will commit to deliver during the next 20 years.

The Commission also outlined a network of lines that could potentially cross Glasgow.

“The case for a Glasgow Metro is compelling,” Aitken says. “It is not just about connectivity to the airport, vital though that is - it is a green infrastructure project that will deliver benefits for communities and businesses all across the city region.

“And with the potential to support large scale modal shift, it will signal our intention to meet our carbon neutrality targets by investing in modern, sustainable transport systems.”

Aitken said investment will be sought from the Scottish government, as well as local and global investors whose businesses would benefit from being associated with the project.

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