A new building with waiting room, cycle lockers, toilets and showering facilities has opened to the public today at the £15.2million Park and Ride beside Craibstone roundabout.
The waiting accommodation sits alongside a 1,000-space car park and link road, which were previously opened under different phases of the work, and will add to the facilities on offer to bus passengers, car-sharers, cyclists, or walkers.
Buses from Stagecoach’s 37 service from Inverurie and the number 16 First Aberdeen service both already serve the facility, which has a bus turning circle along with a dual carriageway link connecting the A96 Aberdeen to Inverurie road at Craibstone to Dyce Drive.
It has been designed so people can park there for free and choose which mode of environmentally-friendly transport to use for the remainder of their journey – bus, car-share, cycling or walking. Motorists are allowed to park for a maximum of 36 hours.
Aberdeen City Council invested in the project which is the latest of a series of infrastructure improvements to tackle congestion and reduce journey times, and will connect with other major infrastructure projects which are designed to transform moving around the city including the AWPR/B-T, the Berryden Corridor, and the third Don crossing which was opened last June.
Aberdeen City Council transport and regeneration spokesman Councillor Ross Grant said: “It is fantastic that the building as the final part of the new Park and Ride scheme beside the Craibstone roundabout and Dyce Drive has opened for people to use.
“We’d urge people from places in Aberdeenshire North-west of the city such as Inverurie or Kintore to use the £15.2million Park and Ride at Craibstone as it means you don’t have to drive into the city centre and then find a parking space.
“With the cycle and showering facilities in the building, people have a real choice as to which environmentally-friendly way they can travel into town and, with the bus lanes along the A96 from the Craibstone roundabout, it’s a faster journey. Less cars means less congestion in the city centre and the A96 which is of benefit to everyone.
“The development will also provide a boost for the region’s economy by freeing up prime development land close the airport and the AWPR.
“Along with the Third Don Crossing and the Berryden Corridor improvements, this is just the latest in a series of major projects which will improve journey times for motorists and bus passengers.”
Stagecoach North Scotland managing director Mark Whitelocks said: "We are delighted to see the new Park and Ride indoor waiting facility opened to the public making bus travel a more attractive option for commuting to the city.
“It is fantastic that we are able to work in partnership with Aberdeen City Council to provide high quality facilities that will make a huge difference to easing traffic congestion within the city. Congestion is our biggest challenge as a society to improve reliability of bus services.
“Developments such as this combined with bus priority enjoyed on the route to the city centre and ARI to the city will be of great assistance in removing some car traffic from the roads. This will provide further benefit to both our current and new customers and we will look forward to welcoming passengers on board our service 37 with unlimited travel starting from just £3.50 a day."
First Aberdeen commercial manager Daniel Laird said: “First Aberdeen welcomes the investment in the new facility and we are always supportive of projects to support public transport usage in the city.
“We are also very pleased to be serving the Park and Ride with our recently launched Service 16. This service operates with a frequency of up to 15 minutes from the city centre to Aberdeen Airport and Dyce Park and Ride via Great Northern Road, Auchmill Road and Inverurie Road.”
The Dyce development provides parking for up to 1,000 vehicles, as well as waiting accommodation, cycle lockers, toilets and showering facilities. The road element of the scheme, which included a three-lane dual carriageway and shared footpath/cycle ways, was opened last August so traffic could use it straight away.