24 October 2006
Shields Road car park is officially opened
A new state-of-the-art multi-storey car park at Shields Road Subway station opened its doors to the public today (Tuesday 24 October).
The new £4.6million project means that commuters now have the use of 800 parking spaces and can travel by Subway into the city centre in just five minutes.
The car park, which was developed in partnership by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and Glasgow City Council, with funding from the Scottish Executive, was officially opened by SPT Chair, Councillor Alistair Watson and Councillor Willie O'Rourke, Glasgow City Council Executive Member for Roads and Lighting.
Contractor Barr Construction and designers Keppie Design created a multi-storey car park, over four levels, with room for 800 vehicles, which SPT and Glasgow City Council hope will encourage commuters to Park and Ride on the Subway, rather than drive their cars into the city.
Cllr Watson said: "SPT remains at the heart of public transport development in the west of Scotland and the development of Park and Ride sites is a key step in encouraging increased use of public transport. The Shields Road Subway site is one of the oldest and is now the biggest Park and Ride site in Glasgow. Its prime location at the interchange of the M8 and M77 and adjacent to the Subway has been a key to its success and was a major factor in the decision to expand the facility.
"A key aim at SPT is to develop effective partnership working with local authorities and I think this car park is testament to what can be achieved through exactly that. We have worked closely with Glasgow City Council both in the planning and delivery of this project and without the much-needed funding which came from the Scottish Executive through their Public Transport Fund, I doubt very much that we would be opening it today."
Cllr O'Rourke added, "Glasgow City Council and SPT are both major players in the development, funding, delivery and maintenance of an integrated transport infrastructure to serve Glasgow into the future. The redevelopment of Shields Road Park and Ride car park is a primary example of how partnership working can successfully deliver new infrastructure projects and the benefits to commuters from the south of Glasgow will be felt in the months and years to come."
As well as the new multi-storey building, the development of the car park also involved redesigning the existing surface level car park and adding new cycle racks. In total, there are now double the number of spaces that were previously available.
The new expanded car park has significantly improved facilities including dedicated disabled and parent and child spaces, a toilet, a lift to the upper floors, full CCTV coverage and improved lighting.
Further information on the car park, prices and opening times, is available at www.spt.co.uk or by visiting an SPT travel centre.
ends
Notes to Editors
Parking is available at Shields Road Car Park from 7am until 11pm in the multi-storey area, and between 6.30am and 11.30pm in the rest of the car park.
To find the car park, when travelling along Scotland Street from the West, take the first left hand turn. When travelling from the East, pass the exit barriers after the junction with Carnoustie Street and take the next right hand turn into the car park.
Subway users can park all day for £1.50 and, depending on the Subway ticket purchased, unlimited parking and riding can cost as little as £2.50 per day.