24/04/2006 - ftr to start on 8 May
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First and City of York Council have announced that the ground-breaking new ftr scheme will start on Monday 8 May.
The ftr scheme sees the introduction of state-of-the-art articulated vehicles that look like trams but run on rubber wheels and use normal roads. The ftr route will link the University of York, the city centre, Dringhouses and Acomb.
As part of the partnership, City of York Council is introducing a programme of improvements to traffic lights, bus shelters and bus stops that will make sure the ftr vehicles can move people around the city in comfort and without delay.
The details of this programme were unveiled this morning by Councillor Steve Galloway, Leader of City of York Council, and Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc. Bill Woolley, director of City Strategy at City of York Council, said: “In York we already have one of the UK’s best public transport networks. Working in partnership with First we are striving to further improve the quality and effectiveness of that network. ftr is an exciting innovation that will help us to retain existing passengers and encourage people out of their cars. I am delighted that the UK’s first ftr scheme is to be here in York and I am confident that the improvements that we are making to the road infrastructure will ensure that ftr becomes another success for the city.
Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc, said: “First is committed to providing high quality public transport networks. The signing of this partnership agreement sets the seal on a project that I firmly believe will introduce a step change in the way that local transport authorities and operators deliver public travel.
City of York Council has always demonstrated its commitment to innovation, and there is no better example of this than today's announcement of the infrastructure improvements that will play a vitally important role in the success of ftr in York. Together we really are transforming travel.”
The ftr scheme sees the introduction of state-of-the-art articulated vehicles that look like trams but run on rubber wheels and use normal roads. The ftr route will link the University of York, the city centre, Dringhouses and Acomb.
As part of the partnership, City of York Council is introducing a programme of improvements to traffic lights, bus shelters and bus stops that will make sure the ftr vehicles can move people around the city in comfort and without delay.
The details of this programme were unveiled this morning by Councillor Steve Galloway, Leader of City of York Council, and Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc. Bill Woolley, director of City Strategy at City of York Council, said: “In York we already have one of the UK’s best public transport networks. Working in partnership with First we are striving to further improve the quality and effectiveness of that network. ftr is an exciting innovation that will help us to retain existing passengers and encourage people out of their cars. I am delighted that the UK’s first ftr scheme is to be here in York and I am confident that the improvements that we are making to the road infrastructure will ensure that ftr becomes another success for the city.
Moir Lockhead, Chief Executive of FirstGroup plc, said: “First is committed to providing high quality public transport networks. The signing of this partnership agreement sets the seal on a project that I firmly believe will introduce a step change in the way that local transport authorities and operators deliver public travel.
City of York Council has always demonstrated its commitment to innovation, and there is no better example of this than today's announcement of the infrastructure improvements that will play a vitally important role in the success of ftr in York. Together we really are transforming travel.”
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