How the Foot of the Walk will be affected by the TramsEver wondered what the streets on the tram line might look like after the trams finished? Well, now you can find out. If you've got a nice broadband connection and a big computer monitor you can download the following key documents:

• Edinburgh Tram TRO Drawings (38Mb pdf)
• Statement of Case For Traffic Regulation Orders (1.2MB pdf)

If you'd prefer not to download these files, then the plans will be on public exhibition too. You'll be able to see them at both MacDonald Road Library, and Leith Libraries, or if you prefer there'll be a staffed exhibition at the City Chamber. All displays will be running 22nd February to the 20th March 2010.

There's a vast amount of information in these documents, and we're sure most people will mainly be concerned with what's likely to be happening at the end of their street, so we'll save you a blow by blow account at this stage.

However, it's worth noting that the exhibition of the proposals coincides with the formal public consultation period on the proposals. So, if you want to influence the plans - now is your chance.

Objections should be made, in writing quoting details of the grounds of objection,quoting reference
TRO/09/60A, within the consultation period which ends 21 March 2010 to:

The City of Edinburgh Council,
c/o Dundas and Wilson,
Saltire Court,
20 Castle Terrace,
Edinburgh, EH1 2EN.

As the Leith Businesses Association point out on their blog post on the matter:

it is not possible to submit an objection to reject the TRO, as it enjoys prior approval because it is a consequence of the Edinburgh Tram (Line One) Act.  It is only possible to object to the manner in which the Order is being applied, e.g. the removal of a right-turn at a particular junction, or the removal or parking spaces.

When you're considering all the proposed changes to the neighbourhood you might also want to have a look at the results of the traffic modelling report released by TIE in January this year.

Although it would appear some boffins got paid an awful lot to produce the traffic models, the results of this model are based upon a remarkable series of assumptions, including future developments in the area. So we'd think that you might want to take these results with a pinch of salt. Afterall, in recent weeks we've heard of plans to start building a giant ferris wheel, a cruise liner terminal, a power plant, and a wind turbine factory on the docks - not to mention all those hotels cropping up everywhere. And with the exception of Port of Leith Housing Association, house building everywhere seems to have almost ground to a halt. How can anyone predict future traffic against that background?

Anyway, caveats aside, there are some interesting predications. The main point is that the tram will displace traffic away from Leith Walk and onto other nearby arterial routes. In the somewhat fuzzy map below (that shows traffic predictions for peak time travel in the morning), the streets coloured red show places where traffic is set to fall. Meanwhile the green streets show places where traffic is set to increase.

Virtually every other route in Leith will see increased traffic levels whilst the study also predicts increased congestion on the junctions around Picardy Place, Foot of the Walk, London Road/Leith Walk and the Baltic Street/Constitution Street/ Bernard Street Junction. All those junctions will be 'at capacity,' and we note that the report recommends that further consideration be given to a number of junctions that aren't on the tram route, so that they can cope better with the extra traffic.

For example, the traffic study highlights the fact that people traveling up Easter Road will be more likely to drive down Brunswick Road, or Dalmeny Street, in order to avoid congestion on London Road. Should more be done to cut down 'rat-running' through the streets between Easter Road and London Road?

Let us know if you have an idea that could improve on the current proposals.