Council Reaffirms Commitment To Sustainable Transport Across the Highlands
21st August 2025
The Highland Council has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering inclusive, low-carbon transport solutions with the publication of its latest Sustainable Transport Team update. The report, presented to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee earlier today, outlines major achievements in active travel, road safety, and public transport improvements across the region.
Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "This report demonstrates the Council's ongoing commitment to building a transport system that is sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our communities. Through strategic investment and collaboration, we are making real progress in delivering safer, greener, and more accessible travel options across the Highlands."
In 2024/25, the Council invested over £5.7 million in sustainable travel initiatives, supported by external funding from Transport Scotland, Sustrans, and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Key projects include:
Active Travel Infrastructure: Completion of the Riverside Way route, Raigmore Bus Gate, and Torvean Mobility Hub. Major new investments include £2.165 million for Wick High Street improvements and £1.422 million for the Culbokie Active Travel Village.
Road Safety Enhancements: Targeted schemes across Caithness, Sutherland, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey, Inverness, and Lochaber, aligned with Scotland’s Road Safety Framework and the Safe Systems approach.
Behaviour Change and Education: Expansion of Bikeability training, with 41% of primary schools participating in Level 2 on-road training. New Behaviour Change Officers will support walking, cycling, and public transport uptake across Highland communities.
Public Transport Improvements: A suite of bus priority projects valued at £1.9 million has been submitted to Transport Scotland under the new Bus Infrastructure Fund. These aim to improve journey times and reliability across the region.
Strategic Planning: Work is underway to deliver the Local Transport Strategy (2025-2035) and develop an Integrated Transport Plan for Fort William, in partnership with HITRANS and Transport Scotland.
After noting the progress made by the Sustainable Transport Team in delivering active and sustainable transport and road safety initiatives across the Highland area, the Committee agreed the successful securing of external funding to support low-carbon transport infrastructure and associated programme delivery. Members also endorsed the continued delivery of active and sustainable transport and road safety initiatives aligned with the Council’s strategies and national priorities
The Council will continue to work with national partners, local communities, and stakeholders to deliver on its transport vision and climate goals.
Related Businesses
Related Articles
11/12/2025
Exciting Career Opportunities With The Highland Council Now Open For Applications
# 10 December 2025 Career opportunities with The Highland Council The Highland Council is looking to fill a variety of posts relating to civil engineering and flood risk management based in locations across the area. Included are opportunities specifically for civil engineering graduates and technicians, providing the ideal job with career progression for anyone recently qualified and ready for a varied and interesting role.
8/12/2025
What the NC500 Research Projects Are Designed to Do - and Why They Matter for the Highlands
As the North Coast 500 approaches its tenth anniversary, it has become one of Scotland's most well-known tourism success stories. The 516-mile loop around the far north of the Highlands has been celebrated internationally, marketed as a world-class road trip, and credited with transforming visitor numbers in some of Scotland’s most remote areas.7/12/2025
Help Shape the Future of Thurso
The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say. This is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.
7/12/2025
Are Scottish Councils Quietly Reversing Outsourcing? A Look at Insourcing, Cuts and the Highland IT Shift
A notable article in the Guardian on 6 December 2025 noted the high sums being paid by London councils outsourcing services to private firms. The article starts with the reduction in council funding by UK government since 2010.4/12/2025
Council welcomes Visitor Levy flexibility plan
The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.4/12/2025
Highland Council is reaching out for views to shape its next 26/27 budget.
As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people. All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.4/12/2025
Have your say in Thurso's future £100million investment by attending public consultation events
Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.2/12/2025
Finding new owners for empty homes - Scheme launched to help return more empty homes to active use
A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".1/12/2025
Consideration for short term let control area in Skye and Raasay
Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee. On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.28/11/2025
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy. Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
Our Social Media
