A9 Perth to Inverness - Economic Appraisal Study

3rd December 2007

HITRANS and Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE)
A9 Perth to Inverness - Economic Appraisal Study
Strategic Impact Assessment and EALI - Final Report
Scott Wilson Page 1 October 2007

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
E.1 Background
E.1.1 The A9 is the main trunk route from the central belt to the Highlands and Islands and as such has been assessed as having the highest level of functionality of any transport link in the region, accounting for almost all passenger journeys and freight movements between Inverness and the central belt along the corridor. It is a lifeline route for the island communities of Orkney, Lewis and Harris for supplies and business links and is an essential route for tourist trips visiting the north of Scotland.

E.1.2 This study was commissioned by HITRANS and Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE) to help inform decision-makers of the economic benefits of improvements to the A9. Its purpose is to report the economic benefits of improvements to the trunk road between Perth and Inverness in both quantitative and qualitative terms at a level that meets the STAG requirements for the consideration of investment in transport. The study comprised of desktop research, a workshop, traffic surveys, and telephone and face-to-face business surveys to provide information on the high level impacts on regional income, employment, business aspirations and the public sector, and to estimate future traffic flows and their impact. This research has included:
• analysis of key economic issues and identification of two improvement options;
• an analysis of the potential Gross Value Added (GVA) and employment impacts; and
• an economic activity and location impacts (EALI) appraisal.

E.1.3 The results of the above are outlined in this executive summary.

E.2 Key Economic Issues and Options Identified for Improvements to the A9

E.2.1 Growth in the study area has been consistently better than that of Scotland as a whole, but remains substantially worse off in terms of GVA per capita, with a value for Moray of only89% of that of Scotland in 2005. Low GVA per capita and low earnings, despite some recent positive trends, is characteristic of the area compared to Scotland as a whole. The public sector provides most jobs, about a third of those employed, followed by the tourism and leisure sector with over a quarter of jobs. However the core areas of Inverness and the surrounding region have one the highest proportion of unemployed with high (tertiary) qualifications of any part of Scotland.

E.2.2 The importance of the A9 has emerged in sharp relief as the economy and population of Inverness and the surrounding Moray and East Highland region has grown significantly in recent years. There is a growing perception that competitiveness and continuing economic success of the sub-region cannot be guaranteed without investment to upgrade the A9, in particular dualling of the sections of the route, or dualling the entire route between Inverness and Perth.

E.2.3 Evidence from various sources of data and consultations suggests that the A9 is substandard in terms of safety and the lack of overtaking opportunities, both of which cause considerable stress placed on drivers. This is deemed as a more serious issue than long or unreliable journey times.

E.2.4 Discussions with the study stakeholders has highlighted the concern that travel conditions on the A9 are deteriorating, with increased travel times and driving frustration, less reliable journey times and uncertainty for businesses. Businesses and organisations in the area have identified accessibility as a major issue for staff retention, recruitment and commuting, and a major cause of concern.

E.2.5 Two principal options for upgrading the A9 have been identified for consideration:
• Full dualling along the entire route between Perth and Inverness; and
• Dualling between Perth to Pitlochry and strategic dualling north of Pitlochry.

Full Study
A Pdf Doc