Transport (Scotland) Act 2019
| Act of the Scottish Parliament | |
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| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to require the production of a national strategy in relation to transport; to make provision for low emission zones; to make provision for and in connection with the powers of local transport authorities in connection with the operation of local bus services in their areas; to make provision about arrangements under which persons may be entitled to travel on local bus and other transport services; to prohibit the parking of vehicles on pavements, prohibit double parking and prohibit parking adjacent to dropped footways; to make provision enabling local authorities to make schemes under which a charge may be levied for providing workplace parking places; to make provision in connection with charges arising from parking on private land; to make provision in connection with the status of the office of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner, the Commissioner's functions and the regulation of road works; to make provision in connection with regional Transport Partnerships and to adjust the number of members on the British Waterways Board; and for connected purposes. |
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| Citation | 2019 asp 17 |
| Introduced by | Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 15 November 2019 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through the Parliament | |
| Text of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 (asp 17) is an act of the Scottish Parliament. The act made various reforms to transport in Scotland.
Provisions
National Transport Strategy
The Scottish Government is required to publish a National Transport Strategy.[1]
Transport Scotland is required to publish a report to the Scottish Parliament setting out how it is delivering the National Transport Strategy every three years.[2]
Low emission zones
The legislation establishes a system allowing local authorities to establish, operate, amend and revoke low emission zone schemes.[3]
The first low emission zone was established in Glasgow, operating from 1 June 2023.[4] Low emissions zones were established in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Dundee, with the scheme in Dundee starting from 30 May 2024 and the schemes in Edinburgh and Aberdeen starting on 1 June 2024.[5]
Bus franchising
The act provides for the abolition of bus quality contracts and for their replacement with local bus service franchises.[6] In order for bus franchising to come into effect, a local transport authority must develop an "overarching franchising framework", and the local transport authority must then enter into franchise agreements with bus operators, to provide the level of service set out in the franchising framework.[6]
In December 2023, the powers under the act relating to bus franchising were brought into force.[7] Strathclyde Partnership for Transport approved plans to make use of the franchising powers in March 2024.[8]
Road works
The act authorises the Scottish Road Works Commissioner to inspect premises and request documents to ensure compliance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.[9]
Canals
The act changes the board of Scottish Canals from "a chairman, a vice chairman and between one and four other members" to "a chairman, a vice chairman and at least 4 but no more than 9 other members" through amendments to the Transport Act 1962.[10]
Smart ticketing
The definition of ticketing in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 is changed to include connecting ferry and rail services.[10] The act defines "smart ticketing arrangements" with the power to amend this by regulation and for the Scottish Government to issue standards which smart ticketing must comply with.[10]
A National Smart Ticketing Advisory Board was established in 2023 under the act.[10][11]
Finances of regional transport partnerships
Under the act, local authorities pay the excesses of regional transport partnerships' estimated costs, not their actual costs.[10] Regional transport partnerships are given the powers to maintain capital funds, renewal and repair funds and insurance funds and the power to borrow and lend money and to operate a loan fund.[10]
Parking restrictions
Parking on a pavement is prohibited under the act, but local authorities are allowed to create an exemption order, where a sign must be placed to specify that there is an exemption order.[12]
Double parking is prohibited under the act, but people who are parked but this does not apply to a vehicle stationary due to traffic or as a result of circumstances beyond the driver's control.[12]
Parking in front of a dropped kerb is also restricted under the act.[13]
References
- ^ "Transport (Scotland) Act 2019". legislation.gov.uk. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Delivering for Scotland 2020-2023: National Transport Strategy Report to Parliament" (PDF). Transport Scotland. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 July 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Rehfisch, Alan (5 September 2018). "Transport (Scotland) Bill: Low Emission Zones". Scottish Parliament. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Mitchell, Jenness (3 June 2023). "Glasgow LEZ: Everything you need to know as enforcement begins". Sky News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Mitchell, Jenness (3 June 2024). "LEZs in Scotland: What you need to know". Sky News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ a b Rehfisch, Alan (3 September 2018). "Transport (Scotland) Bill: Buses" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Henderson, David (25 October 2023). "Could Glasgow return to the orange buses of the 80s?". BBC News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ Lyst, Catherine (15 March 2024). "Buses in west of Scotland set to be brought under local control". BBC News. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
- ^ "Transport (Scotland) Bill: Road Works" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. 17 October 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Rehfisch, Alan (17 October 2018). "Transport (Scotland) Bill: Ticketing arrangements, Regional Transport Partnership finance and Scottish Canals" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ Grant, Alistair (11 May 2023). "Ministers urged to put car clubs and bike shares at heart of smart ticketing overhaul". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ a b Rehfisch, Alan (30 October 2018). "Transport (Scotland) Bill: Pavement Parking and Double Parking" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
- ^ McConville, Declan; Smillie, Liam (14 January 2025). "Pavement parking to be made illegal in Glasgow - with offenders to see hefty fine". Glasgow World. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.