An update from the new Chair of HITRANS

In May I was pleased to prepare a piece for Am Pàipear that set out what I hope to achieve from a second term as the Comhairle’s Chair of Transportation. I hope this was useful and helped reassure the Am Pàipear readership that I and my colleagues on the Comhairle understand the challenges our lifeline transport links pose to our way of life and that we are working hard to ensure the voice of the Western Isles is heard.
Having settled back into my duties as Chair of Transportation and Infrastructure, one appointment that I have always enjoyed is as the Comhairle’s representative to HITRANS. HITRANS is the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership. One of seven regional transport partnerships that cover the different parts of Scotland, HITRANS brings together the local authorities of Argyll and Bute, Eilean Siar, Highland, Moray and Orkney Islands. Regional Transport Partnerships (RTP) were established by the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 to deliver transport solutions across their regions. RTPs are partnerships focused on the delivery of integrated, multi-modal, transport solutions and are ideally placed to work with both public and private sector partners to deliver on their statutory Regional Transport Strategies.
Since its establishment, HITRANS have successfully delivered projects and initiatives which have made significant transport improvements across the region. In the past the organisation received significant funding for public transport infrastructure that allowed it to deliver things like new bus shelters and low floor buses. HITRANS was also a significant funder of the redevelopment of Lochmaddy Ferry Terminal which saw a new terminal building and increased marshalling space after MV Hebrides came into service. Recent years have seen an increased emphasis on active travel and HITRANS supports projects to improve walking and cycling in the region.
Current HITRANS projects include the implementation of a new digital demand responsive transport booking application and the largest Mobility as a Service platform in the UK. This latter app is called GO-HI and allows people to plan, book and pay for travel on multiple transport modes and will include an integration of the demand responsive services so they appear alongside bus, ferry, air, rail , car club and bike services. HITRANS also leads the Scottish Islands Passport project which encourages people to visit our islands and looks to promote slow tourism to showcase islands that are visited less frequently and to encourage travel at times of the year that are less busy.
After five years as a HITRANS Board Member and an earlier period supporting the organisation as a substitute to my predecessor Cllr John MacKay I was delighted to be appointed as the new Chair of HITRANS when the organisation convened their first meeting following the local government elections on Friday 24th June. I will have big shoes to fill in following Cllr Allan Henderson who stepped down as a Highland Councillor at the last election but I will look forward to working with my new colleagues on the Board and the team of officers who do much of the work day to day. I am really proud that this appointment will mean the Chairperson of HITRANS will be a Comhairle member for the first time with previous Chairs having been Councillors from Argyll & Bute, Highland and Orkney.
Over the years, HITRANS has established itself as a highly effective partnership supporting sustainable economic growth across the Highlands and Islands. We have a committed Partnership Board, supported by highly effective officials who share a commitment to support active communities and maintain and improve lifeline transport networks and services, such as ferry services which are so dear to my heart. HITRANS affords an opportunity for local authorities to come together as a strong collective to make the case for our regional transport system. This is particularly important in making the case for the right investment in our ferry services. The challenges faced in the Western Isles are very similar to the experiences of islanders in Argyll & Bute; Highland and Orkney. On air services there are common interests and challenges. Bus services in the north of Scotland face different challenges to other parts of Scotland and by working together we can make the case for fair funding to ensure we offer an alternative to the car. Active travel is important everywhere and working with HITRANS offers a way to deliver proportionate and appropriate investment in these activities in the Highlands and Islands. The work of HITRANS can go unnoticed but it is the practical nature of the work that makes it so important. In HITRANS we have an organisation that really understands the challenges of travel to, from and within the Highlands and Islands. The organisation can build on its past success, develop new opportunities, and will continue to focus on what matters for the region. I expect it to continue to deliver transport solutions that make a genuine difference for people, communities, and businesses across the region.
Other Councillor representatives on HITRANS Board are Councillor Amber Dunbar, The Moray Council, Councillor Ken Gowans, The Highland; Councillor David Dawson, Orkney Island; and Councillor Andrew Kain, Argyll and Bute. Non Council members on the Partnership are: Robert Andrew, Professor David Gray and Naomi Bremner.
Leis a h-uile deagh dhùrachd
Cllr Uisdean Robertson