A £1bn City Region bid developed for Edinburgh and South East Scotland will see transport playing a key role in delivering economic growth, Transport Network understands.
Business leaders are being urged to back the proposal by Edinburgh City Council, East Lothian, Fife, Scottish Borders, Midlothian, and West Lothian Councils, who say it will act as a mechanism for accelerating investment in infrastructure, skills and innovation.
Transport Network understands that transport is playing a part in the bid, although the council was unable to offer specific details at this stage.
Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Burns, said: ‘In shaping this deal, we want to build on our strengths, whilst tackling persistent inequality and other constraints that threaten to hold the region back.
‘I am very conscious that as visitors flock into Edinburgh for the summer festivals, for example, we must act to secure the investment required to embrace and build on our cultural success, and put culture centre stage in our growth plans.’
Councils claim the deal would help them take greater power over the delivery of public services and drive forward productivity improvements.
The bid aims to leverage an additional £3.2bn worth of private sector investment into the region.
It will be presented to business leaders at a special meeting on 17 August, before being submitted to the Westminster and Scottish governments in early September.
