A £1.8m modernisation of Paisley town centre’s bus infrastructure is moving ahead this month – in what has been hailed as the latest piece of good news for the town.
The investment – most of which comes from Strathclyde Partnership for Transport – was announced last year and will go on new bespoke shelters, raised kerbs, and bus bay improvements.
Contractors have already implemented some of the improvements in Weir Street and Old Sneddon Street in recent weeks – but the work is set to ramp up when it moves to the other side of the station to the streets around the Piazza.
Workers will be in Gauze Street from 22 June and their programme will continue for around four months, taking in Smithhills Street and St Mirren Brae.
Bus users and neighbouring businesses will be kept informed of any changes to access or timetabling by the contractors and bus operators.
And Renfrewshire’s Council Leader has welcomed the start of the works, saying it perfectly complements the council’s ongoing regeneration plans for the town centre.
Councillor Mark Macmillan said: “We welcome this substantial investment by SPT in Paisley town centre, which will improve the public-transport experience for all.
“The start of this work is just the latest bit of good news for the town centre, with our ambitious regeneration plans – launched one year ago – now gathering pace.
“Those plans will use Paisley’s internationally-significant heritage assets and thriving cultural scene to drive transformation over the next decade – including a multi-million-pound revamp of Paisley Museum and a bid for UK City of Culture 2021.
“Those plans are intended to create more footfall in the town – now we know that residents and visitors travelling here by bus in the years ahead will be able to enjoy modern public-transport infrastructure.”
An SPT spokesperson said: “SPT is committed to improving the provision of public transport in all of our member council areas.
“These infrastructure works in Paisley town centre will undoubtedly enhance the public transport experience for local residents and visitors to the area alike and SPT is proud to be supporting Renfrewshire Council’s wider plans for regeneration by investing in better bus infrastructure in Paisley.”