Glasgow City Council is exploring the possibility of transforming a portion of the M8 motorway, which runs through the heart of the city, into a boulevard in an effort to reduce its impact on the urban landscape. The council is seeking discussions with the Scottish Government, as the M8 is under the jurisdiction of Transport Scotland.
Certain sections of the motorway might be subject to Glasgow’s low emission zone regulations, leading to tighter speed restrictions and other alterations. Some councillors have criticized the M8, calling it a “scar” that fragmented communities when constructed and claiming that it hinders the creation of healthy neighborhoods.
In the short term, council members aim to find ways to “mitigate” the motorway’s impact, while considering the long-term possibility of converting the city center stretch into a “boulevard.” They hope to engage with the Scottish Government on a variety of actions.
Councillor Christy Mearns, a member of the Scottish Greens, pointed out that the city’s future prosperity depends on reversing past transport decisions, such as the elimination of trams and the promotion of car use, which have accelerated climate change and exacerbated health and social inequalities. She also emphasized the urgency of addressing the M8, given the ambitious target of a 30-40% reduction in car kilometers by 2030.
Councillor Angus Millar, convenor for transport, expressed satisfaction with the cross-party support for the council’s efforts in discussing the future of the M8’s city center section with the Scottish Government. He has already written to the government, proposing a range of measures, including slower speeds.
While the Conservatives opposed the plans, other parties generally agreed. Labour councillor Jim Kavanagh said, “We need to stop talking and start doing,” while Scottish Greens councillor Holly Bruce noted that Glasgow is the only European city with a motorway running through its center.
The passed motion requested the council’s chief executive to present a paper outlining progress on the dialogue with the Scottish Government, specifying requested actions and identifying the next steps.
