A9 Park & Ride - Online Survey
Jacobs is supporting The Highland Council to assess the potential for a Park & Ride site on the A9 near Inverness, to provide opportunities for long‑distance travel by public transport between the Highlands and the Central Belt. There may be potential for a site in the vicinity of the Longman junction (just south of the Kessock Bridge) or close to the A9 to the south of the city (though no specific locations have been defined).
This survey seeks to understand your current travel patterns, as well as your experiences of and views on Park & Ride. Your feedback will help us assess the potential demand for a Park & Ride site near Inverness and identify the factors that would be required for it to operate successfully.
The survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Phases
Publication of Findings
Highland Council
A9 Park & Ride Survey: Findings and Outcomes
Introduction
Phase 2 focuses on the publication and reporting of findings from the survey undertaken during Phase 1. It provides a summary of the responses received and identifies the key themes emerging from both the survey results and additional comments. These findings will help inform the next stages of the study and consideration of future long-distance Park & Ride provision in and around Inverness.
Which of the following modes of transport do you use most often for local/everyday journeys?
Which of the following modes of transport do you use most often for longer distance journeys?
How often do you typically travel between the Highlands and the Central Belt of Scotland?
1 - At least once a week
2 - Once a month
3 - 2-3 times a month
4 - Once every 2-3 months (4-6 times a year)
5 - Once a year
6 - Less often than once a year
7 - Never
How do you typically travel to the Central Belt?
What influences how you choose to travel to the Central Belt? Please select up to three of the most important reasons.
Cost and affordability, journey time and convenience were the most frequently identified factors influencing how respondents travel. Reliability and availability of transport, comfort and accessibility were also important considerations.
Additional comments highlighted environmental considerations, including sustainability, carbon emissions and the environmental impact of different modes of travel. Some respondents suggested that environmental considerations should have been included as a standard response option.
Concerns about driving, particularly on the A9 and in busier urban areas, were also raised. Some respondents preferred public transport because it allowed them to avoid driving and make other use of their journey time.
Parking availability and cost were identified as further considerations, particularly when travelling to Inverness or larger cities.
Personal circumstances also influenced travel choices, including travelling with pets, luggage, bicycles or work equipment, access to a car, health or mobility considerations, and the need to make onward connections.
The availability of suitable local public transport was also highlighted, with some respondents indicating that limited services from their home area reduced the alternatives available to them.
What are the most common purposes for your journeys to the Central Belt?
Leisure/tourism and visiting family or friends were the most frequently selected purposes for journeys to the Central Belt, followed by work/business and shopping.
Comments provided by respondents identified a number of additional journey purposes. These included attending music concerts and accessing Edinburgh or Glasgow airports for onward flights. Some respondents also described the Central Belt as a connection point for longer onward journeys.
Other purposes included caring responsibilities, accessing library services, attending meetings.
When do you typically make these journeys?
Do you experience any of the following when making these journeys? Please select up to three reasons.
Limited public transport options, lack of available parking, long journey times and the high cost of travel were the most frequently identified constraints. Congestion and unreliable public transport services were also commonly reported.
Additional comments highlighted difficulties with public transport connections, particularly for journeys originating outside Inverness. One respondent noted that, while journey times from Inverness to the Central Belt were suitable, the lack of connections from their starting point into Inverness meant that travelling by car was the only practical option.
Parking costs were also raised in the additional comments, particularly for longer stays when connecting with rail services in Inverness.
Other issues included delays to rail services into Inverness affecting onward connections, the need to have transport available at the destination, the availability of late-night public transport following concerts and other events.
Which of the following best describe your travel needs or circumstances for these journeys? Please select all that apply.
Travelling with luggage was the most frequently identified travel circumstance, followed by travelling with other adults. Respondents also identified travelling with children and accessibility or mobility considerations, while some indicated that they had no specific travel needs.
Additional comments most commonly related to travelling with pets, particularly dogs. Travelling with bicycles was also mentioned.
Other individual circumstances included the need for flexibility around journey times and stops, carrying work-related tools, equipment and specialist PPE, and being able to work while travelling, including access to tables, power sockets and Wi-Fi. Transporting bulky items, such as DIY purchases, was also identified.
Before this survey, were you aware of long-distance Park & Ride sites, such as Broxden Park & Ride near Perth or Ferrytoll Park & Ride near Inverkeithing?
Have you ever used a long-distance Park & Ride site?
Overall, do you think a Park & Ride site in/near Inverness for longer-distance journeys could be a good idea?
Which of the following options for a long-distance Park & Ride site in/near Inverness would you be more likely to use?
Why did you choose this option?
The location near Longman Junction, just south of the Kessock Bridge, was the most frequently selected option, followed by a location south of the city close to the A9. A smaller proportion of respondents selected neither location.
Comments highlighted location, accessibility and congestion as important considerations when choosing between the potential sites.
Congestion around Longman Junction and the Kessock Bridge was a recurring concern, with some respondents considering this a disadvantage of locating a Park & Ride in this area. A location south of Inverness, close to the A9, was considered more convenient by some respondents, particularly for journeys south towards the Central Belt and for avoiding travel through busier parts of the city.
Conversely, respondents favouring the Longman location highlighted its convenience for those travelling from the north and its proximity to Inverness. For some respondents, their preferred location largely reflected where they lived and the direction from which they would approach the city.
The availability of suitable onward connections was also identified as an important consideration. Suggestions included connections to the city centre, bus and rail services, the airport, Raigmore Hospital and other parts of Inverness. Some respondents also suggested that more than one Park & Ride location could better serve people approaching Inverness from different directions.
Other considerations included sufficient parking capacity and space for future expansion, secure and overnight parking, EV charging, and suitable walking and cycling connections.
Overall, the comments indicate that convenience, ease of access, existing congestion and onward transport connections were important factors influencing respondents' preferred location.
If a long‑distance Park & Ride site was provided in/near Inverness, do you think you would use it for any of the following purposes?
Parking and travelling onward by coach or bus was the most frequently selected potential use of a long-distance Park & Ride site. Dropping off or picking up someone using a long-distance coach or bus was also commonly selected. Other identified uses included parking for car or van sharing.
Additional comments highlighted potential use of the site for travelling into Inverness, including for work, shopping, hospital appointments and general visits to the city centre. Onward travel by train and use as a meeting point for car sharing were also mentioned.
Other comments included potential use by people travelling by intercity bus who would not require parking.
Do you think people you know (such as family or friends) would use it for any of the following purposes?
Parking and travelling onward by coach or bus was the most frequently selected potential use, followed by dropping off or picking up someone using a long-distance coach or bus. Parking for car or van sharing was also identified as a potential use.
Additional comments highlighted travelling into Inverness, including for shopping and general visits to the city centre. Onward travel by train was also mentioned by several respondents.
Other comments referred more generally to using the site as a point for transferring between different parts of a journey.
In your view, are there any factors that would be important in making a long‑distance Park & Ride site in/near Inverness successful?
Cost, safety and security, and good transport connections were prominent themes identified by respondents.
The cost of both parking and onward travel was frequently raised. Respondents highlighted the importance of free or low-cost parking, particularly for longer stays, alongside affordable public transport fares and opportunities for integrated ticketing.
Safety and security were also recurring considerations. Suggested measures included good lighting, CCTV or other forms of monitoring, secure overnight parking and safe, sheltered waiting areas.
Frequent, reliable and convenient onward transport was another key theme. Respondents highlighted the importance of suitable operating times, short transfer times and efficient journeys. Connections to destinations including Inverness city centre, bus and rail services, the airport and Raigmore Hospital were also suggested.
Ease of access to the site and sufficient parking capacity were identified as important practical considerations. Respondents also suggested a range of passenger facilities, including toilets, sheltered or indoor waiting areas, seating, refreshments, travel information and EV charging. Accessibility considerations included accessible parking spaces and facilities, and minimising walking distances.
Some respondents questioned the need for a new Park & Ride site or considered improvements to existing local bus, rail and road connections to be a greater priority. In particular, the availability of public transport connections into Inverness from rural and surrounding areas was highlighted.
There was also interest in the site operating as a wider transport hub, integrating different forms of travel and providing appropriate walking and cycling access, cycle parking, information and signage.