In May 2002 "Transport Initiatives Edinburgh" was formed to deliver major transport projects for the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). The company, now known as tie, is a private limited company, wholly owned by CEC.

Edinburgh is at the heart of a region of over one million people. The city’s population is expected to grow rapidly over the next 20 years. The city’s catchment area is expanding, bringing consequent problems of traffic congestion and pollution. These could threaten Edinburgh’s future prosperity.

Congestion already costs industry thousands of pounds annually, money wasted through lost time. As car ownership continues to increase at an alarming rate, road traffic threatens to further clog up the main routes into Edinburgh and road repairs, amongst the most expensive infrastructure repairs, cost local authorities a great deal.

Now is the right time to create a long-term solution and provide high quality transport systems that can keep Edinburgh moving. Access into and around the city centre need to be improved and trams will deliver these advantages.