Skip to main content

FTA calls for all party support of roads reform proposals

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has voiced its support of Transport Focus today, whilst responding to the Department for Transport (DfT) announcement of the reform of the Highways Agency (HA) and introduction of a long term vision for improving the UK road network. The Government has set out how a new watchdog and monitor will play a part in helping England’s motorways and major roads run better, whilst the promise from the new voice of the roads, Transport Focus, is to ‘make a difference for ro
October 29, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
The 6983 Freight Transport Association (FTA) has voiced its support of Transport Focus today, whilst responding to the 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) announcement of the reform of the 503 Highways Agency (HA) and introduction of a long term vision for improving the UK road network.
 
The Government has set out how a new watchdog and monitor will play a part in helping England’s motorways and major roads run better, whilst the promise from the new voice of the roads, Transport Focus, is to ‘make a difference for road users.’
 
As FTA has worked closely, and continues to do so, with Transport Focus (formerly Passenger Focus), the Association recognises the importance of finding an effective solution which will survey and truly represent all road users opinion, and in particular that of freight.
 
Karen Dee – FTA director of Policy said: "FTA is working closely with Transport Focus and supports its plans to make a difference for road users.  There is a steep learning curve for the organisation in taking on this new and important role – not least in understanding what different road users require from the strategic road network. FTA is keen to help Transport Focus develop the knowledge-base it needs so that it can be an effective voice for all road users."
 
Parliament will discuss an expanded remit for the organisation next week, as part of the Infrastructure Bill. The organisation would represent all those who use the motorways and certain A roads in England – including motorists and business users as well as those who walk or cycle on the network. This would sit alongside continued work to represent and make a difference for rail, bus, coach and tram passengers.
 
Ms Dee added: "Taken together, the roads reform proposals set out in the Infrastructure Bill have potential to improve greatly the way we plan, deliver and operate our strategic roads. FTA hopes that the Bill will receive cross-party support so we can put an end to the stop-start funding of roads improvements we have seen so often in the past."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Seminar urges the use of smart road technologies in Oman
    May 24, 2013
    The recent Smart Road Technologies seminar in Oman discussed the development of transportation systems, not just the construction of new roads or infrastructure renovation, but also the use of information technology to link elements within the road system - vehicles, roads, traffic lights, message signs, among others – using intelligent technology to enable them to communicate with each other via wireless technologies. The seminar was held as part of the Digital Nation series of seminars organised by Knowle
  • ITS World Congress 2021: making it real
    August 17, 2021
    ITS World Congress 2021 will be held in Hamburg, Germany, in October, and will focus on showcasing the reality of ITS innovations now, says organiser Ertico-ITS Europe
  • Debating the future of in-vehicle systems
    December 6, 2012
    Industry experts talk to Jason Barnes about the legislative situation of current and future in-vehicle systems. Articles about technology development can have a tendency to reference Moore’s Law with almost indecent regularity and haste but the fact remains that despite predictions of slow-down or plateauing, the pace remains unrelenting. That juxtaposes with a common tendency within the ITS industry: to concentrate on the technology and assume that much else – legislation, business cases and so on – will m
  • Strike action prompts commuters to try something different
    June 2, 2014
    David Crawford highlights responses to transit disruption on both sides of the Atlantic. Shortly before workers at San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) began a lengthy round of pay and conditions-related strikes in summer 2013, impacting on the daily lives of 400,000 communities, online ridesharing group Avego publicised a new web address: bartstrike.com. By the start of the following week, Avego was encouraging stranded commuters to download its smartphone app by offering them the chance in a raffle