MPs urge more investment in UK roads

Joined-up planning for both passenger and freight traffic across the UK’s road and rail infrastructure is crucial for future prosperity, warn MPs in two new reports. Effective regulation and long-term funding plans are essential for investment in the strategic road network.
May 8, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Joined-up planning for both passenger and freight traffic across the UK’s road and rail infrastructure is crucial for future prosperity, warn MPs in two new reports.

Effective regulation and long-term funding plans are essential for investment in the strategic road network.

These are key conclusions from two reports issued today by the Transport Committee - one examining the proposed planning policy framework for nationally significant road and rail infrastructure projects, the National Policy Statement on National Networks and the other examining the strategic road network in England.

Launching the two reports, Louise Ellman MP, chair of the Transport Committee, said that the 1837 Department for Transport (DfT) must look at future passenger and freight demand when planning for new road and rail investment. She also stressed the need for a more transparent system for road planning as part of a wider national transport strategy. This includes proper scrutiny of the DfT’s National Transport Model (NTM), which the Department has already conceded does not work well for forecasting London traffic and needs to be reviewed.

Investment will have to rise significantly over the next decade if traffic forecasts are correct, according to the committee. The committee noted that the need for greater investment will come at a time when the growing popularity of more fuel efficient vehicles will result in lower fuel duty tax revenues.

In the report looking at the strategic road network, the Committee concluded that, although it strongly supports the five-year funding plans being introduced for the 503 Highways Agency the case for establishing the Agency as a Government-owned company was not convincing. MPs called for a far stronger system of regulatory oversight than is currently proposed.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Slow development of Europe's road user charging
    April 24, 2013
    Delegates convened in Brussels for Europe’s 10th annual Road User Charging Conference in March, when both positive and negative developments came to light for advocates of more widespread introduction of RUC. Jon Masters reports. Goings on across Europe in recent months have again demonstrated how very sensitive road user charging (RUC) is politically. At the 10th annual Road User Charging Conference in Brussels at the beginning of March, a Danish delegation was notable for its absence, but Belgian governme
    Read More
  • Report highlights community impact of new mobility options
    March 29, 2018
    Local authorities and communities must understand the impacts of the new mobility options and regulate to get the transport systems they want, according to a new report. Colin Sowman takes a look. Outside of the big cities plagued with congestion, the existing transportation system(s) often cope adequately, and the ongoing workload (maintenance, safety…) is more than enough to keep local transport authorities busy. Is it, therefore, a good use of public service employees’ time to keep abreast of the raft
    Read More
  • Infrastructure spending is an investment in economic recovery
    January 20, 2012
    Transportation funding is caught in the crossfire as the President calls for infrastructure investment and a reinvigorated Republican majority in the House pushes back on federal spending. Andrew Bardin Williams reports. Every few months some politician or pundit declares that the country is on the verge of making the most important political decision in a generation. The 2006 mid-term election; the 2008 Presidential election; the passing of the stimulus bill; healthcare reform; the mania surrounding Tea Pa
    Read More
  • Lighting the way at Traffex 2013
    January 24, 2013
    The Department for Transport’s (DfT) Traffic Signs Policy paper entitled “Signing the Way” sets out the policy framework for ensuring that the traffic signing system in Great Britain meets the future needs of all road users, whilst building upon the existing and established traffic sign system. Within this framework the issue of how traffic signs will be illuminated in the future is considered. In response to this, visitors to Traffex 2013, the 26th international traffic engineering, road safety, parking an
    Read More

Highlighted Content