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

  • Report: Priority funding for rail projects drives investments in Turkey
    January 22, 2015
    Turkish railways have undergone a complete overhaul due to significant investments over the last five years. In the majority of rail projects currently under way, investment is directed towards the construction of new high-speed rail (HSR) lines, electrification, extensions and upgrading of existing infrastructure. With u$18 billion allocated for the rail sector as part of the Turkey Vision 2023 plan, the country is expected to have a total conventional rail network length of 25,940 kilometres and a HSR net
    Read More
  • First electric buses hit London’s streets
    December 19, 2013
    Transport for London (TfL) and bus operator Go-Ahead London have begun a trial of the capital’s first electric buses on two routes in the city. The 12-metre single deck buses were built by Chinese manufacturer BYD Auto have zero tail pipe emissions, resulting in lower carbon emissions. The trial will help TfL develop plans for greater use of electric buses in central London in the future, supporting the Mayor’s vision of a central London Ultra Low Emission Zone. The trial will be used to establish wh
    Read More
  • Cities get road priorities right
    March 22, 2022
    Cities including Paris, Milan and London have all announced serious expansions to their bicycling infrastructure over the last few years. The era of active travel is here, finds Alan Dron
    Read More
  • Do buses need subsidies in congestion charging areas
    June 20, 2016
    David Crawford takes a look at the debate surrounding bus subsidies. Subsidies for public transport are a well-known and frequently-used policy tool directed at reducing the high environmental and social costs of peak-period traffic congestion. But at the end of last year the Swedish Centre for Transport Studies published a working paper entitled ‘Should buses still be subsidised in Stockholm?’ This concluded that the subsidy levels currently being applied in Stockholm could be nearly halved by setting bus
    Read More

Highlighted Content