U.K. to spend ?20 billion improving transport network

U.K. to spend ú20 billion improving transport network

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The British government has allocated up to '20 billion ($41.6 billion) in transport funding post 2014, and is organizing nine regional conferences to discuss with stakeholders how best to spend the money.
   The Department for Transport’s new framework is set out in a document called Towards a Sustainable Transport System that is designed to support economic and environment proposals from both the Eddington Transport Study and the Stern Review of the Economics of Climate Change.
   The next stage will be the publication of a Green Paper and formal consultation starting next spring.
   “Our aim is to support people in the choices they make on how they travel or do business, while ensuring that transport plays its part in reducing carbon emissions,” said Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly. “Whether it’s a company delivering goods, employees getting to work on time, children going to school or a family holiday, a transport system does not work for anyone unless it works for its users.
   “We want to deliver a transport system that meets that aim and dispels the myth that as an economy we face the false choice of being 'poor and green' or 'rich and dirty.'
   “It gives us the opportunity to deliver, for the first time, a 'pro-green/pro-growth' agenda for transport in the short and medium term. I urge passengers, motorists, transport users and key organizations to get involved in the consultation, and have their say.”
   The Freight Transport Association, which represents U.K. shippers and transport providers, said the government's proposals are in line with the views of industry, but warned that urgent action is needed before 2014 to halt the decline of the country’s transport system.
   “Any government transport policy that has identified maximizing the competitiveness of the economy as its No. 1 priority will need to have supply chain interests near the top of its agenda,” said FTA Chief Executive Theo de Pencier. “The fact that the government has done so is a measure of how far it has traveled towards recognizing the role of freight transport in the economy.
   “We agree with the government regarding the measures required to reduce congestion, improve competitiveness and achieve higher social and economic aspirations. However, we cannot wait until 2014 before substantive action is taken.”
   The government has taken action recently on some more immediate projects including allowing vehicles to use motorway hard shoulders to ease congestion and allocating '132 million ($274.5 million) on rail freight projects that are slated to be completed by 2011.
   The FTA welcomed those initiatives and identified other actions that it said could yield similar quick wins, including trialing higher capacity lorries, lifting delivery curfews and further gauge enhancement on key rail routes.
   “Delivery of an improved transport infrastructure will be heavily dependent upon sufficient funding and a shake-up of the planning system. Both are matters of urgency and will now be the focus of our representations to government,” de Pencier said.
   “Efficient supply chains are a vital ingredient in an efficient economy and the government is to be congratulated for recognizing and planning for that. But in order to create jam tomorrow we need to eliminate jams today. We must get on with these improvements right now ' not wait until 2014.”
   The Towards a Sustainable Transport System report is available at: www.dft.gov.uk/pdf/about/strategy/transportstrategy/ ' Simon Heaney