Developing a national transport strategy
CIHT called for the government to set out a clear vision and strategy that sets out how transport will contribute to key policy areas.
The recent budget highlighted a national infrastructure strategy would be produced in the spring and a bus strategy will be part of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) later this year.
Providing certainty for the sector on key projects and programmes
CIHT called for the government to confirm the details of the second Road Investment Strategy for the Strategic Highways Network and to confirm the timing of HS2 as part of the budget announcements.
The government has released the details for RIS2 and confirmed HS2. CIHT has taken part in a roundtable organised by DfT looking at RIS2.
Improving the local highway network
CIHT called for the government to commit to deliver a four-point strategy for the Local Road Network that will create a vision, funding and focus to the local road network over the next ten years.
The government announced a new £2.5bn ‘pothole fund’ in their recent budget. We will be pushing on the delivery of the rest of our strategy throughout the CSR.
- Create a new focus for the LHN
- Commit to establishing an inflation-linked local highways fund
- Create a better understanding of the asset through improved data
- Establish new sources of funding to support the local highways fund
Supporting a sustainable and healthy transport network
CIHT called for the government to invest in the development of sustainable and active travel by supporting the development of improved capability across the sector, confirming its bus strategy and funding package and identifying cross departmental funding to support the switch to sustainable and active travel.
The government have announced £800m of the £1bn in the Transforming Cities fund is to be spent on walking, cycling and bus infrastructure. This is in addition to the Bus Strategy that will come out in the CSR and the £5bn announced in February for Walking and Cycling. CIHT continues to work with government in various areas to develop detailed approaches to improve sustainable and active travel.
Road Safety
CIHT had welcomed the review of Smart Motorways and we called for several factors that would give users of smart motorways greater confidence and re-assurance whilst driving on them. These included- installation and use of appropriate technology, clear and accurate communication with drivers, greater understanding of smart motorways by customers and guidance on how we should safely use them and appropriate spacing of refuges would all help.
In the governments review, they announced an 18-point plan which picked up most of our recommendations. We will continue to push for improved communication on how they will deliver on their recommendations and the engineering solutions associated with it.
CIHT has been successful in getting research funding from DfT to look at how visibility distances for highway design can be improved
Integration of Planning & Transport
CIHT have persistently called for an improved integration between planning and transport, for transport infrastructure to be considered at the outset of housing delivery and an improved planning regime.
The government has announced (Planning for the Future – March 20) plans for a white paper that will improve the planning regime. They have also announced place-making will be at the heart of planning and a housing infrastructure fund to support the provision of infrastructure prior to housing being built. These recommendations and others were outlined in our
Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places’ advice – which has continued to gain traction with government.
CIHT have signed up to the Placemaking Wales charter that aims to be at the heart of planning policy in Wales.
CIHT are discussing the detail of updating Manual for Streets with the government.
Transport’s contribution to climate change
CIHT have created a series of pledges in response to the climate change challenge. One of the calls is to work collaboratively with other groups.
We have:
To find out more about any of these activities or to get involved in helping us shape the future, please contact e:
technical@ciht.org.uk
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